opinions on altering T&Co e-ring? jewelers in Philly area?

[bootsiekin]

Hi everyone, (it was suggested to me to move this post to here)

Some people may have noticed I have made a few posts recently, and I wanted to see if anyone had ever done what I am contemplating, or had opinions on whether or not to go through with it...

History:
I have the RB with bead-set band e-ring from Tiffany : http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/item.aspx?GroupSku=GRP10020&selectedSku=18853353#f+9/0/0/0/0/0

I didn''t know DH had been ring shopping, wasn''t aware of the huge mark up early on enough to return the ring, etc. I have always been dissatisfied with the size of the center stone (0.57ct) and the fact that it is F, VVS1 doesn''t really make up for wishing I had a larger stone.

We don''t want to upgrade through Tiffanys, because for one, we don''t really have the budget to spend the required amount to upgrade (and with only 3 years left to decide - you have to upgrade within 5 years, I doubt our money situation will be drastically different in that time frame), and I want to basically keep the same ring I have now, as I really like the setting and have the matching wedding band. The approx.1ct version from Tiffanys is priced significantly lower than what we would be "forced" to purchase with the upgrade plan. However, upgrading is overshadowed by the fact that DH is squeamish about not keeping the original ring/diamond he proposed with, though he says to do what will make me happy and satisfied.

A friend suggested purchasing a loose stone (somewhat lower color and clarity) and having it put in the Tiffany setting, and keeping the original stone and reset it for an anniversary down the road, most likely in a 3 stone ring. I know Tiffany would not do this work, so I would have to find a reputable jeweler to do it (I am in the Philly suburbs- any recommendations?) DH is much happier with this idea rather than trading in the original to upgrade or selling the original to buy a new ring.

What would be the downside of dismantling the Tiffany ring? Do you think they would no longer guarantee the quality of the bead-set diamonds in the setting since the setting had been "altered"? Any other disadvantages? I am assuming the basket would need to be replaced as we are thinking about going to around 0.9ct stone(?)

Your thoughts are appreciated..I am very excited at the prospect of having a stone closer to the size I have always wanted, but I guess I am wondering if it seems like a crazy idea?

 

[lesco]

Ha, I thought about doing this back in the day. My original e-ring is a tiff solitaire, .25 RB. I still love it and use it, even after my upgrade.

I personally don''t think this is a good idea. See the responses I got when I asked a similar question. Take care!
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/can-i-use-my-tiffany-setting-with-a-larger-stone.77611/

 

[bootsiekin]

Date: 6/28/2009 11:26:42 AM
Author: lesco
Ha, I thought about doing this back in the day. My original e-ring is a tiff solitaire, .25 RB. I still love it and use it, even after my upgrade.


I personally don''t think this is a good idea. See the responses I got when I asked a similar question. Take care!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/can-i-use-my-tiffany-setting-with-a-larger-stone.77611/

Hi lesco,
You and I had/have very similar experiences! I also found the ring I wanted on SignedPieces..a 0.94ct version of my ring from Tiff. I was *this* close to going for it, but DH really doesn''t want to give up the original and was really put off by the price they offered to give us for my current ring, even if it is accurate for the market. I delayed since he didn''t seem to like that idea, and now that ring is no longer available...

I feel just like you said in your last post in that thread: "That''s the thing. I don''t really care if it''s tiff or not....My original thought was to salvage something out of the original ring, for sentimental reasons, and upgrade the stone. Based on the info. I got from tiff. I would have to give up the whole ring! I guess they don''t do custom work. Please correct me if I''m wrong." (no one replied again after this)

If my current ring had a larger diamond that I was happy with, I would never plan on selling the ring, so if the "Tiffany value" is gone, it wouldn''t really matter (to me, anyway)..and I hope that if I were to pass it down I would be very clear that it had been changed, but I would still have the original Tiff diamond that went with the ring. I keep going back and forth between not wanting to change it just because it is a "Tiffany" but in the end, it is a ring just like any other and people do this sort of thing all the time...

 

[lesco]

Date: 6/28/2009 11:55:07 AM
Author: bootsiekin

Date: 6/28/2009 11:26:42 AM
Author: lesco
Ha, I thought about doing this back in the day. My original e-ring is a tiff solitaire, .25 RB. I still love it and use it, even after my upgrade.


I personally don''t think this is a good idea. See the responses I got when I asked a similar question. Take care!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/can-i-use-my-tiffany-setting-with-a-larger-stone.77611/

Hi lesco,
You and I had/have very similar experiences! I also found the ring I wanted on SignedPieces..a 0.94ct version of my ring from Tiff. I was *this* close to going for it, but DH really doesn''t want to give up the original and was really put off by the price they offered to give us for my current ring, even if it is accurate for the market. I delayed since he didn''t seem to like that idea, and now that ring is no longer available...

I feel just like you said in your last post in that thread: ''That''s the thing. I don''t really care if it''s tiff or not....My original thought was to salvage something out of the original ring, for sentimental reasons, and upgrade the stone. Based on the info. I got from tiff. I would have to give up the whole ring! I guess they don''t do custom work. Please correct me if I''m wrong.'' (no one replied again after this)

If my current ring had a larger diamond that I was happy with, I would never plan on selling the ring, so if the ''Tiffany value'' is gone, it wouldn''t really matter (to me, anyway)..and I hope that if I were to pass it down I would be very clear that it had been changed, but I would still have the original Tiff diamond that went with the ring. I keep going back and forth between not wanting to change it just because it is a ''Tiffany'' but in the end, it is a ring just like any other and people do this sort of thing all the time...

I''m not 100% sure if tiff. would do custom yet I don''t think they do. I did not look into it because I decided to keep my original ring as is. I would advise against altering the your ring though. I am very nervous about that sort of stuff. I would rather trade it in ( to tiffany''s or another vendor i.e signed pieces), than attempt to modify the ring.

 

[bootsiekin]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I would try bumping this back to the top to see if I get any more opinions..so far I have one for (from SMTR - PSer who thought it shouldnt be a problem as long as I use a reputable jeweler who guarantees their work since altering the setting will void any guarantee from Tiffs), and one against (as you see above).

Any other opinions? Like I mentioned, I want to keep the identical setting to what I have now (as I really like it and have the matching WB), but DH would prefer not trading it in so we still have the original diamond he proposed with..

 

[bgray]

personally i would alter the ring--if you are happy with the design and want to keep it as is-- just with a larger stone ..........Tiffany --as you know--is massively overpriced and the upgrade policy just perpetuates that--again you know this. I would absolutely buy a stone and have it re-set into that mounting.

i have upgraded three times and i am not at all sentimental nor is my husband. its just a ring--i couldnt be more in love with him 15 years later--the ring is just a beautiful piece of jewelry to me

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I never heard of a rule that you had to upgrade a T & Co ring within 5 years. I did hear that if you want to do a trade-in, the new stone has to be worth at least twice as much as the one you''re trading.

 

[oldminer]

If the T&Co ring has a standard head in it that can be removed and a larger head soldered into the spot where the old one fit, then it will be easy to do. If the prongs are integral with the ring''s shank, then it probably won''t be a possibliity tio change, or may be much more difficult. There are many places on Jeweler''s Row and out near where I am in Horsham, PA which might do a decent job for you. Certainly, in your area of the suburbs, there is someone willing and able if the ring can be worked on. It is not a big deal if the ring is designed to be altered.

 

[bootsiekin]

Thanks for your replies!

Madam Bijoux you do need to upgrade within 5 years of the purchase date - I verified this with Tiff customer service..

bgray exactly right..I am happy with the design, and just wish for a larger stone. and yes I agree with you that upgrading just ensures that you overspend twice instead of once!

oldminer thanks for your input! Can you recommend some places for me to check out and verify that the work could be done? (I am not originally from this area, but I am living in the KOP area right now) Unfortunately I cant post a good picture of the head since I do not have a macro setting on my camera, but here is a picture of the same ring from the Tiffany website. Does it look like the head could be easily altered?

Thanks again!

 

[bgray]

old miner may have more to say but i believe that head could easily be removed and replaced

 

[jstarfireb]

You know, as someone who lives in Philly and loves jewelry, it''s surprising that I actually haven''t been to Jewelers'' Row!!! So I couldn''t really recommend a good one from personal experience. However, my friend got her engagement ring from Barsky Diamonds and is very happy with them. I can''t speak to how skilled their bench workers are or if they would be able to do this, but I figured I''d give you the recommendation because it''s all I''ve got. I usually just go with a jeweler who is a family friend in Lancaster (which is probably too far for you, being 60 miles out of Philly).

 

[bootsiekin]

Date: 6/29/2009 7:36:18 PM
Author: jstarfireb
You know, as someone who lives in Philly and loves jewelry, it''s surprising that I actually haven''t been to Jewelers'' Row!!! So I couldn''t really recommend a good one from personal experience. However, my friend got her engagement ring from Barsky Diamonds and is very happy with them. I can''t speak to how skilled their bench workers are or if they would be able to do this, but I figured I''d give you the recommendation because it''s all I''ve got. I usually just go with a jeweler who is a family friend in Lancaster (which is probably too far for you, being 60 miles out of Philly).

Hi jstarfireb! I have never been there either, but I have a local friend who said she could take me if I want to check it out. I will keep Barksy in mind..what is the name of your jeweler in Lancaster? DH used to work there and his parents live in New Holland, so we are in that area sometimes.

 

[jstarfireb]

I go to 2 jewelers in Lancaster, and they''re just about a mile apart. Mark Sheely (corner of Miller Rd. and Rte. 72) is a family friend who has a small "mom and pop" type of store; he deals with a lot of estate and consignment pieces. My family has sent a few stones to him to be set - the thing is, I think he sends them out to a bench worker rather than being a bench worker himself. I''m not 100% sure though. Brent Miller (located in Chelsea Square, corner of Delp Rd. and Rte. 72) is the other one; they''re a bigger operation, and definitely pricier when it comes to buying pieces (I believe they carry designer stuff like Ritani, Scott Kay, Gelin Abaci, etc.). They used to have a goldsmith named George who was very skilled, but I don''t think he''s there anymore. Hope that helps!

 

[Clairitek]

My ring was purchased from a jeweler in Wilmington, DE... not too far over the PA/DE state line. Probably about 45-50 mins drive from KOP. My DH bought my shank and head seperately, had them both modified and then put together so I can imagine that their bench people would be capable of taking off the head of your Tiff ring and replacing the head with your larger stone. The jeweler is Continental Jewelers off of Marsh Road (exit off of 95).

 

[oldminer]

The head in your ring can be removed and a replacement for a somewhat larger diamond could be put in its place. It may or may not have the gallery effect where it is attached and that is pretty much your choice, but it can be done. A larger diamond setting will raise the height of the stone up a bit from the current height probably.

 

[bootsiekin]

Date: 6/30/2009 7:40:42 AM
Author: oldminer
The head in your ring can be removed and a replacement for a somewhat larger diamond could be put in its place. It may or may not have the gallery effect where it is attached and that is pretty much your choice, but it can be done. A larger diamond setting will raise the height of the stone up a bit from the current height probably.

Thanks, oldminer. What do you mean by gallery effect? I do like how low the stone sits in the basket, though. I know the ~1ct version also sits low, but I am assuming the setting made for that size stone accommodates for that. (I am looking at 0.9ct stones) If you could recommend a skilled jeweler that you think could replicate the way the head is now, I would be grateful! thanks again for your input.

 

[bootsiekin]

Thanks, jstar and C-tek! I will keep those in mind, maybe take a visit to them and see what they think about doing the work.

 

[oldminer]

I have cropped a similar setting image and circled the part I referred to as the gallery zone. There is some hand work involved in this style of attaching a ring to the prong head, but plain ones, with no open gallery work can be had easily and for less money. What may have to happen is that someone makes a modified prong setting to fit the narrower width of the base of the existing ring yet taper the setting wide enough for the larger diamond. It should really be no problem.