Changes to setting without unsetting diamond?

[honey22]

Just a question, not necessarily going to do it. Can a band be altered a little without unsetting and resetting the stone?

I am thinking that my ering band still looks thick as the edges of the band are square (flat ?) (it''s a half rounded band). If I rounded or smoothed the edges of the band, I think it would look thinner and more fluid?! I was just looking at the Sunburst (MM) and the edges are really smooth and fluid and I think it looks thinner and daintier.

http://www.mwmjewelry.com/Petite_SunBurst_0.97ct._D-IF_sz5_/index.html

My link - https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/honeys-ring-is-done.79386/


My question is, can you just polish/smooth our the edges of the band without having to unset the stone? Can this even be done? If it were to be done (and I am not sure yet!) I would think of getting it done at Precious Metals (if they could) as I want to avoid paying taxes and charges again to have it shipped back overseas. Apparently I would have to pay customs on the whole amount again and not just the alterations!!

Ideas?

 

[honey22]

ETA - I just wanted to say that I am not unhappy with WF''s work! They had made the band I asked for, it''s now that I had it on my own hand for a bit, and looking at other rings over the past few days, I think I have found the solution to making the band look thinner and daintier. Still thrilled with WF!

 

[chitowngal]

hey there! i think i know what you''re talking about...instead of having the band half-round, you want it to be completely rounded, right? i would think it won''t be too hard to fix without messing with the setting of the diamond since it doesn''t have anything to do with the head.

you should call whiteflash to see what they recommend. i''m sure they will point you in the right direction! good luck!!!

 

[honey22]

Yeah! I thought that''s what it would look like I guess. I thought flat bit would be the bit that sits on my finger, and the whole band would be rounded. WF have made exactly what I asked for, they have been wonderful. I am the doofus! At first I didn''t realise it, but something about the band has been niggling at me, and I am sure now that''s what it is. If the whole thing was rounded I think it would look smaller and less chunkier. I am so bad at looking at pictures and working out what details it is exactly which makes me like it, I just think that''s nice without recognising the elements about it that I like. Poor Lesley put up with so much with me trying to figure out the setting, I would send me pics or tell her stuff, only then to realise my thinking was way off and what I was explaining wasn''t in fact what the picture shows.

So, I will investigate getting the band rounded off I guess! I feel like such a moron, how hard can I make this, but I am 110% sure that I am on the right track.

Thanks for your help chitowngal! Where are you at now? Have you decided on a setting for that gorgeous rock of yours?!?!

 

[ajourklaus]

honey22
the modification I think you would like to achieve is no problem at all.
Any good bench person should be able to help you for a reasonable fee. I don''t know where you live but there are capable people everywhere. Customs should be avoidable. (MWM''s rings are exceptional and very well done, (your pictures)).
There is no need to change the setting, unset the stone or anything.
Look for a capable guy in your area show the pictures and tell them what you want and you should be ok.
It''s a straight forward job.

 

[Yekutiel]

All of the ideas mentioned above are excellent and really should not be an issue for any jeweler. I would advise going to a professional jeweler and pointing out what you would really like to accomplish and see if what he would be doing is exactly what you want to have accomplished.

Yekutiel
Diamond Consultant
www.idjewelryonline.com

 

[chitowngal]

Date: 3/2/2008 7:44:17 PM
Author: honey22
Yeah! I thought that's what it would look like I guess. I thought flat bit would be the bit that sits on my finger, and the whole band would be rounded. WF have made exactly what I asked for, they have been wonderful. I am the doofus! At first I didn't realise it, but something about the band has been niggling at me, and I am sure now that's what it is. If the whole thing was rounded I think it would look smaller and less chunkier. I am so bad at looking at pictures and working out what details it is exactly which makes me like it, I just think that's nice without recognising the elements about it that I like. Poor Lesley put up with so much with me trying to figure out the setting, I would send me pics or tell her stuff, only then to realise my thinking was way off and what I was explaining wasn't in fact what the picture shows.


So, I will investigate getting the band rounded off I guess! I feel like such a moron, how hard can I make this, but I am 110% sure that I am on the right track.


Thanks for your help chitowngal! Where are you at now? Have you decided on a setting for that gorgeous rock of yours?!?!

i think you are on the right track for sure! i couldn't tell too much from the pictures, but i can imagine the difference once you smooth out the 'edge'. hopefully you can get this done locally since it doesn't sound too hard, but you should still check with whiteflash first

i am getting nowhere with my ring! i think i should just pick something and go with it, but i am a chronic second-guesser

 

[honey22]

Thanks so much for your input guys! The more I think about it, the better I feel!

Chitowngal - I so understand how you feel. I am not sure that this will help, but maybe you can narrow it down to two settings, then print them off and leave them around the house where you can see them lots, in your bedroom lounge room or something. Set yourself a deadline - ie two days, by Friday midday or whatever and just go with your gut instinct when the time is up - decide and that''s it! After seeing them around for a while you might get a feel of which one just looks right?! One of them you will probably find yourself more drawn to, one that you look at more maybe?

Or, another totally different suggestion, just pick the cheapest one, and then when you see it in person, and get used to it, you might figure out just what you love about it and what you could change if you had the chance. I think that''s what happened to me, I really love the ring, it''s beautiful, they have done an incredible job but there is just something tiny about it that I want to change to make it perfect. You never know, the cheaper one might just be it, and if not, you havn''t forked out a lot of money initially.

Hope this helps, lots of hugs to you! Don''t worry, you will end up with the ''one'' eventually - sometimes it just takes a bit of tweaking and fine tuning

 

[chitowngal]

thanks honey22!
you''re right. i need to set a deadline for myself. i have an idea of what i want, but i need to talk to whiteflash to see if they will be able to make it (thinking double claw prongs...we''ll see...)

keep us updated on what happens!! i know it''ll turn out beautifully!

 

[honey22]

Ok. I didn''t want to pay import fees, shipping and insurance, so I decided to have a local jeweller look at my ring. I took it to Gary''s shop (Holloway Diamonds / Precious Metals) and easy fix. For just over $100 they can round out the band more. Perfect! The edge will look more fluid and smoother and it will be gorgeous. It will be ready Tuesday (sent it in yesterday). Problemmo solved (well, it was never really a problem, just a small niggle).

Question though - what is the standard procedure when you drop off a diamond ring. I just felt lost leaving it there, even though I trust them totally. With all those stunning stones/rings they are not going to want to do something to mine. So, I got a receipt with a description of the ring - ie. 18k yg diamond ring, clean diamond,white metal head'' something along those lines. No mention of the inclusion plot, size of the stone or anything else. I know I am cool here with Gary''s reputation, but if I took it somewhere else ever to get fixed or cleaned, is this enough? How can you prove it''s your diamond / ring etc. I have a copy of the certificate. This just got me thinking, you hear all these horror stories of untrustworthy jewellers, albeit I am sure a very small percentage.

 

[LesleyH]

honey22

I am pleased that Garry is able to help you. He is trustworthy and knows his stuff!

To answer your question about the future...your diamond is laser inscribed on the girdle with the AGS Report # and the ACA logo. You can always ask to check the girdle under a microscope if you ever have any concerns. When you pick up the ring ask Garry to show you where it is using his microscope so that you know what to look for.

LesleyH
www.whiteflash.com