Help/ advice when changing center stone

[mara82]

I love my engagement ring, but I wasn''t being realistic when I asked for it. It is a three stone ring with center tanzanite, and two alexandrite side stones. Since I''m am ruining the center stone by wearing the ring(AAA+ picture doesn''t do it justice) I am looking into replacing it with a diamond. I like rounds and cushions(it is currently a round) but I''m assuming that the new stone would have to be the same size and shape as the original.

My question is this, what is the process I can expect when having the stone replaced? How much labor is involved from the jeweler? Will I have to go with a stone of the same size and shape?

Thanks for your help. I don''t want to go to a jeweler without some background as I don''t want to be taken advantage of.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Your ring is gorgeous! You''ll need a stone of similar size and shape unless you really want to get into a lot of modifications/basically re-building your entire ring (probably more cost and effort than it''s worth...at that point you should just design a new setting

)

I would call one of the well respected vendors on here to get an idea of your options. If you know the dimensions of your current center stone you can look for a diamond that is very close in measurements (ct weight doesn''t matter at this point, it''s all about the mm)

 

[mara82]

Thanks so much for the advice. I would like to do as little to the structure of the ring as much as possible. My current center is a 7mm round, so I will start looking for a diamond of similar dimensions.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Your ring is lovely.

A 7mm round diamond is about 1.3ct. I don''t know how much research you have done, but that will run anywhere from $7-10k depending on the specs. I might consider just having a new setting made to make sure it is done right since the relative cost of the setting is so small. Then you can keep your e-ring as it is.