RIP Promise Riong

[galeteia]

Today I had to hop out of a car in a hurry and my hand snagged on my coat. Later, I glanced down at my much-treasured promise ring and realized one of the paired topaz pear sidestones was missing.

A prong must have snagged on my coat and the stone dropped out. I am heartbroken. This ring was from an estate seller on ebay, but it was perfect for us because it was his birthstone (sapphire) flanked by my birthstones (topaz) which is a really unsual combination.

We're saving up for all kinds of big purchases like 1.5k in moving costs and another 1.5k in immigration fees.

A bona fide engagement ring is in my far-off future, but I don't want to be ringless for the next few years or wearing something that looks like I scrounged it out of someone's junk sale with 1/3rd of its stones missing. I hate how high-maintence that makes me sound, but when people find out you are engaged they immediately look at that hand and I'm embarrassed for them to see it looking so shoddy or having a bare finger.

I'm pretty devastated at the loss of such a sentimental and perfectly symbolic ring. Under our current circumstances, the most we'd be able to spring for a replacement would be $200.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

PS: Ack! You can tell how distressed I am by the typo in the Topic. If someone could fix that, I'd be grateful, or we can pretend it's not there, I'm fine with that too.

 

[~*Alexis*~]

does it have to look the same as the old one?

 

[galeteia]

No. If it''s a ring from my FF and yellow metal, I''m happy. Provided that it doesn''t look like a wedding band, that is ...

 

[~*Alexis*~]

I will see what I can cook up....

 

[kroshka]

Sorry to hear about what happened with your ring. Is it possible to find a replacement stone so you could have it set into your original ring?

You mentioned you prefer yellow gold, but I thought this ring was cute and within budget at around $175, but unfortunately in white gold (but it has the 2 types of stones that were in your orig ring).

http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-Gold-.03ct-Diamond-and-Blue-Topaz-Ring/1778496/product.html

 

[kroshka]

Here is another choice - again white gold but with blue sapphire and blue topaz and within budget at $193.

http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-White-Gold-Diamond-Topaz-Sapphire-Ring/2107236/product.html

 

[kroshka]

One more choice that I happened to find - it is yellow gold, but a little out of budget at $295. And, I just realized that I assumed blue sapphire and blue topaz cause you mentioned sapphire and topaz, if this isn''t the combination of color you were looking I''m sorry!

http://www.ice.com/customer/product_detail.jsp?product=139889800

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''m so sorry about your lost stone. But I agree that it might less expensive to replace the missing topaz instead of buying a new ring.

 

[galeteia]

It was a yellow topaz, kroshka.

Although, is blue topaz still November''s birthstone?

Diamondseeker, do you think it would be affordable to try to find a matching stone for the sidestone, or get one cut down to be a match? I''ve been assuming it would be very expensive to try to find/have cut an identical stone?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, different colors of topaz are probably priced differently depending on supply and demand, but I had a blue topaz set in an old setting one time and it was just a few dollars. Yellow may be more expensive, but I wouldn''t think it would be exorbitant. I''d take a close-up picture of the ring and send it to Wink (Winfields) or perhaps Jeff White, who is a stone cutter. I imagine either one of them could give you an idea how much the replacement would cost. I think a lot will depend on what shape the missing stone was and whether you''d have to have the replacement custom cut. Jeff is really good, though, and could certainly do it if the cost was not prohibitive. It would be nice to repair it if the ring has sentimental value to you.

http://www.whitesgems.com/index.htm

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I am so sorry about your ring! I am sure that you are sad, I know that I would be. I should think that you could find a replacement stone that would fall into your price range. Blue topaz is December''s birthstone, so not the same as yellow. Good luck , I hope that you can find something!

 

[galeteia]

Thanks for the kind words, ladies; it's a relief to hear from people who understand the kind of attachment a woman can have to her ring.

Since he gave it to me in July 2006, I've only taken it off when handling hazardous materials or when I had it cleaned.

I think this contributed to the problem; the ring was in good shape when I got it but not spectacular craftsmanship. Even if it was possible to find a matching stone or cut a new one, the ring itself is probably not worth investing in, simply because I might wind up in the same predicament next year. Or next week.

Now I find myself scratching my head and wondering what is a appropriate for a promise ring, design-wise?

I've seen promise rings that looked like e-rings, but I'd like my e-ring (simple tapered RB solitaire) to be obviously different once I do get it.

What sorts of promise rings to people wear nowadays?

 

[wolftress]

How about this?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/10KT-YG-2-28ctw-Blue-Topaz-Blue-Sapphire-Ring_W0QQitemZ130191497431QQihZ003QQcategoryZ67727QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It has blue sapphires and a 2ct topaz for a little over $100.

I think this one is lovely and sounds similar to your old ring, and it''s available in yellow gold:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Blue-Topaz-Sapphire-14k-Gold-Cocktail-Ring-Size5-9_W0QQitemZ280193780259QQihZ018QQcategoryZ67727QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I hope you find a replacement ring soon! There''s no worse feeling than a naked finger

 

[HollyS]

What about ordering a ''birthstone ring'' from a B&M jeweler or even like this one from JCP? Usually they are under $250. and under; I think this one is less than $130.00. The Sept stone is a blue sapphire, and the November birthstone is a citrine on the JCP site; set in 10K gold (which is what is keeping the cost down). I''ve looked at a few online antique/vintage jewelry sites; they want way more than you can easily spend right now.

My suggestion would be to go scour some antique/junk shops in your area with your BF and see if there is anything that speaks to your hearts. Gosh I''m sorry for your loss, especially since you just can''t replace an estate piece. Can you find a stone to replace the lost one?

 

[galeteia]

Date: 1/23/2008 7:42:49 PM
Author: HollyS
My suggestion would be to go scour some antique/junk shops in your area with your BF and see if there is anything that speaks to your hearts. Gosh I''m sorry for your loss, especially since you just can''t replace an estate piece. Can you find a stone to replace the lost one?

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I really appreciate the sympathy and the links to sparklies! Nothing like something shiny to cheer one up

HollyS, I think going to an antique, pawn, etc shop in my area is a great idea. Might as well exploit the low resell value of rings, and my FF is too far away to go shopping with me (another country in fact, boo) but I plan to take along a digital camera, take shots of the contenders, and send them along to him; that way he can pick which one he wants to be ''our'' ring.

He is content with having his contribution be the final say, so I think it will work out nicely - provided I find something good.

Either way, I will get to look at shiny things, and the disappointment of not finding the right ring will be offset by having an excuse to look at as many rings as possible, right?