Changing a setting - re-doing the head

[pesce]

Hi PS'ers. I recently (and very much by surprise) became engaged. My FH picked out a ring all by himself, and it is lovely. However, the diamond is set in a band with channel set diamonds, and the head is 4 prongs in WG set on top of the ring. I would really, really like to be able to lower the diamond so that it sits in a basket - I believe the ring would haveto be cut open. We are taking it in for sizing this saturday. I phoned the jeweler and asked him about it, and he told me he would speak with his bench guy once we were back in the store and he could see the ring.
Does anyone have any experience with doing anything like this? would it be simpler to go with another setting? The ring needs to be sized anyway, so we have to go back when we pick out our bands (oh, darn, a trip to the jeweler!!!)

I don't want to offend my dear FH, but I also want this modification. My hands are really small, and I work with them a lot.
Thoughts? Experiences? thank you in advance. And thanks also for this really great treasure trove of info!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[geckodani]

It completely depends on how the ring was put together. I had the same concern when I was presented with my ring, and they were able to change the head without damaging the rest of my setting. My current setting has an integrated head, so it would not be possible. Talk to your jeweler, and see what they say. Good luck!

 

[Michael_E]

Replacing the head with a basket is easy, but a bit spendy, since the basket needs to have a very strong base rail to attach to the band. Depending on the size of the stone and the size of the band, this could mean either buying a heavy commercial basket, strengthening a commercially made basket, or even having a basket custom made and attached to the band on each side.

 

[pesce]

thank you for your thoughtful and speedy replies! with regard to geckodani's point, the head does appear to sit on top of a machined band. to my untrained eye, it looks like it would be fairly easy to pluck the head off the top of the ring, cut it open ,and install a donut foundation basket. of course, not being a jeweler myself, my dreams and reality could be very different!

Michael, the stone is 1.4 ct. The band also has channel set diamonds. When you say "spendy" can you give me a range? I don't want to give the poor boy a heart attack ,espeically since he has just plunked down a chunk of change in the Chicago diamond district. I don't want to seem ungrateful, either, because i LOVE the ring otherwise.

 

[geckodani]

Just a thought - consider living with it for a while. I thought that mine was too high, had it lowered, and missed the height. You'd be amazed what you can get used to.

 

[Michael_E]

When you say "spendy" can you give me a range?

Sure, a heavy commercial basket setting has a list price of a bit over $100 and doing the work to remove the old setting, cut and fit the band to the new setting, then set the center stone and finish should cost between $100 and $150 depending on where you are and who does the work. Total $200 to $250. Just a side note, these settings come in single or double prongs and Stuller even carries baskets with decorative inset sections, (scroll and fleur-de-lis), so you get another choice to make.