My diamond ring,the story behind it and a request for help!

[Natylad]

A few days ago i was going through my jewellry box and i finally decided to try on again a ring that was given to me as a gift from my mom, when i gave birth to my daughter, nine years ago. I was going through a very bad and difficult time with my ex husband back then and even though i was giving birth to our child, i knew for a fact that our marriage was over already. I never received a baby gift from him (not that i wished for it at that point anyway...) and my mom thought that she would make me feel happier at that sad time if she gave me a diamond ring as a celebration gift for the new baby. She had a ring custom made with 7 RB diamonds, G color and VS1 clarity, 0.94 ct total weight and set on an 18ct white gold setting.
At the time i had gained a lot of weight due to the pregnancy (appr. 25 kilos

) and my fingers were of a bigger size, so after some months i had the ring resized to fit. Now, after eight years and at least 15 kilos less, it''s again too big for me to wear

.
I had kept it in the box for a long time, not only due to the fact that it was too big to wear, but also because for some reason, it always reminded me of those sad times that i was trying to leave in the past...
Now i''m engaged to be married in May and it seems that nothing can make me feel blue anymore, so it''s time to see what to do with the baby ring

I was thinking of sizing it down (again

), but it seems that it can''t afford being sized down more. I can see that already its shape is disfigured and the thick upper part of it doesn''t allow the lower part to bend any more, so that it can get smaller. I''m also afraid that if i do anything of the sort the diamonds might eventually fall off the ring and be lost

I thought of resetting the diamonds but i can''t quite decide on what to do with them...I''d wish to keep the original setting since it has sentimental value, but i''m afraid that it''s not an option...

So what do you guys think that i should do? Any suggestions will be very much appreciated...
(I''m sorry for the low quality of the pictures, but as i''ve said on previous threads, the combination of a bad photographer with a bad camera, leads to bad pictures

)

 

[Natylad]

The picture isn''t doing justice to the diamonds...they are very sparkly and white!

 

[Natylad]

profile view...

 

[Natylad]

closer handshot...

 

[Natylad]

The inside of the ring...

 

[Natylad]

...

 

[LadyLilac]

For starters, I think you have just lovely hands. What a special piece of jewelry, and how great for your mom to step up when you needed to feel loved!

If it would not hurt your mom''s feelings to have the ring re-set (big consideration), then I would have it re-set if I were you. You appear to have lots of metal and lots of bling to work with, and with so many wonderful custom jewelers at your fingertips, I am certain you could walk away with a stunning piece of eye candy (that won''t fall off your finger). There are so many possibilities, that the sky is really the limit. What would you say your "style" is? Do you have any thoughts of what you might like the re-set to look like?

 

[Callisto]

Perhaps you can even have the metal from the original setting melted and used for the new setting? I don''t have any experience repurposing metal like that but it seems that some people here have had old jewelry metal repurposed to be used for new pieces. I''m sure you could even design it to bear significant resemblance to the current ring, while changing it slightly to represent both your past and your future. Its a beautiful ring but its a shame to let it sit in a jewelry box any longer.

 

[Callisto]

Perhaps you can even have the metal from the original setting melted and used for the new setting? I don''t have any experience repurposing metal like that but it seems that some people here have had old jewelry metal repurposed to be used for new pieces. I''m sure you could even design it to bear significant resemblance to the current ring, while changing it slightly to represent both your past and your future. Its a beautiful ring but its a shame to let it sit in a jewelry box any longer.

 

[Callisto]

Perhaps you can even have the metal from the original setting melted and used for the new setting? I don''t have any experience repurposing metal like that but it seems that some people here have had old jewelry metal repurposed to be used for new pieces. I''m sure you could even design it to bear significant resemblance to the current ring, while changing it slightly to represent both your past and your future. Its a beautiful ring but its a shame to let it sit in a jewelry box any longer.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You certainly do have beautiful hands! Will it not work on your right hand? If not, I might do something like making a diamonds by the yard necklace since the stones would be a good size for that. It would look too much like a wedding band to just reset the diamond in a simple band, I think.

 

[CasaBlanca]

Hum, Callisto...would you mind repeating that? I am still not certain I got your intention. Ha Just kidding. Timed out I am sure! (in case the admin fixes it, her post was repeated three times!)

Nat,

I would rather see you do something with the stones and enjoy them...than leaving them in a ring that is too large to wear stowed away in a box. If you were wanting to preserve the setting, perhaps it could be reshaped and reset into a journey shape long pendant. That way the strength of the shank won''t be an issue. You would still have the hearts...but now they would be close to yours. (and it sounds as if a journey you have definitely come through!)

But I feel that you are wanting to incorporate the thought that the gift was presented in...to give you happiness then...to the happiness you are stepping forward with now...and a NEW BEGINNING and new setting seems fitting. If I understood that correctly, just looking at the setting reminds you of another time, you would rather not.

If you were to explain that to your mom... I really don''t think she would take offense. I bet she will embrace the change and look forward to a new piece that you can really enjoy heading into this new chapter in your life.

~silly thought, but If you can come up with one more similar stone...you can use the 8 to commemorate the baby that once was...that is 8 now in the new setting.

 

[gemdandy]

Are sizing beads an option?

 

[Tuckins1]

What a sweet ring! I think maybe you could use the metal and have a lovely 7 stone ring made! (Perhaps a single prong type?)

 

[marcy]

Very pretty ring. I am glad you are at a good place now so you can enjoy your ring. Have you talked to a jeweler about sizing it? I would ask about sizing beads too.

 

[Natylad]

Thank you all so much for your replies and your ideas

diamondseeker: I wouldn''t wear this ring on my left hand anyway, since i''m engaged and my left hand is occupied by my diamond solitaire and my half eternity band! i tried it on the right hand and it''s still really big

The necklace idea is very good but the truth is that i don''t really wear necklaces or pendants and i''m afraid that if i used the diamonds for a necklace, they''d still end up in the box

Callisto: I don''t know if the jeweller would use the exact same white gold of my ring, in order to make a new piece. I wish he did, but i''m afraid that if i give the ring for melting, it would be as if i''m really kissing it good bye forever

You''re definitely right about the fact that i should finally take the poor ring out of...detention and out of the box!!!

Casablanca: Indeed i don''t think that my mom would have a serious problem with me using the ring to make a different piece, even though i believe that she''d prefer that i loved the ring the way it is, if you know what i mean!!

 

[Natylad]

Ladylilac: Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment

I really like the eternity and half eternity rings

I already have a half eternity ring which is a gift from my fiance and which i''m wearing as a set with my engagement ring. I could use the stones of the baby ring for an eternity ring to wear as a RHR, but i''m afraid that with all the expenses for the upcoming wedding, i couldn''t afford the rest of the diamonds right now

Gemdandy: How do sizing beads work?I''ve never seen a ring with sizing beads!!

Tuckins1 and Marcy C: Thank you so much for the sweet words! As i''ve said previously, i think that a seven stone ring would resemble too much to my current half eternity band...But Marcy, i should definitely investigate the sizing beads issue!!

 

[blingmyring]

Hi Naty,

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage ! I have a 5-stone anniversary band that I don''t wear anymore because I prefer my full eternity. Thanks to this wonderful thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/another-creation-from-sally-at-etsy.117985/ , I am hoping to one day set the 5 diamonds in a bangle bracelet.

 

[Natylad]

Blingmyring, i really love the bangle idea

I checked out the thread that you posted and i honestly believe that it is a very beautiful piece. I can already imagine how blingy your bangle bracelet will be, since you will be using more than one diamonds

to be set on it!!!
As far as my recycling project is concerned, i think that maybe i should use the sizing beads idea for the time being, so that i can wear the ring the way it is and when my budjet allows it, buy more diamonds of same size and color (to match the ones on the ring), in order to make a full eternity ring...

Ohhh...I would LOVE the full eternity ring

 

[hmr_mama]

If it were me, I would have Brian Gavin make me a custom piece. I would see if he could make the attached ring a pink sapphire/diamond ring:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5389

The hearts remind me of the hearts inside your ring. And the pink sapphires represent your daughter. If you''re paying for a wedding--I would wait to repurpose your ring until you can afford something you truly love and will want to wear!

 

[Natylad]

I just lost a looong post that i''ve been writing, without clicking any wrong button at all...grrr...

Hmr mama: Thank you soooo much for the great idea!!!

I checked out the ring that you are suggesting at the Brian Gavin site and it looks amazing!! The hearts are sooo cool! The only problem is that it is very bulky and i''m afraid that if i wear it, i''ll have little gaps between my fingers, which i wouldn''t like (plus, i suspect that it would be very painful every time i''d try shaking hands with somebody!!). While i was looking at diamond bands at Brian Gavin, i saw a beautiful pink sapphire and diamond bezel band ring, which i really liked and seemed flatter. I wonder if Brian Gavin would accept making it with bigger size stones, in order to match the ones i already have. Do you think that it would be possible to send my ring to Brian Gavin safely from Greece?

The idea of shipping a diamond ring to the other side of the world gives me the scares

Also, if i e mailed to Brian Gavin the specs of my current diamonds and explained what i have in mind, do you think that they could give me a quote on the ring that i have in mind?
You''re right that it would be best to postpone the project for a while and wait until my budjet allows me to make a piece that will really make me happy and "speak to my heart"!
By the way...your idea is brilliant and perfect for one more reason: Right now i''m wearing a diamond solitaire engagement ring that my fiance'' got for me recently, but my original engagement ring is an oval, pink sapphire, set with six diamonds on an 18ct white gold setting (i''m attaching the picture). Don''t you think that it would make a great right hand set with the bezel band we''re discussing?

 

[Natylad]

Oops! The picture didn''t attach on the previous post. Here it is now...

 

[hmr_mama]

I think that would be BEAUTIFUL!! I have been eyeing that same band for quite awhile. I told my husband he could get it for me for Mother''s Day...if he wanted!

Brian Gavin does do custom design....and I''m sure if you gave him your diamond specs/band ideas he would give you a quote. Once you actually sign on with him to design your ring I''m sure he will charge a deposit (usually $250-$350). If you agree to go ahead with the design this money is used toward the cost of the ring. If you decide not to go ahead with the ring...the deposit is almost always non-refundable.

And I totally understand your hesitation to send your band overseas....but that''s why you insure!!!!

 

[Natylad]

Alright guys, quick update on the baby ring issue!

So the other day i went to the jeweller to pick up a pair of cufflinks, which my mother had ordered, in order to offer them to my fiance as a wedding gift...
Knowing that i''m going there, i put in my bag the box with the baby ring

We discussed my options (at the beggining he said that he thought it was a sin to alter the ring coz it was so beautiful and original and unique and bla-bla, etc, etc). I told him that there''s no way that i''ll ever wear this ring again the way it is...So he said that since my current half eternity band is small and the diamonds are tiny, it would be best if i used the diamonds of the baby ring for a new half eternity band, which would compliment much better my engagement ring. He also said that in that way, i''d be able to wear the diamonds every day and make up for all the lost time that they were hidden in a drawer!

Even though at the beginning i wasn''t thinking of using the diamonds for a new half eternity band, i was convinced

I was picturing those sparklers right next to my engagement ring and i couldn''t resist. Indeed i believe that i''ll be wearing the new ring every day, i''ll enjoy it and i''ll be able to look at those diamonds all the time

Needless to say that i am extremely excited and i just CAN''T CALM DOWN

The waiting will kill me

He said that he''ll try his best in order to finish the custom made setting that i finally chose in fifteen days...Then, he''ll call me and ask me to go check it out and make sure that everything is alright. After i approve of it, he''ll mount the diamonds

Alright, so...Do you think that there will be any noticeable difference between the VS1, G color diamonds of the half eternity band with my ER''s diamond which is a VVS2, E color?

When i put them the one next to the other (as much as i can, given the bulk of the baby ring). i think that i can see a noticeable difference in color...but then again maybe i''m also prejudiced coz i am aware of the color difference and now the idea is stuck in my mind

I really hope that it works out well...I''ll start a new thread with pictures when i get the ring and in the mean time i''ll keep you guys posted about any new developments! Thoughts and opinions will be much appreciated!

 

[motownmama]

good solution and in reality I don''t thinkt he color diff will be visible in real life.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

can''t wait to see it!!!

 

[PumpkinPie]

I''m glad you found a solution. The colour/clarity differences won''t be noticeable in that combination.
Can''t wait for pictures !

 

[gemgirl]

How exciting for you! You''ll really be fine wearing your E e-ring with your new G band. As a rule of thumb, we try to stay within two color grades, so you''re fine there; but it''s also easier to wear two different color grades in higher colors than it is in lower colors. Higher color grades "lack" noticable body color. So it''s likely you may not see much of a difference at all, depending on how color sensitive your eyes are. I''d worry more if you were trying to make coordinates out of an H or I e-ring and a K or L diamond band. Those color grades have body color and you''d likely see it. KWIM?

The two weeks will fly by!

 

[Natylad]

Motownmama, Bella mezzo, Maevie, Gemgirl, thank you all for the replies and for putting my mind at ease about the color difference

!!! I can''t wait to put on my finger the new ring!!!

If it wasn''t for all of you and pricescope, that piece would be still sitting and looking good...in its box

PS is a true inspiration!!!