Can a girdle be thickened?

[audball]

I googled all over today trying to find more information and was unable to come up with anything concrete.

I picked up an OEC off ebay at Gypsy's recommendation and we LOVE it. It's amazing and has fire like nothing I've seen. The setting we're considering is a semi-bezel so two sides of the ring would be exposed (north and south).

Now, I don't know much about girdle thickness, other than it's recommended to be between thin and slightly thick for rings. Anything thinner can chip and thicker just hides weight and may affect optics.

So...we haven't gotten the appraisal back yet, but I have a feeling the girdle on the stone we just bought may be less than Thin. When rubbing my thumbnail along the girdle, it feels sharp. It is currently set in a 6 prong setting and has been in this setting since the early 70s (according to the original owner). No visible chips that I can see.

I also read online that Extremely Thin, Very Thin, and Thin girdles may not be visible with less than a 10x loupe for smaller stones (this one is ~.70-.80ct).

My question is...since our dream setting is a semi-bezel...if the girdle comes back on the appraisal as less than Thin, can anything be done about this? The optics of this stone are amazing so we wouldn't want a full re-cut, but is girdle thickening possible?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I know there are people here that have had some rehab done to some old stones without a complete recut including some girdle improvement, so by all means call someone like Brian Gavin and ask. I know he has done one for Gypsy and maybe others.

Your stone is beautiful, by the way!!!

 

[audball]

Thanks DS!

Here is a larger photo.

 

[audball]

I don't know if this helps...but it's a profile shot of the setting I took for someone else (which we're not keeping...) but you can kind of see the girdle.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Unless I was setting in a full bezel, I would absolutely send it to have the girdle worked on. Plus, if there is anything else that needs polishing, etc., that could be done as well. Very pretty stone!

 

[Mara]

In one area of your pic the girdle looks a little thicker but to the right it looks thinner.

I imagine you could have some type of a recut done to improve girdle thickness. A lot of the old stones have widely varying girdle thicknesses.... you might try to see if there is a varied girdle to set the thicker areas outside of the bezels. Though honestly... I tend to think that if an old stone made it to today without having lots of chips or nicks, that it's probably pretty durable!

 

[SweetAsscher]

Ok I know this isn't smtb but... That stone! It's gorgeous!
I will definitely need Gypsy when I'm ready to look for an old cut.
Really beautiful diamond Audball, congratulations!

 

[vintagelover229]

I would for sure give BGD a call for a quote and also call GOG. I know they have access to people who cut/recut stones as well. I'm not sure what it would cost but I can't image it being to expensive. You could consider getting it certified while it's out and about too for insurance purposes since it's going into a new setting (GIA/AGS run about 150.00 but you could also use EGL considering they do many antique stones-not sure what the cost of that would run-you can ask BGD and GOG that too)

The stone is a stunner though and it's going to be amazing no matter what setting you put it in

 

[yssie]

That really is a gorgeous stone

Ditto PPs who've suggested sending it in to Brian/Ari for their thoughts - there may be other issues that need to be addressed as well for it to be safely set and worn in a very open design. I know Gypsy had BGD facet the girdle on one of her OECs in addition to polishing and it turned out fabulously

ETA: Okay, I can't find her thread/posts on it but I found the pre-loved listing w/ lots of info and pics - [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/sold-gorgeous-1-25-carat-old-european-cut-oec-for-sale-t170636.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/sold-gorgeous-1-25-carat-old-european-cut-oec-for-sale-t170636.html[/URL]

 

[Dreamer_D]

Love that stone, so glad you bought it!

Recutting... I am sort of with Mara on the durability thing. But it can't hurt to look into it especially if this is a special piece for an engagement?

 

[Dreamer_D]

And that setting is so wacky!!

 

[audball]

In one area of your pic the girdle looks a little thicker but to the right it looks thinner.

I imagine you could have some type of a recut done to improve girdle thickness. A lot of the old stones have widely varying girdle thicknesses.... you might try to see if there is a varied girdle to set the thicker areas outside of the bezels. Though honestly... I tend to think that if an old stone made it to today without having lots of chips or nicks, that it's probably pretty durable!

That's what I was thinking...I kind of hope it may be bezeled in the thin areas and be ok in others, but until the vendor gets it in hand, I don't have any real way to know.
I tend to agree that if it's last this long, it's probably fine...but you just never know.

 

[audball]

Ok I know this isn't smtb but... That stone! It's gorgeous!
I will definitely need Gypsy when I'm ready to look for an old cut.
Really beautiful diamond Audball, congratulations!

Thanks SweetAsscher!! We love it

 

[audball]

I would for sure give BGD a call for a quote and also call GOG. I know they have access to people who cut/recut stones as well. I'm not sure what it would cost but I can't image it being to expensive. You could consider getting it certified while it's out and about too for insurance purposes since it's going into a new setting (GIA/AGS run about 150.00 but you could also use EGL considering they do many antique stones-not sure what the cost of that would run-you can ask BGD and GOG that too)

The stone is a stunner though and it's going to be amazing no matter what setting you put it in

Thanks hun We're looking into all the options...it's just so nerve wracking!

 

[audball]

That really is a gorgeous stone

Ditto PPs who've suggested sending it in to Brian/Ari for their thoughts - there may be other issues that need to be addressed as well for it to be safely set and worn in a very open design. I know Gypsy had BGD facet the girdle on one of her OECs in addition to polishing and it turned out fabulously

ETA: Okay, I can't find her thread/posts on it but I found the pre-loved listing w/ lots of info and pics - [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/sold-gorgeous-1-25-carat-old-european-cut-oec-for-sale-t170636.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/sold-gorgeous-1-25-carat-old-european-cut-oec-for-sale-t170636.html[/URL]

Thanks Yssie! I am working with Pearlmans on the setting. The stone came uncertified but the cut is killer. I really am not interested in a full recut and just some girdle rehab (if needed). Sounds like this is what Gypsy did by having them facet the girdle. John at Pearlmans is their Graduate Gemologist and he wants to take a look. It seems to make sense to send it to them for evaluation since if no rehab is necessary, I won't have to ship more than necessary, but I'm just so nervous about the whole thing! I'll have to email Gypsy and see what the girdle rehab with BGD cost.

 

[audball]

Love that stone, so glad you bought it!

Recutting... I am sort of with Mara on the durability thing. But it can't hurt to look into it especially if this is a special piece for an engagement?

Thanks DreamerD! We're very happy with the purchase as well.

I agree with the argument that it's old and hasn't chipped yet, but it is for an engagement ring and the open semi bezel design would leave two whole sides exposed.

 

[audball]

And that setting is so wacky!!

And yes, it really is rather...unique.

 

[yssie]

And that setting is so wacky!!

And yes, it really is rather...unique.

I like it

About as different from a semibezel (which I also like!) as you can get!

ETA: How much of the bezel will the semibezel actually leave open, do you know? Will the semibezel part "stretch around" like the Sholdt or be more shank-width dependent like the Etoile?

 

[audball]

And that setting is so wacky!!

And yes, it really is rather...unique.

I like it

About as different from a semibezel (which I also like!) as you can get!

ETA: How much of the bezel will the semibezel actually leave open, do you know? Will the semibezel part "stretch around" like the Sholdt or be more shank-width dependent like the Etoile?

The semi bezel in question is the Sholdt semi bezel model R379-1. Like ElleChris, Echidna, looking4ring, and heyeliza. I have a sample in hand right now set with a 1 carat stone. It is SOOO comfortable, fluid, and beautiful. My heart will be crushed if I can't have it.

 

[Amys Bling]

great stone- I would either bezel it or contact GOG or BGD and see what they can do in regards to the girdle.

 

[partgypsy]

And that setting is so wacky!!

Makes me hungry for honeycomb cereal!

 

[canuk-gal]

And that setting is so wacky!!

Makes me hungry for honeycomb cereal!

Setting is cool!

I love that Scholt setting--I've seen it IRL (tried it on) and it is GORGEOUS!

cheers--Sharon

 

[audball]

And that setting is so wacky!!

Makes me hungry for honeycomb cereal!

This literally made me laugh out loud.

 

[audball]

great stone- I would either bezel it or contact GOG or BGD and see what they can do in regards to the girdle.

Thanks Amy! I'm going to go ahead and send it to Pearlmans for a GG evaluation before we proceed. I hope it's okay when evaluated under a loupe.

 

[audball]

And that setting is so wacky!!

Makes me hungry for honeycomb cereal!

Setting is cool!

I love that Scholt setting--I've seen it IRL (tried it on) and it is GORGEOUS!

cheers--Sharon

I too love the Sholdt setting. I have a sample on my hand right now from Pearlmans. It's fluid, comfortable, beautiful. It's very me and so perfect. I'm completely in love. And their price for PSers made my jaw drop.

edited to change write to right...I must be tired!

 

[Christina...]

mmmm! I think your diamond is going to be gorgeous in the sholt setting!!

 

[Amys Bling]

mmmm! I think your diamond is going to be gorgeous in the sholt setting!!

agreed!!!

 

[audball]

mmmm! I think your diamond is going to be gorgeous in the sholt setting!!

agreed!!!

Thank you both! I think it will be FABULOUS if we can handle this (maybe) girdle issue.

 

[Rhea]

I love that Sholdt setting! It's always been one of my favorites!

 

[audball]

I love that Sholdt setting! It's always been one of my favorites!

Me too!! It's been saved in my favorites folder since I first found PS in 2008. I have looked at so many settings over my time as a PS member and I have yet to find anything that trumps it (in my book).