New (old) ring; suggestions?

[DearBuddha]

Hi ladies!

My mother recently gifted me an antique diamond ring, and I''m in serious need of suggestions as to what I should do with it. Restore it, or remove the diamond and set it in a new setting to make it pop? The current setting is busted; the band is split, the prongs are nearly worn down to nothing, and the basket is pretty eroded. Additionally, the band is carved on the side to look like baguettes. Clearly, something has to be done if I want to wear this sparkly little beauty.

I''m not sure as to the stats of the stone itself, but from what I can guesstimate, it''s likely in the .20-.25 range, as the size seems to match up quite similarly to my e-ring''s sidestones. I think it''s an OEC, but due to the setting it''s hard to get a great picture for verification. the color seems a bit warm to me, but maybe it''s because it''s in a two-tone setting. As for clarity, I have no clue, but ladies, this sucker SPARKLES!

It''s in an illusion setting right now, but I''m not certain I love it. It makes the stone look bigger from a distance, but up close it just looks awful. I think the stone is too small for a solitaire setting, but what are your thoughts? Maybe I should turn it into a dainty 3-stone with some lovely little pears? Suggestions, please!

 

[DearBuddha]

Bad lighting; sorry, guys

 

[DearBuddha]

See the lack of prongs and the illusion setting?

 

[DearBuddha]

And the wrecked band...

 

[chiapet]

That looks almost exactly like my first ering, including the illusion setting. I took the stone out but kept the illusion band and made the whole thing into a pendant with a halo around it. It looks great and people usually think it''s just a huge single stone.
My other suggestion would be a 3 stone ring with 2 gemstones on the sides of the diamond.

 

[joelly]

I love old stuff. They are full of stories.

I am thinking of Tacori setting the model# 2620 if I''m not mistaken. Can''t wait to see what you''re going to do with it.

 

[DearBuddha]

Date: 9/20/2009 12:44:51 PM
Author: joelly
I am thinking of Tacori setting the model# 2620 if I''m not mistaken.

Oooh, pretty, but I think my stone is too small to work in this kind of setting. I love the idea of a halo, though.

 

[beechezz]

That diamond is screaming for a halo! Maybe a halo with colored stones instead of diamonds? (just a suggestion). I can''t wait to hear what you decide either!

 

[Porridge]

Date: 9/20/2009 6:06:14 PM
Author: beechezz
That diamond is screaming for a halo! Maybe a halo with colored stones instead of diamonds? (just a suggestion). I can''t wait to hear what you decide either!

Ooh yes I like this!

 

[DearBuddha]

I love the halo suggestion, ladies, but I really am concerned that the stone is too small for one; you don''t think it''d get lost in the execution? It''s such a teeny little thing.

The colored halo sounds lovely, but my e-ring features a blue center diamond, and I was thinking of something diamond specific.

Keep the recs coming, though; I love them!

 

[marcy]

Very pretty. I think it would be great in a halo.

 

[mitsui4]

nice.

 

[yssie]

So that''s what''s called an illusion setting! My FSIL''s ring looks exactly like that, with the same wave under the diamond. From further than a couple of feet it looks like a gigantic rock, and it sparkles in a way that I''ve never seen from my much-beloved RB - colours everywhere, all the time! It''s beautiful.

I love the idea of turning the whole head into a pendant, you''ll have a truly wearable vintage piece. I''d keep the stone in the setting, with minimal restoration - tipping the prongs, polishing. Maybe putting the whole head, illusion setting included, into a diamond halo - maybe a small airline?

 

[Fly Girl]

I''d check with a local jeweler about making repairs to the current ring. My mom is still wearing her diamond ring with an illusion head, and I have some pictures here. Link That head style really does make a modest diamond appear larger. Give it a try and see if you enjoy wearing the ring once it has been repaired. You can always make more changes later.

 

[Stone Hunter]

That''s a cool ring. I''ve seen the illusion settings before, but never the illusion of Bags on the sides. I''d try to restore it if poss.

HTH