searching for antique diamond

[ddt]

i have an old family ring that has a small diamond missing. i took it to one of the while u wait mall repair shops, and even had them order a small inexpensive diamond to replace it. i thought it might look ok even if it is not the same cut/shape, as long as it was the right size. the mall store advised me against this (said it would not look nice) and told me that i need to find a "pre-mine cut non-symmetrical 8-10 point diamond." (it''s tiny, to me, it looks like a little diamond chip) their advice was to google or post on the internet. they said some kind of fragment may also look right (?).

i have had this ring since i was a girl (got it when an older relative passed away). i had been told by a previous jeweler when i was younger that it is an "old trillion cut diamond" that i need, but the jeweler in the mall told me something different. he said i might be able to find such stones from jewelers who take the stones out of old estate pieces. the stone missing is one of four in the original design, and the jeweler advised me not to put a "modern cut" stone in it because it would not look right. the stone was knocked out when i was much younger (about 20 years ago). i knew it was an old family ring, and i honestly dont believe it is worth that much, but like a lot of jewelry, it is special to me for sentimental reasons, and i would love to replace the stone in it (if it is not overly expensive) and wear it again.

i would appreciate any help anyone can give me. (where to buy such a stone? antique jewelry repair people perhaps (?), etc.).
THANKS!

 

[mia15]

Hi there.

It''s so lucky the mall place didn''t just replace the diamond with whatever was there.

There are people who specialize in antique diamonds and/or restoration work. I''m not an expert, but I love antique jewelry.

There''s so much knowledge on this forum - what area are you from? Are you comfortable sending the ring out to have it repaired?

 

[ddt]

thanks for your response. yes, for a while u wait mall shop, they were quite nice (ethical). they actually called me back in to the store when the diamond came in and had their repair person talk to me about it and tell me why they did not feel comfortable setting the stone i ordered in to the ring.

i am on the east coast (u.s.a.). my first preference would be to order a stone and have it set locally, but i would probably consider sending it off for repair work, if the shop and/or jeweler were verifiable, established and reputable. i am actually a little hesitant to contact some of those "antique" or "estate" repair people because they seem so "high end," and i know my little repair is such a modest one, they might not even be interested in helping me with this ring (!).

again, any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[mrssalvo]

I''d check with Dave Atlas at http://www.gemappraisers.com/

 

[mia15]

Perhaps you could post a picture, to give an idea?

Don''t worry too much about how high end the antique places are. If anything, I''d wonder about being able to find the replacement, though I''m sure that also depends on your time frame.
It''s not like these places charge inflated prices for labor, and labor would depend on what kind of stone/how it needs to be set.

Let us know how it goes!