Question about altering a setting

[chicagogirl]

I really love my ring, but since I have gotten it, something is just quite not right. I can''t put my fingure on it, but the ring just doesn''t seem to "flow" and the prongs seem to big for the delicate ring. So, I am wondering how difficult (and expensive) it would be to alter the setting. Do you think the jeweler would have to start from scratch (at least I know the baguettes are reusable, but do you think they would have to start from scratch for the band itself? This is a picture of the current ring.

 

[chicagogirl]

Profile view.

 

[chicagogirl]

This is the look I was going for when we were picking out the ring, with a few alterations (baguettes prong set, not channel, and double claw prongs holding the center stone). How difficult do you think it would be to alter my current setting to look like this one?

 

[chicagogirl]

My one concern with that setting is that a wedding band won''t sit flush. I saw this setting on PS and loved it, but I would love to do it with the baguettes on the shank (right?) instead of the pave (and again double claw prongs). Any opinions on which you would prefer and the extent to which the original ring can be altered with minimal work and cost to look like one of these two? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[chicagogirl]

One more question. The stone and setting were bought from a pricescope vendor about 9 months ago. The vendor did have a 30 day return policy, but at the time I think I was just so happy to have the ring, I couldn''t imagine sending it back. In hind sight, I probably should have realized that if I wasn''t in love with the setting then, I probably wouldn''t be in love with it in the future (I should say that there is nothing really wrong with the setting, just personal preference). Is there any point in sending the ring back to the vendor at this point to rework the setting (would this be totally at my expense)? Or would it be better to just take it to a reputable local jeweler to have it altered to what I originally wanted and not worry about shipping back and forth?

Also, any opinions on which of the 2 setting would look best?

 

[decodelighted]

IMHO you're going to need to start from scratch (maybe will be able to reuse the bags but not sure). It's just too different. Jewelers won't melt down metal & resuse it ... so, dunno ... don't think it's a rework job.

Maybe you could consign the original setting with someone like Pearlman's & start over with Leon Mege (so you could combine the two designs you like).

1) Cathedral style (so wedding band will fit flush)
2) Basket with double claw prongs & prong set bags



ETA: Unfortunately, I think anything you do at this point is "at your expense". If you got something you didn't order ... you needed to complain during the return period. Nine months later? Don't think that's reasonable to expect a vendor to rework at their expense. Sorry!

 

[strmrdr]

It looks like the head is separate so it can be replaced.
You could have a basket head soldered across the top like the last one you posted.
Is it plat or gold?

 

[AdaBeta27]

Date: 8/18/2007 11:54:18 PM
Author: chicagogirl
Profile view.

You have a peg head that can be swapped for any peg head that you like. The probs w/ the double prong idea are:
1. There aren't many double prong peg heads among the stock findings offerings. In fact there is very little that's unique and original in manufacturer's prong head selections, that I've seen. I can only think of 1 or 2 doubles and they are for rounds, not rectangles.

2. With a double prong head, the base of the head will tend to be wide and boxy, and your ring doesn't have a big gap where the peg head mounts, between the baguettes. The width could be remedied by cutting out the existing bar and soldering in a new one. That still leaves the problem of where to find a rectangular double prong head. Sometimes they can take a thick 4-prong and split the prongs into doubles, but I've only seen that for large stones that have a big substantial head.

They could probably also cut the shank and wing out / flatten out the baguettes more, but you may not like that look.

I'd see if a bench jeweler has any ideas for making a new head or soldering in a basket or a boxy head as previously mentioned.
Or maybe you should just look for a different mounting. You could put a round, oval, marquise gemstone or sim or something into that setting by changing the prong head. Any of those shapes might be a better fit w/ those sloped baguettes.

 

[chicagogirl]

Date: 8/19/2007 4:09:30 PM
Author: strmrdr
It looks like the head is separate so it can be replaced.
You could have a basket head soldered across the top like the last one you posted.
Is it plat or gold?

The setting is platinum (and was sort of expensive, which is why I hate to part with it completely), and yes, the head is seperate, which is where I think my problem stems from. It just looks too "disjointed" (is that even a word??).

I would love to raise the baguettes up a bit and solder a basket to the top. I guess I should just take it to a jeweler and see what they can do.

 

[chicagogirl]

Date: 8/19/2007 4:08:27 PM
Author: decodelighted
IMHO you''re going to need to start from scratch (maybe will be able to reuse the bags but not sure). It''s just too different. Jewelers won''t melt down metal & resuse it ... so, dunno ... don''t think it''s a rework job.

Maybe you could consign the original setting with someone like Pearlman''s & start over with Leon Mege (so you could combine the two designs you like).

1) Cathedral style (so wedding band will fit flush)
2) Basket with double claw prongs & prong set bags



ETA: Unfortunately, I think anything you do at this point is ''at your expense''. If you got something you didn''t order ... you needed to complain during the return period. Nine months later? Don''t think that''s reasonable to expect a vendor to rework at their expense. Sorry!

Is it possible to sell the original setting??? I would LOVE to work with Leon. Not sure if it is in the budget right now. Especially since fiance is not thrilled about paying for a new setting 9 months later.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 8/19/2007 5:34:37 PM
Author: chicagogirl
I would love to raise the baguettes up a bit and solder a basket to the top. I guess I should just take it to a jeweler and see what they can do.

Oy ... sounds like Frankensetting to me. If "flow" is your problem with it NOW, I just don''t think a chock-a-block fix is going to "solve" anything. What happens to the gap between the baguettes where the peg head is now if you just solder a basket over top of the bags?? And if you solder a basket into that space, then you won''t be able to fit a wedding band flush.

Note that many jewelers are going to use white gold solder too -- which will make the ring not wearable in clorinated pools. Hard to find folks that work in platinum IN HOUSE. (Just a heads up)

 

[chicagogirl]

Date: 8/19/2007 5:40:04 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 8/19/2007 5:34:37 PM
Author: chicagogirl
I would love to raise the baguettes up a bit and solder a basket to the top. I guess I should just take it to a jeweler and see what they can do.

Oy ... sounds like Frankensetting to me. If ''flow'' is your problem with it NOW, I just don''t think a chock-a-block fix is going to ''solve'' anything. What happens to the gap between the baguettes where the peg head is now if you just solder a basket over top of the bags?? And if you solder a basket into that space, then you won''t be able to fit a wedding band flush.

Note that many jewelers are going to use white gold solder too -- which will make the ring not wearable in clorinated pools. Hard to find folks that work in platinum IN HOUSE. (Just a heads up)

Sorry, I guess I wasn''t explaining myself very well. Unfortunetly, I don''t have photoshop, only an image in my head. I did not mean literally solder it on. The baguettes would have to be raised to be "cathederal" like in the second setting I posted (instead of the pave, it would be the baguettes). The basket would be soldered to the sides of the bags (instead of the pave cathedral sides in the picture). Obviously, the gap where the peg is now would have to be "cleaned up." From the second pic, it looks like a wedding band would sit flush.

 

[Kaleigh]

Honestly, I would wait and save up for another setting. Leon Mege could use your baguettes. You might be surprised to find out his settings are more affordable than you might think. But messing with this setting, will be costly and not sure you''d end up being happy with the end product long term. HTH, good luck!! Leon now advertises on PS, best to call and get a quote.

 

[decodelighted]

I hear ya ... I just don''t think it''s going to work ... and even if you can convince someone to do it -- it''s going to be expensive.

Went through something very similar myself & had to convince a jeweler to do it even though it was a simpler fix than the one you''re proposing. Took a couple of months (during which my ring was gone) ... pieces had to be fabricated from afar and the labor/materials were nearly 1K ... FOR JUST THE "FIX". And that was 1 1/2 ago ... platinum''s gone up. Also -- they couldn''t reuse the platinum they took OFF of the ring ... i had the choice of selling it at scrap rates to them (less than $100) ... or keeping the old head (which i did).

So -- I did something similar successfully, yet wouldn''t recommend it. Are you set on platinum? Maybe you could buy a white gold SET (as I assume you''ll be shopping for a band soon too) ... and put a colored stone in your platinum e-ring setting (RHR??)

 

[strmrdr]

this has given me an idea for a setting :}
That shank, leaving it the same height and putting a basket level with the top of the trap bars then fill the hole with a surprise sapphire.
My benchman could do it no problem.

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 8/19/2007 4:09:30 PM
Author: strmrdr
It looks like the head is separate so it can be replaced.

You could have a basket head soldered across the top like the last one you posted.

Is it plat or gold?

I’m with Storm, talk to the jeweler about other choices for heads. There are quite a few available and it would give your ring a very different look to change it out. It shouldn’t be terribly expensive but everything in platinum does tend to get a little pricey. It'll be cheap when compared to starting over from scratch. Consider cutting out the bridge, which is the little bar that crosses below the stone connecting the two sides together and replacing the whole head assembly with something a bit more delicate.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[chicagogirl]

Date: 8/19/2007 8:18:06 PM
Author: denverappraiser

Date: 8/19/2007 4:09:30 PM
Author: strmrdr
It looks like the head is separate so it can be replaced.

You could have a basket head soldered across the top like the last one you posted.

Is it plat or gold?

I’m with Storm, talk to the jeweler about other choices for heads. There are quite a few available and it would give your ring a very different look to change it out. It shouldn’t be terribly expensive but everything in platinum does tend to get a little pricey. It''ll be cheap when compared to starting over from scratch. Consider cutting out the bridge, which is the little bar that crosses below the stone connecting the two sides together and replacing the whole head assembly with something a bit more delicate.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

I think that would be a great a idea. That is my whole issue with the ring. Just not delicate enough.

Can anyone suggest a jeweler in Chicago that does this sort of thing (preferably downtown)?

I think in the mean time, I may also get a quote form Leon, and see if he can use my baguettes for a new setting. The thing is, PS always has so many amazing new rings, I am always wanting something new

And it is not that I hate the current setting; I just think it could stand a little improvement.