Help! Yes or No? Buying a pave ring that needs sizing?

[bunnycat]

I found a ring the other day that interested me for a stacking band. In terms of style it is exactly what I am looking for, but the size is wrong. It is a size 7 and I wear a size 5.75 and it is a half eternity pave band.

It's 18K white gold, the stones are listed as G VS (well, VVS actually, but I have some doubts on that; I figured it might be a mistype) 13 diamonds total .39ct, so 3 pointers. It's the perfect size (carat weight and width) I was looking for and the shape of the band fits my ring very well.

I have a chance to purchase this and have a couple of questions.

How do the stones look to the experts here? I have a really hard time with photos like this. And of course, can this be safely sized down? (Seller says yes, but I'm not sure.) If y'all do think it could be sized, is under $350 a good deal for it? It would be to go with my e-ring which has G VS stones in the melee and I would want things to match up quality-wise.







My e-ring looks like this:



Thank y'all!

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Yes or No? Buying a pave ring that needs sizing?

I think you can find a 6 at that price or close to it, maybe even platinum on ebay. I've sized pave but when sizing pave down there is a risk, you need a super good bench who will go and check each stone in each groove and make sure it is tight afterward. Unless it was a unique band of some sort. I wouldn't risk it myself.

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Yes or No? Buying a pave ring that needs sizing?

I think you can find a 6 at that price or close to it, maybe even platinum on ebay. I've sized pave but when sizing pave down there is a risk, you need a super good bench who will go and check each stone in each groove and make sure it is tight afterward. Unless it was a unique band of some sort. I wouldn't risk it myself.

Thanks so much Gypsy for your input- this is indeed on eBay and though it's a seems like a good deal for what I want, I do have strong worries about the sizing. I do have someone I know I could get to check every stone if I had it sized, and like everything about it except for that problem.

As a side note, I am also looking for something similar for my index finger (which I always wear a ring on and now nothing looks good on it with my ering) so I also had it under alternate consideration for my index finger, which is a 7.5, so it would only have to go up 1/2 size. Do you think it would be a deal for that?

 

[Victor Canera]

Sizing pave shanks or bands isn't ideal.
The reason is, when downsizing, the diameter of the circle changes.
The area that will bend the most will be the weakest points on the shank.
The weakest points in pave shanks are the areas that have been drilled for pave to be set on. So, what happens is that the holes that hold the pave opens up. If it's a 1/4 size or 1/2 size it can be done. The bench would need to go over each stone to make sure that the beads holding the stones haven't opened up so much as stones to be loose. Depending on the finger size, a 1 size down is pretty serious. A 1.5 size is bordering on not doable. This is especially relevant for large diamond to metal pave types like u-cut (which that band seems to be). These types of pave use larger diamonds on the metal and drill larger\deeper holes on the shank.
Also, I don't think the seller would take it back after modifications like this have happened and it doesn't work out as planned. You might want to check on that with him.

Good luck.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Very excellent advice, Victor! Now to save this for the next time this question is asked!

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Yes or No? Buying a pave ring that needs sizing?

I think you can find a 6 at that price or close to it, maybe even platinum on ebay. I've sized pave but when sizing pave down there is a risk, you need a super good bench who will go and check each stone in each groove and make sure it is tight afterward. Unless it was a unique band of some sort. I wouldn't risk it myself.

Thanks so much Gypsy for your input- this is indeed on eBay and though it's a seems like a good deal for what I want, I do have strong worries about the sizing. I do have someone I know I could get to check every stone if I had it sized, and like everything about it except for that problem.

As a side note, I am also looking for something similar for my index finger (which I always wear a ring on and now nothing looks good on it with my ering) so I also had it under alternate consideration for my index finger, which is a 7.5, so it would only have to go up 1/2 size. Do you think it would be a deal for that?

Sizing up can be better than down. And if it's only 1/2 size it might be okay. It REALLY depends on the quality of the band though. My scott kays have been sized up a full size and they are okay. But not every band can take that.

Victor! So happy to see you here again! We've missed you and your excellent advice!

 

[bunnycat]

Sizing pave shanks or bands isn't ideal.
The reason is, when downsizing, the diameter of the circle changes.
The area that will bend the most will be the weakest points on the shank.
The weakest points in pave shanks are the areas that have been drilled for pave to be set on. So, what happens is that the holes that hold the pave opens up. If it's a 1/4 size or 1/2 size it can be done. The bench would need to go over each stone to make sure that the beads holding the stones haven't opened up so much as stones to be loose. Depending on the finger size, a 1 size down is pretty serious. A 1.5 size is bordering on not doable. This is especially relevant for large diamond to metal pave types like u-cut (which that band seems to be). These types of pave use larger diamonds on the metal and drill larger\deeper holes on the shank.
Also, I don't think the seller would take it back after modifications like this have happened and it doesn't work out as planned. You might want to check on that with him.

Good luck.

Thank you so much for taking time out to respond to me Victor. It is much appreciated. Really, I know the answer and the 1/4 to 1/2 sizing mantra so it was such wishful thinking on my part for the sizing up or down. It was a heat of the moment thing, when really I knew the answer if I'd just stopped to think.

I think if I do it, it will be to use it for my index finger, because I've decided not to wear any styles on that hand that might be distracting. But I am so used to wearing a ring on my index finger I "gotta" have something. Then it's a 1/2 size up and I feel a lot more confident about that working out. The seller would also be the one doing the sizing so perhaps if something goes wrong and stones start falling out, perhaps buyer protection might apply? Who knows...it's generally a bit risky disky on eBay anyway and I have until tomorrow to decide.

Thank y'all for your comments and explainations. They are much appreciated. Have any of y'all ever sized up a half size? Is that something you'd feel more comfortable about?


Victor- your work is breathtaking!

Oops- ETA- just saw Gypsy's comment about sizing up.