Rehabbing a Van Craeynest Setting?

[IE_Princess]

I picked up a Van Craeynest wedding ring set at a very good price, but when I took it to VC to find out about redoing the antique finish the VC craftman who looked at it said that a lot of detail had been polished out and that it needs to be re-chased and then re-antiqued. I was quoted $450 to rehab both rings.

I intend this as my back up set (hoping to get a 25th anniversary upgrade swoon-worthy enough to not want to camp/hike in or wear to fairs, etc.). But -- I could return or sell it and use that money toward the anniversary gift and wear a wedding band that I already own. So what to do? I guess in it's current state returning it makes more sense; I'd probably do the rehab if I wanted to sell it, but that increases what I have in the set. It isn't my intention to get into the habit of buying pieces to rehab and sell.

It's hard to get a true value of the set as it is in 14K and the current owner of VC won't create pieces in 14K, only 18K and platinum. In 18K I would have to pay $5800 for this setting (both rings), and even with a rehab I will be under 50% of that.

WWYD?

 

[Circe]

I'd rehab it, as I love VC, I think they're works of art and very few modern jewelers can come close.

But it sounds like you're maybe not in love with it? Could you post pictures?

 

[IE_Princess]

No, for the most part I do really love it. It's a little unusual, the 456 usually has bezel set accent diamonds on the flowers, and on this set they are prong set, slightly bigger than the stones used in the bezels, and the cover the flowers (or maybe the original purchases didn't want the flowers). But you can't see the flowers most of the time anyway. I love the yellow gold.

I think I let myself be swayed by the salesperson who said he would definitely keep and rehab it, but that it might be cost prohibitive to add a larger head to accommodate a bigger diamond. I should really talk to Paul about that because no one else is going to know for certain, and I don't think a new head and setting a stone is going to cost the difference between a new set and what I would have sunk into this one.

I guess I'm wavering because DH thinks I should return the set and add that money to the anniversary ring fund. But I can keep and rehab it if I want to.

 

[Circe]

Oh, that looks so pretty on you!

Will your anniversary ring be in yellow gold, too? If not, I consider that another reason to rehab and keep it: variety is the spice of life!

BTW, how much more did he think replacing the head would cost?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I guess I'd say that if you don't want it for your main wedding set, then that is a lot of money that could go toward your new ring. I think $450 is well worth paying to rehab 2 rings, but I would only rechase and not add the antiquing because I don't really care for that.

 

[IE_Princess]

Both were already antiqued; it's mostly been polished out of one. The one with more antiquing actually looks nicer.

The oec rings we're looking at right now are in plat, but another options we're discussing is setting a loose oec in the VC 1034 in yellow gold. My antique ring with .75 oec is plat asks another antique ring I have, I have a couple of plat eternity rings, and I have a yellow gold Memoire eternity. Plus my "mother's" ring is garnet and diamond in yellow gold. Other trinkets are mostly yellow gold.

 

[junebug17]

So...if the head could be redone to accommodate a larger stone, you'd used this as the permanent setting for your upgrade? I guess in that case it would be worth it. As you said, best to check to see if it could be done and for how much.

Otherwise, I would probably return it and put the money towards the anniversary ring. But I'm going by my own personal preference I guess...I really only wear one wedding set. I have two, and always wear the one with the bigger stone! I know that some do switch from one set to another.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I would fix it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Let me just add, should you decide not to fix and keep it, please share with us who is selling it, because there are many VC fans here, including myself. I do feel like a larger head might be able to be put in, but that master craftsman probably would be the one to answer that.

 

[IE_Princess]

Let me just add, should you decide not to fix and keep it, please share with us who is selling it, because there are many VC fans here, including myself. I do feel like a larger head might be able to be put in, but that master craftsman probably would be the one to answer that.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it, but if I don't, I think I will still have it rehabbed and then sell it myself (not to make a profit, just to cover costs). Since it came from Ross-Simons I would have no way of ensuring that a fellow VC-crazy PSer would be able to buy it. Plus they are probably the ones who polished out some of the detail. I'm local enough to VC that I can actually go there and talk to them and have the work done vs. doing it by mail.

 

[sunseeker101]

Fix and wear are my only words of recommendation (as a longtime VC obsessive).

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Let me just add, should you decide not to fix and keep it, please share with us who is selling it, because there are many VC fans here, including myself. I do feel like a larger head might be able to be put in, but that master craftsman probably would be the one to answer that.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it, but if I don't, I think I will still have it rehabbed and then sell it myself (not to make a profit, just to cover costs). Since it came from Ross-Simons I would have no way of ensuring that a fellow VC-crazy PSer would be able to buy it. Plus they are probably the ones who polished out some of the detail. I'm local enough to VC that I can actually go there and talk to them and have the work done vs. doing it by mail.

Sounds good! Let us know what happens! I know Paul Emerson is on a trip right now as I had been talking to him about a setting before he left.

 

[Laila619]

Just wanted to say it's really gorgeous!

 

[IE_Princess]

Sounds good! Let us know what happens! I know Paul Emerson is on a trip right now as I had been talking to him about a setting before he left.

He'll be back on May 13th.

 

[BlingBuff]

OMG, I just bought the band! I was having trouble sleeping last night, so as usual, I was trolling the estate jewelry section of Ross Simons' website. I couldn't believe there was a Van Craeynest set there! So around 1:00 a.m., I immediately bought the wedding band. I was a little concerned that I hadn't seen that design without flowers before, so I did an image search for Van Craeynest bands to see if I could find another like it. Claypot and Greenwich jewelers didn't show it, but then I saw the photo here. I thought, "Wow, that looks just like it." Then I read the thread and I saw it was purchased from Ross Simons. It must be the same ring.

I didn't realize it needed to be rehabbed. On the other hand, there is no way I would be able to afford a new Van Craeynest. ( I only wish I could get the engagement ring as well, but I just cannot afford it.) Still, I am beyond excited to say that I will actually own a VC piece. : ) I never thought I would.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Congrats! It is a beautiful ring and can be restored if you send it in for rehab!

 

[IE_Princess]

They lowered the price too! Congrats! I was quoted $225 per ring for a rehab by VC, however, I think the band is very pretty as is, and that the rehabbing was only going to be necessary for the whole set (since one was antiqued and one wasn't). I decided to return the set when there was no interest here and I had such a terrible experience with the jeweler who owns VC that I knew I wouldn't have the rehab done because I'm not sure I will ever walk through their doors again. Lucky you to have a VC piece from the Larry Van Craeynest era!

 

[distracts]

They lowered the price too! Congrats! I was quoted $225 per ring for a rehab by VC, however, I think the band is very pretty as is, and that the rehabbing was only going to be necessary for the whole set (since one was antiqued and one wasn't). I decided to return the set when there was no interest here and I had such a terrible experience with the jeweler who owns VC that I knew I wouldn't have the rehab done because I'm not sure I will ever walk through their doors again. Lucky you to have a VC piece from the Larry Van Craeynest era!

Can you elaborate on your terrible experience?

 

[IE_Princess]

They lowered the price too! Congrats! I was quoted $225 per ring for a rehab by VC, however, I think the band is very pretty as is, and that the rehabbing was only going to be necessary for the whole set (since one was antiqued and one wasn't). I decided to return the set when there was no interest here and I had such a terrible experience with the jeweler who owns VC that I knew I wouldn't have the rehab done because I'm not sure I will ever walk through their doors again. Lucky you to have a VC piece from the Larry Van Craeynest era!

Can you elaborate on your terrible experience?

It's really a post by itself, and doesn't involve the VC craftspeople at all. In a nutshell, 4 years ago DH was sold an antique platinum ring but the jeweler that now owns VC; over time we realized that the lower half of the shank wasn't platinum (it was white gold). This January I took it in to have the shank replaced with platinum (at my expense) and the ring was damaged while being worked on. After much delay and stalling they tried to have me pick up the ring (with an entirely new shank) without disclosing the damage or the fact that they had completely destroyed everything but the head of the ring. In addition, the work on a cracked emerald was not well done. They tried to fix the ring but in the end it was not to my satisfaction; they gave me a refund.

There is so much more unsaid. The interactions, in particular. In the end it worked out okay because I was given a refund, which I understand is probably very rare. But my beautiful ring, chosen for me as my 20th anniversary gift, was destroyed beyond repair.

 

[SkinnieMinnie88]

At BlingBuff: We just picked out my engagement ring and we purchased the VC 456 Engagement Ring from Ross Simons' website in June! It needs rehabbing as well. I have been researching like crazy trying to find a matching wedding band. I keep getting a run around from every retailer I have chatted with and this all puts it together for me. No wonder I couldn't find the exact fit. It was an amazing deal for a VC at $1700. How much did you pay for the band if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Love in Bloom]

Your experience with Emerson & Farrar sounds awful. I can't believe they destroyed your ring! I have referred several people to them for repairs and new purchases. While Emerson's staff seems nice, they really just don't know what they're doing. It's just obvious if you ask enough questions. Never again. I think if it can't be done on an ipad or with jewelers from an acquired company, run!

Can you elaborate on your terrible experience?[/quote]

It's really a post by itself, and doesn't involve the VC craftspeople at all. In a nutshell, 4 years ago DH was sold an antique platinum ring but the jeweler that now owns VC; over time we realized that the lower half of the shank wasn't platinum (it was white gold). This January I took it in to have the shank replaced with platinum (at my expense) and the ring was damaged while being worked on. After much delay and stalling they tried to have me pick up the ring (with an entirely new shank) without disclosing the damage or the fact that they had completely destroyed everything but the head of the ring. In addition, the work on a cracked emerald was not well done. They tried to fix the ring but in the end it was not to my satisfaction; they gave me a refund.

There is so much more unsaid. The interactions, in particular. In the end it worked out okay because I was given a refund, which I understand is probably very rare. But my beautiful ring, chosen for me as my 20th anniversary gift, was destroyed beyond repair.[/quote]

 

[Gypsy]

If I loved it, I'd rehab it.

But I wouldn't spend the money unless I loved it.