Opal ring project

[maebelle]

I have this opal ring which used to be my mothers, She wore it daily for about 5 years as a teenager, then I wore it for about the same amount of time before... BAM! A huge chip! Definitely expected with a stone like an opal. I'm not sure of the origins, but it's got a blue-white base and flashes blue, green and pink. Before the giant chip it was about a 7 X 5 pear and about 3 mm deep.

I'm hoping to reset the same setting with an other opal. My question, what is the best way to go about this? I know I'll need to get better measurements of the basket before purchasing a stone. Would going to a jeweler to source and set be best, or is there a vendor who might be able to source, or cut one for me?

Thanks!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I dont' really have any advice, but it's a lovely ring!

You could consider Michael E (of the Gemshoppe), he's a lapidary as well as a jeweler, so maybe if you just sent him the entire ring he could cut a opal cab to fit?

 

[VapidLapid]

Browse these for unset stones there could be one that would fit and or contact any of them for a custom cut

http://opal-trader.com/solid-opal.asp

http://www.koroit.com/koroit.com/Home.html

http://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/unset-opals

http://www.hostingwell.com/~opalnet/index.htm

 

[Aoife]

What a lovely ring, and the history of it is wonderful, too! I hope you are able to find a replacement opal so you can wear it again soon.

 

[Burberrygirl]

What a lovely ring, and the history of it is wonderful, too! I hope you are able to find a replacement opal so you can wear it again soon.

Me too, I hope you're able to replace it soon. The design is very pretty!

 

[SB621]

I would also contact bary at ACStones.com. he has some opals recently and he is lovely to work with.

 

[chrono]

That’s such a pretty ring and deserves to be worn. You could ask a lapidary if he/she’s able to fashion another 7x5x3 mm cabochon opal or shop around for one.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Would you consider a well priced* doublet/triplet? The quartz layer over the opal would give it some protection from day to day wear.

* by well priced, I mean that the seller isn't charging for it as thought it were a solid opal, as I have seen done

 

[maebelle]

I have never even thought about a doublet or triplet, do the make them in pears? I've only seen ovals/rounds.

I've contact micheal e this morning and will take the broken ring with me to interval next weekend. Hopefully one or the other will yield results.

 

[LD]

Oh no, please don't go with a doublet or triplet In all honesty, a 7x5 of the colouration of your opal will be reasonably easy to find AND won't cost a lot.

These guys cut opals and as you can see their pricing is reasonable. It's well worth getting in touch with them. I'm sure they could help. This one is bigger than you need but you get an idea of pricing.

http://www.internetopals.com/opals/solids/wso/wso-582.htm

You could also try here as I know some of our well-loved lapidarists use them to source opals:

http://www.opalauctions.com/

Here are some pears for auction:
http://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/black-opal/black-opal-pairs/item-21361
http://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/nr-opals/item-252738
http://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/ethiopian-opals/welogondar-opals/item-250044 This is scrummy!
http://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/mexican-opals/item-249251 This is a bit bigger than you want but could work
http://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/crystal-opal/crystal-opal-pairs/item-186074 This would fit your setting AND you've have some to play with!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

LD - I mentioned doublts not because of price, but durability. The quartz layer is rather more durable and can be polished without effecting the colour play, if necessary.

 

[LD]

LD - I mentioned doublts not because of price, but durability. The quartz layer is rather more durable and can be polished without effecting the colour play, if necessary.

Oh I see! I've got to say though that as an Opal lover, doublets and triplets make me shiver!!! It's like having a Skoda and putting a Rolls Royce cover around it! Okay, bad analogy but you know what I mean!

 

[maebelle]

So I'm definitely going with Michael E, Now I just need the time to ship him the ring. I'll keep you guys up to date. Thanks again!

 

[maebelle]

I'm super excited for this! Michael says he should be able to ship by tomorrow and hopefully the terrible weather won't screw with shipping cross country too much. I don't have any pictures, but I thought I'd at least post the rough I choose.

I'm so glad to finally have something to share here!


mine is the one on the right.

 

[maebelle]

I just got pictures and I'm bursting at the seems to share them ( haha, for some reason my boyfriend hasn't texted me back with nearly the same enthusiasm as when I sent him them)



I'll post hand shots along with my sphene cocktail ring (which should arrive around the same time ASAP.

I must be a glutton for punishment to have two new soft rings, but I wear opals quite often and definitely don't wear them everyday anymore (or playing pool for that matter) I don't think it helped the old opal that my mother said she SWAM with it on in both the ocean and chlorinated pools when she was a teenager.

 

[Treenbean]

awww it looks sooo good. What a difference. Kudos to you! I think a lot of people would have just shoved the ring with the chipped opal into a jewelry box and left it there. It looks fantastic and I love the play of color on the new opal. Congrats.

 

[Kismet]

Yay! It looks lovely. Good job picking out a replacement opal.

 

[lavatea]

I'm so glad I saw this thread. Michael did a fantastic job on that opal, and your ring is lovely!

I have a sentimental opal ring myself that needs another new stone (for I think the 4th time now). I'm hoping to have it bezeled this time around, and since Michael also does jewelry work, I'm definitely going to contact him when the funds come together.

 

[kelpie]

Beautiful results!

 

[Burberrygirl]

Wow! It's beautiful, Michael E did an amazing job!

 

[stci]

A-do-ra-ble! Great job from Michael!