Antique Jewelry project anyone???

[DiamondSmitten]

My grandmother recently passed away and my mother and her 3 sisters went through her jewelry to distribute it amongst them. My grandmother did not have a large collection... she had 6 children and only my grandfather worked so their money went elsewhere. My grandmother was engaged in 1955 with what was an antique piece at the time, however when she was pregnant with my aunt (46 yrs ago) she fell and destroyed her engagement ring and never wore it again. It had a almost half carat ruby in it according to my grandfather which was lost along with an accent diamond when she fell. Since I am the eldest grandchild and I am in a serious relationship with an AMAZING man... I am in possesion of the ring with the option to get it fixed and use it as an engagement ring. Here is a lil photo shoot I did.

 

[DiamondSmitten]

Exquisite Profile.... the ring is about 100 years old....

 

[White Orchid]

I''m so sorry to hear about your loss, your grandmother sounds like a lovely lady. Her ring is still so beautiful, I can just imagine what it must have looked like in its day. I would definitely get it restored. Whether you choose to wear it as your engagement ring or just keep it for sentimental value is up to you, but a piece like that should be preserved.

 

[DiamondSmitten]

The 18ct&plat is the stamp typical in art deco peices from the UK circa 1910-1920

 

[DiamondSmitten]

While the diamonds are certainly included... the cut gives off such amazing color..... would these be tiny lil OEC???

 

[DiamondSmitten]

I would like to put a .4-.5 ct ACA in this... and restore it with platinum.... I think the end result will be stunning

 

[DiamondSmitten]

This is a shot with my ring from my broken engagement to the loser who beat me....I thought the comparison of the finger coverage was interesting... my old ring had a 1.39 ct asscher in the halo... i will only be able to fit about a .4 ct in the antique piece.... but the halo gives great coverage.....

 

[surfgirl]

DS, I think using this setting would make a stunning and very sentimental family heirloom piece! BUT...Please please please, will you consider looking for a fantastic OEC to go into the center rather than a new RB? Assuming the surrounding stones are small OEC, I really think a fantastic OEC would be amazing in the center. Why not call Ari at Single Stone and ask him if he has anything? You would need to measure the center, or send it to him, so he can find a suitable stone that would fit the center. He can also restore the rest of the ring and find a side stone to match the others...Just a thought. I think keeping the center stone antique would be fantastic...but then again, I''m quite biased about antique stones!

 

[Rhea]

It''s very pretty! I agree with Surf about using an OEC stone for the center.

 

[DiamondSmitten]

Surfgirl... thank you SO MUCH for the suggestion.... I didn''t know where to start when it came to searching out a OEC... yours is OBVIOUSLY AMAZING..... I didn''t think about the side stones being not a traditional round until today.... but if I found something with chunky facets that picks up colors like yours I think it would be great...... again thanks for the suggestion.... thats why I love this forum so much!!!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

i agree with surfgirl, i would try to source someone who can restore and complete the ring and keep the original flavor in tact. OEC''s are gorgeous afterall....

 

[Tacori E-ring]

So pretty. I would put a beautiful blue sapphire in it. It would look stunning! Just goes to show you halos will never go out of style.

 

[surfgirl]

honey, I''d take loser a-hole ex''s ring and use it to trade in for a fabulous center stone and if it''s too big for that ring, someone like Ari or Pete at Quest, could remake that same ring, using the same surrounding stones, and adding a few more, if need be, for a larger center stone! I know Quest did an amazing job on ellen''s hatchet job on her antique ring, and Ari for sure can re do that ring to be exactly the same but accommodate a larger center stone...

Do it!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 5/4/2008 9:01:38 PM
Author: surfgirl
honey, I''d take loser a-hole ex''s ring and use it to trade in for a fabulous center stone and if it''s too big for that ring, someone like Ari or Pete at Quest, could remake that same ring, using the same surrounding stones, and adding a few more, if need be, for a larger center stone! I know Quest did an amazing job on ellen''s hatchet job on her antique ring, and Ari for sure can re do that ring to be exactly the same but accommodate a larger center stone...

Do it!

Ditto! Get rid of that ring from the loser and make it into something fabulous!

 

[LostSapphire]

DO IT.

Or else I''m coming over there and buying it from you for my very own!

 

[DiamondSmitten]

Unfortunately... the a-hole ex left me with a bunch of CC debt so I am going to have to consign that to make a dent in that....

the new... fabulous boyfriend is more than willing to help me restore my grandmothers ring to make it something special for us ...

the original e-ring cost 10000.... the restoration of this with a center stone wont be even half that so I think he thinks he is getting

away easy.... im more interested in the sentimental value of my grandmothers ring.... not to mention that it is such an antique.....

 

[surfgirl]

Okay then, your explanation is plausible and I will now let you off the hook for trading up! But seriously, you could get a fantastic OEC and it would look amazing. Second choice would be a fabulous sapphire center, but I''d try to find a really high quality OEC first...Wow, it will look fantastic...

 

[DiamondSmitten]

I am SO excited to start looking for a great OEC....... I can get something about 4-5mm in there without covering the gorgeous halo....


The hard part is going to be deciding what metal to fix it with...... the research I did indicates that it was a actual mixing of gold and platinum that was used during that 1910-1920 period in England.....since that isnt used anymore I have to choose white gold or platinum.... obviously with the price of metals its going to be a hard choice

 

[Tacori E-ring]

DS, you might not like this but I am going to say it anyways....please don''t have your new BF help with this project. Just in case anything happens between the two of you I think it would be better to keep this ring 100% sentimental and 100% about your grandmother. Just a thought....

 

[surfgirl]

Weird, I just posted this to your post Tacori and it came up on an entirely different thread...weird! Anyway, I was going to say that plenty of people use family rings for their erings. I think as long as she''s clear that this ring will always be hers then there shouldn''t be a problem...

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 5/4/2008 9:45:26 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
DS, you might not like this but I am going to say it anyways....please don't have your new BF help with this project. Just in case anything happens between the two of you I think it would be better to keep this ring 100% sentimental and 100% about your grandmother. Just a thought....

Ditto. I am happy for you that you found an amazing man

I do love the ring from your grandmother, gorgeous!

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 5/4/2008 9:45:26 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
DS, you might not like this but I am going to say it anyways....please don''t have your new BF help with this project. Just in case anything happens between the two of you I think it would be better to keep this ring 100% sentimental and 100% about your grandmother. Just a thought....

I was going to suggest the exact thing. This ring is tangible proof (not that anyone needs any) of the love and relationship between your Grandmother and yourself. It''s about her and you. No matter how much you love him, don''t let anyone touch that.

 

[waterlilly]

Date: 5/5/2008 12:43:27 PM
Author: gemgirl

Date: 5/4/2008 9:45:26 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

DS, you might not like this but I am going to say it anyways....please don''t have your new BF help with this project. Just in case anything happens between the two of you I think it would be better to keep this ring 100% sentimental and 100% about your grandmother. Just a thought....

I was going to suggest the exact thing. This ring is tangible proof (not that anyone needs any) of the love and relationship between your Grandmother and yourself. It''s about her and you. No matter how much you love him, don''t let anyone touch that.

AGREED 100%. Keep this ALL YOU. Your BF can purchase or design a matching band or the wedding bands, but this type of heirloom should really be kept completely yours. He''s lucky he doesn''t have to worry about it! Beautiful by the way, really beautiful!!
Also - can''t help it...that "other" e-ring is quite stunning too...I''ve never seen a halo like that!

 

[MustangGal]

If it originally had a ruby in it, why not do a ruby or other colored stone? That would also give it a much different look than your other e-ring.

 

[DiamondSmitten]

I just wanted to add that these awesome macro pics are curtesy of my brand new Canon Sd790IS.... the ease of taking these sharp pics after having a casio for so long amazed me.... couldn''t recomend it more....

to everyone who gave input I appreciate it.... I have considered restoring it myself.... however my BF is not so into the idea... he said he wouldnt feel right proposing with something I paid for.... he also isnt the kind of guy who would ever ask for it back if anything GOD FORBID didn''t work out..... as I find the right jeweler and stone to restore it we can work out the details of that..