Can a simple cathedral setting be lowered?

[MamaBee]

I won an antique ring on eBay but the head of the cluster is set in a very high Cathedral setting. It’s a strange cluster because it’s flat like a disk and is prong set. The price is great and I really like it but it’s so high. I don’t want to buy an expensive setting because it’s not worth doing that..I would like to know if the prongs could be cut down and the cluster head lowered. I thought maybe the prongs could be shaved and widened to accommodate it. Any suggestions?

 

[MamaBee]

Here are more pics..I got it for a steal! Opinions please! The listing says white gold but it looks yellow gold. It may just need to be rhodium dipped. SI1 and G estimates..Haha..We’ll see!

 

[the_mother_thing]

I don’t know how possible/practical it would be to do what you are thinking without recreating an entirely new setting. Maybe give DK a call/email and see. Seems like it would take a lot of rework, as those prongs would have to bend quite a bit, which may introduce structural integrity issues.

Personally, I’d be more inclined to convert the disc of diamonds to a pendant or even a cuff bracelet, but that’s only because I don’t care for that particular look in a ring. DK may have a solution though that could sway me, like a more ornate basket to make it appear less disc-like.

Hoping others chime in here with thoughts! I love the idea of getting something for a steal and ‘making it your own’.

 

[MamaBee]

I don’t know how possible/practical it would be to do what you are thinking without recreating an entirely new setting. Maybe give DK a call/email and see. Seems like it would take a lot of rework, as those prongs would have to bend quite a bit, which may introduce structural integrity issues.

Personally, I’d be more inclined to convert the disc of diamonds to a pendant or even a cuff bracelet, but that’s only because I don’t care for that particular look in a ring. DK may have a solution though that could sway me, like a more ornate basket to make it appear less disc-like.

Hoping others chime in here with thoughts! I love the idea of getting something for a steal and ‘making it your own’.

Thanks @the_mother_thing! I did think of a pendant or different setting with a basket..I wouldn’t mind it if it was pretty low. I asked a jeweler on the phone and he said he might be able to do something so we’ll see! I paid practically nothing..I’m even thinking of a bezel set..That would work too.

 

[denverappraiser]

Nearly everything is possible, but that's not a particularly easy job and you may not like the price. Have you talked to a shop with a bench jeweler about your options? It may be easier to raise the bottom than lower the top.

 

[MamaBee]

Nearly everything is possible, but that's not a particularly easy job and you may not like the price. Have you talked to a shop with a bench jeweler about your options? It may be easier to raise the bottom than lower the top.

You’re right....If I had my way I would put it in a basket setting to hide the disk shape..but that would cost $$$ and defeat the purpose of getting it for a steal. I wonder if I could have it reset into a Stuller setting? I have no idea how much that would cost. I’m not afraid to spend money on jewelry but I have to think what the total would cost and what I would wind up with for the money. I’m going to bring it to a bench jeweler to get an opinion. I may wind up getting a bale put on and wear it as a pendant! I’m going to try the ring first..before I do that.

 

[rockysalamander]

This looks like an antique stick pin that was shoved into off the shelf set of prongs (that are normally reduced in height during the setting process). If you are lucky, its a cheap snap-setting that you can remove the old stick pin from. What are the marking inside?

 

[MamaBee]

This looks like an antique stick pin that was shoved into off the shelf set of prongs (that are normally reduced in height during the setting process). If you are lucky, its a cheap snap-setting that you can remove the old stick pin from. What are the marking inside?

I just won it on eBay so I won’t have it until Monday..I tried to turn the pic over but it won’t let me..and I do it all the time..It’s upside down..but here you go..I paid $264 so very cheap..I can see petals in the stones..so old European. I can return it so just going over my options..I don’t want to get a setting from David because I don’t think it would be worth over a thousand dollars for this type of ring. I won’t know until I get it..I agree it does look like an old stick pin. It’s 8.5mm which is sizable....I’ll examine under the head when I get it..

 

[MamaBee]

The more I look at it I’m sure it was a stickpin..I think I would have a jeweler put a bale on it which is the cheapest solution and wear it as a pendant..IF it’s eye clean and I love it..Thanks @rockysalamander..I wouldn’t have know it was a stick pin if you didn’t mention it..I just thought it was so odd!

 

[Winks_Elf]

This is actually not a cathedral setting, and the issue is that the head used to hold the disk was meant for a diamond with depth. The head holding the disk could be switched out for a low setting, but the cost to swap it out and reseat the disk is probably more than you're going to want to spend. The pendant idea is looking better and better.

 

[MamaBee]

This is actually not a cathedral setting, and the issue is that the head used to hold the disk was meant for a diamond with depth. The head holding the disk could be switched out for a low setting, but the cost to swap it out and reseat the disk is probably more than you're going to want to spend. The pendant idea is looking better and better.

I agree..Now that it was mentioned by @rockysalamander it is really obvious. I’ll know when I open it up if I want to bother making it into a pendant. Adding a bale wouldn’t cost that much so that’s what I would do. Truthfully, I never saw the side view when I bought it..only the front and partial side. If I had seen the side view I wouldn’t have bid on it. I could return it so that’s an option..