Questions about thin shank & prongs

[Odilia]

When I got this ring second-hand, I knew that eventually I would need a new head. Also, the bottom of the shank was always thin. So, I want to start exploring what needs to be done, what should be done, and what''s the best way to go about it.

First, the prongs: I want to get a nice head. I don''t like ugly prongs, and I''m so afraid that I won''t like this little ring as much if the new prongs are ugly. Plus, I have always prefered 4 prong rings, (although for some reason I find the six tiny prongs on this ring kind of endearing..) so I''m leaning toward a 4-prong head. I also want it to still sit flush with my wedding band.

First I will post a nicer picture of the ring w/ my wedding band, since the profile view is not going to look great:

 

[Odilia]

Now for the profile:

As you can see the head & shank have seen better days. Fortunately while wearing it, it looks and feels fine. I've been very happy with this little ring. I kind of dread changing anything about it, because it seems no matter how careful I try to be, "custom" anything never looks right when it comes to rings.

So, how do I go about getting a nice head?

ETA: I always forget how dirty the diamond looks in this picture. Looks much better IRL.

 

[Odilia]

Here is an example of prongs that I do not like. Too straight and plain, just looks utilitarian like hardware:

(No offense to anyone w/ prongs like this...)

 

[Odilia]

Another example:

 

[Odilia]

This is a better example - prongs that look nice. More curvature to them etc.. I realize this is a different type of ring, so is there any way to get nice prongs like this on my kind of ring?

 

[Odilia]

Ritani rings always have nicely shaped prongs. But again, can you get nicely shaped ones for a shank like mine?

 

[Odilia]

Another nice 4 prong:

 

[Odilia]

One more for now, a Ritani:

Again, not a shank like mine, but is there a way to get a nice 4-prong head for a ring like mine? It seems when I talk to jewelers, they always just say, "Oh, yes, we can do that." And I know they are going to give me the flat, ugly hardware prongs.

Any of you jewelers/experts have any input?

 

[Odilia]

Also, as long as I have to replace the head, what do you think about putting a larger, whiter center stone in this ring? The current stone (shown in the setting below) is about 0.94ct, and the color is a light brown, I think the appraiser said L color or so. The bigger diamond (shown in the solitaire at top) would be about 1 - 1.1 ct, H color. How do you think it would look?

 

[mrssalvo]

OFG, are you wanting to change the head on the existing ring? I''m a little confused

 

[Odilia]

Yes, eventually I will have to, because the prongs are getting so thin. I suppose there''s always the possibility of re-tipping them or whatever, but they are so worn and thin, it''s probably best to change them. Unless there is no way to get nice prongs, maybe I should try to have these last as long as possible.

Although, if I want to change the center stone, I will of course have to change the head. I started toying with the idea when I inherited a diamond ring from DH''s aunt, which I would never wear as it''s not my style. But the center stone is whiter, bigger and fewer inclusions than the stone that''s in there now. And now, with the difficulties w/ my new setting for my e-diamond, I have another potential plan; don''t know if I want to talk about that until I know more. But in any case, if I put a bigger diamond in this setting, it will surely need a new head.

I guess I didn''t make it clear in this thread. Sorry! (My brain is fried these days.

)

 

[Odilia]

Here is a side view of the head, to help show what shape it''s in.

 

[Odilia]

I guess I also confused things because I wanted to ask about the thin bottom of the shank and how to get that fixed. Do they just attach a new bottom half for the ring? Can they do that and make it look like it was original? Is there danger of the ring breaking if the shank is so thin?

 

[mrssalvo]

OFG, i think you should probably talk to a jeweler. I don''t know how easy it would be to change a head that''s integrated into the ring like yours is. i do know the can reinforce the onn''s you''ve got if keeping the ring close to it''s original form is important to you.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 12:39:33 PM
Author: mrssalvo
OFG, i think you should probably talk to a jeweler. I don't know how easy it would be to change a head that's integrated into the ring like yours is. i do know the can reinforce the onn's you've got if keeping the ring close to it's original form is important to you.

I have talked to jewelers, and they never say there's any problem with replacing the head. It's just that I think they usually want to use the ugly hardware prongs. The head is not totally integrated. I was hoping some of the jewelers here on PS might comment.

 

[Northerner]

Check out www.ringlock.com Allan Creates makes beautiful custom chatons (head),
I''m sure he could adapt one to your band,
His work is fluid and his finish has a liquid look.
He works in platinum, or rhodium free 18K bright white gold.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 2:44:27 PM
Author: Northerner
Check out www.ringlock.com Allan Creates makes beautiful custom chatons (head),
I''m sure he could adapt one to your band,
His work is fluid and his finish has a liquid look.
He works in platinum, or rhodium free 18K bright white gold.

Thanks! I will look into that. Do you know if they are expensive?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

OFG, that picture that you posted of Mara''s friend''s ring looks like the Legato solitaire with a princess, not a Ritani.

But I think you need to find a really excellent local jeweler to do this kind of work. One of those was the Stuller Solstice 4 prong head, so I am sure you might be able to get that if the base isn''t too wide for that ring. If it is wide, then you''d have more of a gap between the ring and the w-band. Any jeweler that does bench work can show you the catalog with heads in it. I looked when I was getting my first temp setting. I picked out a curved head and they put a V head in anyway! They said the head I wanted would not work with the shank. So I only kept that a couple of months because I hated it!

Another thought it to send it to someone like GreenLake and have them almost remake the ring. That is pretty much what you are talking about when you replace the head and the shank other than the little diamond shoulders with engraving. I think that is a style they could handle.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 4:37:58 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
OFG, that picture that you posted of Mara''s friend''s ring looks like the Legato solitaire with a princess, not a Ritani.

But I think you need to find a really excellent local jeweler to do this kind of work. One of those was the Stuller Solstice 4 prong head, so I am sure you might be able to get that if the base isn''t too wide for that ring. If it is wide, then you''d have more of a gap between the ring and the w-band. Any jeweler that does bench work can show you the catalog with heads in it. I looked when I was getting my first temp setting. I picked out a curved head and they put a V head in anyway! They said the head I wanted would not work with the shank. So I only kept that a couple of months because I hated it!

Another thought it to send it to someone like GreenLake and have them almost remake the ring. That is pretty much what you are talking about when you replace the head and the shank other than the little diamond shoulders with engraving. I think that is a style they could handle.

Thanks DS! Wow, I didn''t know about the head on your temp ring: "I picked out a curved head and they put a V head in anyway! They said the head I wanted would not work with the shank. " It''s that kind of thing that is making me so mistrustful of jewelers! If I do this, I definitely want a jeweler where there''s a total "out". I might try Adeler Jewelers in Great Falls, VA. They have a fabulous satisfaction policy on custom work; hopefully just a head change would be the same. I have also thought of a total remake, although I hate to keep dumping money into rings, but it would be worth getting a quote on new prongs & fix the shank vs. whole new ring. If Adeler could do it for a reasonable price, it might be worth a try. At least w/ their return policy, there is nothing to lose. Because I don''t trust other jewelers to say, "oh sure, we can make it exactly the same" - most likely it will have differences I wouldn''t like. The reason this is now an issue is, since my other ring is not working out, I might just put my good diamond into this setting (or a new copy as you say), wear it on my left w/ my wedding ring, since my goal was to always be able to wear my good diamond, which will not be the case if that other ring requires a solid shank. My DH''s aunt gave me a diamond ring that I would never really wear, so maybe we can put hers in the other one if I''m stuck with it, and just have it as a RHR.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 4:37:58 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
OFG, that picture that you posted of Mara''s friend''s ring looks like the Legato solitaire with a princess, not a Ritani.

Thanks. I guess I mixed it up with her other friend''s ring.

One of those was the Stuller Solstice 4 prong head, so I am sure you might be able to get that if the base isn''t too wide for that ring. If it is wide, then you''d have more of a gap between the ring and the w-band.

Do you think that would be a nice head? It does look a bit thick at the base of the prongs.

Oh well, like you said, I guess I''ll just have to go to some good jewelers and ask in detail. BTW, do you think a 4prong head will look good on that ring, or does/would it look better w/ 6 prong?