Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent... ?

[ringthings]

- Should I get an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent?
It's not an engagement ring I'd wear as is. (It's nice.. but a plain, thin band. I believe it's princess cut.)

- How / what / who should I have do this? Would it look better in a plain setting (just basic), or a fancily designed one?
Should I find an antique pendent and have it set in something like that? If I just had it set basic, would that be extremely costly?
I don't know the stone's stats, but this would be for sentiment.

- The stone is several decades old (at least). Is getting it reset too risky? I plan to find a local jeweler.

- Any design ideas if I made it into a pendent with some flair, instead of a basic setting?

Sorry, I don't have photos of it yet.. but I'll try to get some.

 

[ringthings]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

Here is a photo of a pendent I like. Would this be a good setting for a princess cut? I definitely like the kind of vintage-y look of this one.

 

[stone-cold11]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

No photo?

Basically, anything could work as long as you like it. Resetting might carry some risk, very small but is a risk for all setting operations. Ask the jeweler if he will insure it during the resetting, if not you will probably need insurance for that, probably an appraisal before to get an insurance, depending on the value of the stone.

- Any design ideas if I made it into a pendent with some flair, instead of a basic setting?

Need to see what the stone looks like first.

 

[clgwli]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

I recently reset a stone from a vintage setting. It is a round stone and estimated to be from the 1930s based on the mounting as well as a few hints on the stone itself.

I had it reset into a simple 4 prong setting. Nothing fancy or modern. Just a very classic look.

I admit I didn't worry about insurance on this one because I only paid $100 for the whole thing so if it didn't work out, no loss to me and I would've just bought another stone. There were absolutely no issues at all though.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

It's an heirloom from your family or one you bought an antique store?

I have my mom's eng diamond that I had set into a pendant and had it set locally by a craftsman who hand made the bezel out of platinum. The advantage was I was able to go in with photos and the jeweler made sketches right there and we worked together on it. I also was able to pick out a chain from a catalogue and get a thicker one than those generally used for the style of pendant made (it is a diamonds by the yard pendant).

If it were a regular diamond, I'd probably have ordered online and had it set by the company, but this diamond is different b/c it was my moms. (in fact, everything I've ordered online have been loose diamonds placed into settings before being shipped out.)

 

[Michael_E]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

I would find a local jeweler that you like and ask them to show you some different pendant styles which could be used with your stone. There are a ton of online catalogs which you can look through as well and any jeweler has access to these. Many stock commercial pendants have styles which may appeal to you as well as having enough size that they can be modified by cutting a hole in them at an appropriate place and soldering a basket style setting into them to hold your stone. You then get a semi-custom piece for very little more than the cost of a commercial one. Re-setting your stone has very little risk as long as the bench jeweler doing the work has some experience setting square style stones. Diamonds are close to being bullet proof and you'd have to really mess up to hurt them.

Imagine taking the attached pendant from Stuller, removing the round stone shown and replacing it with your princess cut. This can be done with nearly anything, is easy and your jeweler will love you for giving them something fun to do!

 

[ringthings]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm still reading through them. I like the idea of having it set in a commercial pendent.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

Can you show us a picture of the ring? I am wondering if it is another cut because princess cuts are not all that old. Then we can give you better suggestions for a setting perhaps! Ironically, I just got a 1 ct. round diamond from my mother so I am also looking at pendant settings!

 

[marcy]

Re: Getting an heirloom engagement ring made into a pendent.

I like to go to remount sales at local jewelry stores so I can try things with different settings. I ended up putting my original diamond from my engagement ring in an open heart pendant. It was something I would not have thought I would like until I saw it.