Help with antique ring

[Strandedknitter]

I'm new here and searching for information on having my antique sapphire ring repaired. I hope I'm in the correct forum to get some advice. The stone is an unheated color change sapphire. The setting is a very delicate filigree platinum mounting, and the stone has become loose. One of the prongs is broken and worn thin.

I've taken it to every local jeweler within an hour's drive. One tried to tighten the prongs some, but it didn't really help. He said the stone needs to be removed and the setting reseated, (I'm not sure what that involves?) but he doesn't work on platinum. And neither do any of the other Jewelers I've taken the ring to.

I very much want to keep my stone in its original setting for sentimental reasons, but it seems that won't be possible. Is my only option to have the stone reset, or is there somewhere I can send the ring to have it fixed?

These pictures were taken before I accidentally smacked my hand against a metal door last week and broke one of the prongs. The stone was already loose before that happened.

 

[chrono]

I don't see why the prong cannot be rebuilt. Not knowing where you are, I'm not sure who to recommend that might be close enough for you to drive to. Are you open to mailing the ring to a jeweller?

 

[Strandedknitter]

That's what I thought, but the jeweler told me the stone has been rubbing against the setting for so many years that it's worn down the area where the stone is seated. I don't really understand what he meant, but according to him it needs more than just the prong fixed. I would be willing to mail it for repair if I have to.

 

[chrono]

I do not know if SingleStone does repairs for "outside" jewellery but they specialize in antique jewellery.
http://singlestone.com

 

[minousbijoux]

Its hard to tell without a profile shot, but it also could be that the sapphire is a shallow cut stone, and your jeweler would like to make the setting safer for it in the event that one or two prongs were to come loose/break over time. It certainly looks to be beautiful stone and a pretty setting, but its hard to see much because your pictures are small.

 

[Michael_E]

I very much want to keep my stone in its original setting for sentimental reasons, but it seems that won't be possible. Is my only option to have the stone reset, or is there somewhere I can send the ring to have it fixed?

I would definitely keep that stone in that setting too....after it was taken out, the setting repaired and the stone reset into that setting. Taking it out is a no risk proposition and fixing platinum is actually easier than fixing other precious metals since it doesn't oxidize and it solders and welds very smoothly. I used to rebuild these old settings for a buddy who would travel around the country in his motor home and buy up old settings from pawn brokers and jewelers who were going to scrap them. The platinum ones were by far the least worn and easiest to fix.

In talking to a local jeweler, talk to someone who actually works at the bench and has either a laser or pulsed arc welder. Either of these tools can fix that setting up with out any issue and leave the end result as good as new. If you talk to a sales person you will often get the wrong information and usually never a good reference, (bench jewelers typically know everyone in town and can point you to someone good if they can't do the work).

 

[minousbijoux]

I very much want to keep my stone in its original setting for sentimental reasons, but it seems that won't be possible. Is my only option to have the stone reset, or is there somewhere I can send the ring to have it fixed?

I would definitely keep that stone in that setting too....after it was taken out, the setting repaired and the stone reset into that setting. Taking it out is a no risk proposition and fixing platinum is actually easier than fixing other precious metals since it doesn't oxidize and it solders and welds very smoothly. I used to rebuild these old settings for a buddy who would travel around the country in his motor home and buy up old settings from pawn brokers and jewelers who were going to scrap them. The platinum ones were by far the least worn and easiest to fix.

In talking to a local jeweler, talk to someone who actually works at the bench and has either a laser or pulsed arc welder. Either of these tools can fix that setting up with out any issue and leave the end result as good as new. If you talk to a sales person you will often get the wrong information and usually never a good reference, (bench jewelers typically know everyone in town and can point you to someone good if they can't do the work).

Good to know.

 

[iLander]

ID Jewelry in New York has done some very delicate work for me, they have all the resources of the NYC Diamond District at their disposal. For me, they've set an emerald, done tiny claw prongs on a sapphire and mounted an odd-shaped stone into a standard setting. They know a LOT of people, who can do even the most obscure things.

Email Luann, and send her a link to this thread : Luann <[email protected]> so she sees your pics and that you're from Pricescope. She can give you an estimate.

 

[Strandedknitter]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Here's a profile picture showing the damage. You can see the broken prong as well as a couple of cracks in the setting. And for comparison the other side, which is in much better condition.

 

[Strandedknitter]

Its hard to tell without a profile shot, but it also could be that the sapphire is a shallow cut stone, and your jeweler would like to make the setting safer for it in the event that one or two prongs were to come loose/break over time. It certainly looks to be beautiful stone and a pretty setting, but its hard to see much because your pictures are small.

The stone is very deep. The bottom is even even with the setting. It touches my finger when I wear it. I posted some more pictures, hopefully they're a little better.

 

[Strandedknitter]

I very much want to keep my stone in its original setting for sentimental reasons, but it seems that won't be possible. Is my only option to have the stone reset, or is there somewhere I can send the ring to have it fixed?

I would definitely keep that stone in that setting too....after it was taken out, the setting repaired and the stone reset into that setting. Taking it out is a no risk proposition and fixing platinum is actually easier than fixing other precious metals since it doesn't oxidize and it solders and welds very smoothly. I used to rebuild these old settings for a buddy who would travel around the country in his motor home and buy up old settings from pawn brokers and jewelers who were going to scrap them. The platinum ones were by far the least worn and easiest to fix.

In talking to a local jeweler, talk to someone who actually works at the bench and has either a laser or pulsed arc welder. Either of these tools can fix that setting up with out any issue and leave the end result as good as new. If you talk to a sales person you will often get the wrong information and usually never a good reference, (bench jewelers typically know everyone in town and can point you to someone good if they can't do the work).

Very helpful information,thank you. I've actually decided to go ahead and have the stone reset into a simple solitaire for now. I will hang onto the original setting and hope to find someone who can restore it in the future.