Blenheim
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
- Messages
- 3,136
When I was in early high school, my grandmother gave me a ring that belonged to her aunt. It contains 10 round rubies and 9 round stones that I thought she told me were diamonds. When one of the clear stones fell out of the ring a year or two ago, I took it to the local jeweler. He told me that the clear stones are in fact CZs. He offered to fix it, but warned that because the gold is electroplated, it will be difficult to repair if anything happens in the future. He also wasn''t sure how well the new CZ would stay in the ring. He thought that the rubies were real, but said that he''d have to send them out to get tested to know for sure.
I''ve been wary to wear the ring ever since, because I''m afraid that I''ll damage it further. Some of the prongs look a little bent, and some of the stones appear to be set crookedly. I''m not sure if it''s because of poor workmanship originally, or if it''s because of time. When I wear it, I tend to catch it on things.
This is where I''d love your advice. I''ve lately been thinking of resetting the rubies, perhaps in a channel half-eternity ring, but had some questions:
1) Would a jeweler have set real rubies in an electroplated ring with CZs?
2) How easy is it to test the rubies, and how much does that process generally cost? Would it be worth it?
3) Would it even be worth resetting the rubies?
4) If it is worth resetting them, can you think of a better arrangement? A half-eternity ring is a completely different look than ring''s current one. (Although, I tend to go for simpler, classic jewelry.)
5) If it is worth resetting them, how could I find a good jeweler to help me? I''m a little reluctant to take it to the local jeweler, based on the look of the way he set the replacement CZ. I live in a rural area, but sometimes travel to DC. I also use the internet (clearly).
Please be honest. I''m wondering if I''m trying to hold onto something that''s really not that great, just for sentimental reasons.
In case it helps, I''m going to attach a couple pictures of the ring as is. Just a warning - my photography skills are pretty bad.
I''ve been wary to wear the ring ever since, because I''m afraid that I''ll damage it further. Some of the prongs look a little bent, and some of the stones appear to be set crookedly. I''m not sure if it''s because of poor workmanship originally, or if it''s because of time. When I wear it, I tend to catch it on things.
This is where I''d love your advice. I''ve lately been thinking of resetting the rubies, perhaps in a channel half-eternity ring, but had some questions:
1) Would a jeweler have set real rubies in an electroplated ring with CZs?
2) How easy is it to test the rubies, and how much does that process generally cost? Would it be worth it?
3) Would it even be worth resetting the rubies?
4) If it is worth resetting them, can you think of a better arrangement? A half-eternity ring is a completely different look than ring''s current one. (Although, I tend to go for simpler, classic jewelry.)
5) If it is worth resetting them, how could I find a good jeweler to help me? I''m a little reluctant to take it to the local jeweler, based on the look of the way he set the replacement CZ. I live in a rural area, but sometimes travel to DC. I also use the internet (clearly).
Please be honest. I''m wondering if I''m trying to hold onto something that''s really not that great, just for sentimental reasons.
In case it helps, I''m going to attach a couple pictures of the ring as is. Just a warning - my photography skills are pretty bad.
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