Grandma's diamond, not sure what to do?

[mitch13]

Well, I have a diamond ring from my grandmother that I would like to reset. The problem is that it is a combo of old miner/European style with a small chip in the girdle. I originally wanted to place it on the side of a 3-stone ring, but the rock is .6-.65 carats and I simply can't afford to match it. It is most likely SI1...not quite eye, clean H-I in color. I can probably only afford to have a head stone of about the same size but an excellent cut.

I love the pricescope community and an sure you guys can offer some good suggestions. My girlfriend is not a picky person nor would she want me to spend too much money. But, I want the ring to last and only the best for her. So...

Do I set my grandmother's stone in the center and get 2 smaller diamonds, even though it is not very brilliant?

Do I just buy a solitaire and have a similar pendent made for my grandma's diamond?

Do I attempt to have a 2 stone ring made?

I wanted to get something unique, but I could just have the stone set by a jeweler in a not so custom ring that is more affordable. Just to give you guys an idea, I was thinking of something like these settings:

 

[distracts]

Obviously I haven't seen your grandma's diamond, but I don't know if you're aware that old mine cuts and european cuts are rather popular right now. A lot of PSers have them, and a lot of recently-engaged celebrities do as well. However if you don't like it and would rather buy an ideal cut round brilliant for your fiancee-to-be, that is fine, and I do love the idea of putting it in a pendant. Have you seen http://jewelsbyericagrace.com or http://www.singlestone.com ? They both carry a lot of antique stones and things and they might give you some ideas of what to do with yours. If you are going to use it as a center stone and purchase sidestones for it, those two places and Good Old Gold and Old World Diamonds might be your best bets for finding antique sidestones to match.

 

[Carbonlover]

I would put it in a pendant...because the alternatives are:

* Use as a center stone and risk it getting damaged more or

* Have it recut and lose potentially a substantial amount of carat weight.

I recently had 3 OEC's diamonds recut, and it depends on how well they were originally cut and the measurements of the stone as to how much you might lose, and the type of cut you choose to end up with. Since your diamond is 6o points, recutting it might bring it under .50 carat, which may not work for you.

 

[E B]

You may be able to protect it with a bezel setting, and you can have a little fun with it so it isn't so plain. I just wouldn't go too different because while those designs you posted are pretty, it'd be challenging to find a wedding band to go with them.

Something like this, maybe? This place does custom design as well.

http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/gallery/gallery_detail.aspx?ImgID=56772

 

[Dreamer_D]

What size diamond would you buy for a solitaire if you won't use your grandmother's diamond?

Has your girlfriend told you she wants a highly stylized setting like the ones you pictures?

What about proposing with the loose diamond and giving her the choice of a) setting grandma's stone how she likes in a ring, or b) setting it in a pendant and you buy a ring together.

 

[mitch13]

Thanks for the quick responses! I'll try to get a picture of the ring at lunch so that I can give you guys a better idea.

If I were to keep my grandmother's diamond as the center... should I try to get old european cut side stones? It would definitely save me money that way. (My budget is about $3000). I'm just worried about the flashiness of the diamond... A jeweler looked at it but didn't appraise it. He said he'd sell it for $750 value it at $1000 and insure it for $2000....

A bezel setting is out of the picture if it were in a ring, I just don't think my gf would like that. However, I should be a lot more concerned about fitting in a wedding band that I was. Thanks E B!

I really like rose gold, and most of my gf's jewelry is in rose gold too. I also like a white/rose blend, but it's hard to find.

Maybe something more like this would be nice...

 

[mitch13]

I am more of a traditionalist guy in that I would want to surprise her with the ring... And to be honest, might have a better idea what she would like than she would be willing to pick out on her own... If she knew the price, she'd just want something minimalist.

I did show her some pictures of rings and she seemed to like rings with more filigree or patterned metal. She also liked a split shank ring and some of the 3 stone rings. She was only clear that she did not want any other colored jewels or something too bulky.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Hmmm... well I think its hubris to think YOU know better than she what she would like But ok, if that's what you want let's try and go in the direction of getting something she is likely to enjoy then.

Delicate setting, some filigree or engraving or patterning. That's pretty easy. I encourage you to pick something classic that has elements you know she will like if its a surprise. No wacky stylistic choices. Rose gold is a trendy choice, unless cultureally rose gold is more common? You mention her jewelery is rose gold, does she wear a lot of fancy jewelery? Or is the rose gold more "fun pieces"?

Finally, a three stone will eat up a lot of your budget. I recommend spending the most of your budget on the largest diamond you can get, and less on the setting, since the diamond is the show piece. So I guess it all depends on whether you use your grandmother's stone or not.

 

[mitch13]

yes, if I were to get a solitaire stone, I would end up getting one about the same size. .6-.7 carats. My gf, Olga... is from Belarus, so I think that it is more of a cultural thing that her other jewelry is rose gold. She does not have much, only a necklace that I gave her, a necklace from her Christening and a few rings.

 

[natascha]

yes, if I were to get a solitaire stone, I would end up getting one about the same size. .6-.7 carats. My gf, Olga... is from Belarus, so I think that it is more of a cultural thing that her other jewelry is rose gold. She does not have much, only a necklace that I gave her, a necklace from her Christening and a few rings.

Can you ask her what color gold she prefers? Although considering where she is from it is quite probable that she will love rose gold. I am from Sweden and we also use a more reddish tone of gold, first time my SO went looking at jewlery abroad he wispered to me "are you sure this is real gold, it is so yellow " .

You could get a rose gold shank with a white gold head (part that holds the diamond).

Does your grandmothers diamond sparkle well? Try taking it with you and comparing it to other stones (if possible to well cut old stones). Best thing would be if you could get it appraised to see if the chip is a durability issue and how well cut it is.

Is your grandmother's stone set? If so you could propose with that and then go looking at settings together. That way you get to keep your cake and eat it too.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If you use your grandmother's stone, it will go much better in an antique style setting as opposed to those very modern settings you first posted. Jonathan at Good Old Gold could tell you if the stone would benefit from some polishing, etc. to make it look better. A Beverley K setting in rose gold would be a nice choice and Good Old Gold sells those, too.

http://www.beverleyk.com/semi-mounts.html (even though it says white or yellow gold, I am sure these can be made in platinum and rose gold as well because people here have done so)

If you have the money to buy a new stone and setting, I would have this diamond set in a pendant as a wedding gift.

 

[mitch13]

natascha - my gf said she is unsure about white or rose gold... I've seen some great combinations but think I'd settle with rose because she also said she wouldn't be able to wear her other jewelry if the ring were white.

diamondseeker - love those beverly k settings and agree with you that the first ones i posted are too modern in hindsight...

Here's the best 2 pics I can come up with... It definitely could use some polishing and perhaps a setting might cover up the unevenness of the stone. You can kind of see a flatness to the round stone near the top right in these pics.



It actually looks better in person than in the pictures.

 

[LibbyLA]

Mitch,

Did the jeweler clean that ring? From your photos, it looks like a pretty ring. Do you not like the setting? It seems to have a combination of both yellow and white gold so your lady could wear yellow, white (and rose, as far as I'm concerned!) gold together. If you use the same setting, perhaps the diamond could be repositioned to hide the chip.

Can you take it to a different jeweler? Usually, the suggestion is to take it to an independent appraiser, and that's a good one, but you probably don't want to spend too much on an appraisal. Still, it would be good to know what you have. The jeweler may be telling you what he'd sell it for because he'd like to sell you a new ring.

You may be able to find a setting that's not a bezel setting but that would protect the diamond's girdle. I'm posting a photo of my .75 OEC that shows the very narrow "frame" around the diamond. In real life, you hardly see the circular "frame" but the setting makes the diamond look a lot bigger than it is and it helps protect the girdle.

I'm not familiar with all the setting vendors, but if that rim is something you think might work, there are regulars here who are very skilled at finding the perfect setting.

liz

 

[mitch13]

Yes it does have yellow and white and it was cleaned. You can see surface scratches on the diamond, so I assume it need polished.

I had 2 jewelers tell me that it was about 60 pts or maybe even more. I don't think I will have it appraised until I have it all set and need the insurance.

I do think it is pretty, but the setting is very worn and although it holds sentimental value, I don't want to be too cheap.

Your ring is gorgeous Liz... The bezel is not too bulky and doesn't hide the diamond much.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, that is a very pretty setting! I almost would say to leave it as it is and later give it to her as a right hand ring rather than take it apart to make a new e-ring if it is in good enough condition to wear.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I too love it as it is. I think you should find a really good jeweler who can unset the diamond, refurbish the setting to like new condition, maybe polish the diamonds, and then use it as it is! I mean, it is really that pretty. Its not cheap at all, but is throughful! And the time and energy you spend refurbishing the stone and the mount means something more than money.

 

[Laila619]

I too love it as it is. I think you should find a really good jeweler who can unset the diamond, refurbish the setting to like new condition, maybe polish the diamonds, and then use it as it is! I mean, it is really that pretty. Its not cheap at all, but is throughful! And the time and energy you spend refurbishing the stone and the mount means something more than money.

Agree! Do you have any good local jewelers with a skilled bench you can trust?

 

[swingirl]

Another vote for keeping the original setting. The shank can be strengthened, prongs remade, stone polished and everything cleaned up. I like the design as is.

I don't think an heirloom ring is cheap at all. Eventually she may prefer another style or stone but for now this is a perfect solution.

 

[distracts]

That is a GORGEOUS ring! The faceting on the stone looks lovely, though it looks like it could use a thorough cleaning and a polishing (and probably the stone needs polishing too - if that gets done, they can even polish out the chip probably).

I too love it as it is. I think you should find a really good jeweler who can unset the diamond, refurbish the setting to like new condition, maybe polish the diamonds, and then use it as it is! I mean, it is really that pretty. Its not cheap at all, but is throughful! And the time and energy you spend refurbishing the stone and the mount means something more than money.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I too love it as it is. I think you should find a really good jeweler who can unset the diamond, refurbish the setting to like new condition, maybe polish the diamonds, and then use it as it is! I mean, it is really that pretty. Its not cheap at all, but is throughful! And the time and energy you spend refurbishing the stone and the mount means something more than money.

Agree! Do you have any good local jewelers with a skilled bench you can trust?

Actually, I would hesitate to have a local jeweler do the job.

I would send the ring to Single Stone in LA. They apparently refurbish many many rings each month. They will do an immaculate job. Their prices for polishing etc are reasonable. Sure it might cost a tiny bit more, but the end product will be the BEST, and you have the budget if you use this ring to have it done by the best. So that is my STRONG vote.

 

[mitch13]

Thank you all! Here is another picture from the side - you can see how worn it is. I think there is even a split on the side of the setting. If I had the setting redone, is it possible to fit in say 2 .3ct OEC diamonds?

I've had a lot of trouble finding a good jeweler around here. Butler, PA. There is an antique jeweler not too far (Joden.com). Maybe they could offer some help.

 

[Laila619]

Actually, I would hesitate to have a local jeweler do the job.

I would send the ring to Single Stone in LA. They apparently refurbish many many rings each month. They will do an immaculate job. Their prices for polishing etc are reasonable. Sure it might cost a tiny bit more, but the end product will be the BEST, and you have the budget if you use this ring to have it done by the best. So that is my STRONG vote.

Yes, that would definitely be the best option I'm sure. Many of us, myself included, have had very bad experiences with local jewelers botching rings. PS vendors are just a whole other ball game, they seem to be much more skilled.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You need to get a new setting if you are wanting side stones. Either try to have that one restored as it is, or buy a new setting.

 

[LibbyLA]

Mitch,

My ring doesn't have a bezel, which is why I posted the photo. The entire diamond is visible, but it has a protective rim that also makes it look larger than it is. Thought it might be something to look for if you reset the center diamond.

If your fiancee-to-be would like this style, I think that money spent to refurbish it (polish the diamond, repair the setting, etc.) would be money well spent (unless it cost more than getting a new setting) and not cheap at all, but practical. If she wants a larger diamond later on, this ring could be a right-hand ring or an everyday e-ring, or the stone could be reset into a pendant.

It's probably not anything like what your (her) friends are wearing. Is that something she would be happy with or not?

liz

 

[mitch13]

liz - Oh I see that now... sorry, I don't have the best eye for these things. Still looks great!

I do in fact think that my gf would like this style...just not how beat up it is and perhaps not the yellow gold. Most of our friends are very conservative with their money and have very humble e-rings. Her one friend has a $15k ring and will rub it in her face, but she would much rather the money go towards a house or honeymoon or something and so would I.

Maybe a place like single stone be able to "recreate it" and add in a couple stones?

 

[LibbyLA]

Mitch,

Add some stones to the wedding band .

Given what you've said, it sounds like it's worth investigating having the original ring refurbished. She should still be able to wear her rose gold with yellow gold. They look a lot alike unless they are next to each other. Maybe you could do a tricolor wedding band to get all the colors in. The facts that your friends are conservative with their money and have practical (humble) e-rings, as well as the fact that you'd both rather spend your money on something other than the e-ring make "recycling" your grandmother's ring look like a great option as long as it doesn't cost too much to do it. Now if it's going to cost more to refurbish the original ring than to get a new antique-look setting that you both like, a new setting may be a better option.

Just don't dismiss the idea of refurbishing the original setting withing seeing whether it's feasible and reasonable.

I don't know much about Single Stone, but I've seen lots of good reviews here. If they can either refurbish or reset, they may be a good choice for you to send your ring to for professional advice on your options.

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

liz

 

[Dreamer_D]

A full reset from SS would be too pricey, their settings run into the $4k range even for a simple solitaire. I am not even sure about the price of the rehab, but it is NOT something I would have any old local jeweler do.

You can likely get another antique mount for a reasonable price, but finding one to fir that diamond is not easy. I think a nice rehab like swingirl described, along with a polish of the stone, is the best bet if you want the sentiment.

 

[mandasand]

If you decide NOT to have the setting rehabbed but want an antique style setting, check out settings from Leigh Jay Nacht:
http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=22

They will also set the stone for you. And, if you don't like any of the settings offered on the "settings" page, any setting in their "engagement ring" section that says "replica" they can make for you, but not every setting works for every size stone. So, you can ask. If you email them a setting you like they will tell you if it will fit your diamond and what the price is. You should be able to pick the metal too.

 

[vinjewels]

I am on the original setting train. It's beautiful! Yes a little worn, but a remake in wg would be very nice. I also second Leigh Jay Nacht for an antique (or replica setting).

 

[webdiva]

FYI - you can actually plate that ring in rose gold. Wannabuyawatch showed me one and it was gorgeous! So maybe rehab the ring, plate in rose gold and have it as a right hand ring if you upgrade!