Suggestions on what to do with this (Aquamarine) rock.

[Ellen]

I inherited this ring from my grandma 30 years ago. I have no idea how old it is, how well cut, or the quality of the stone. The dimensions are in the lock box, but I do know it's about 5.25 cts., and entirely too big for my taste. I simply won't wear it, and I want to. So I want to recut it, but into what? Would it be possible to cut it into a oval, pear, anything other than something square/rectangle? I'm really wanting to halo whatever it becomes...

Suggestions?

 

[Ellen]

You can see the chip in the culet (has 2) in this one.

 

[Ellen]

...

 

[Ellen]

This shows a darker view, depending on the lighting it's different colors. Oops, wrong one...

 

[widget]

Gosh...it''s a beautiful aqua....are you SURE there''s nothing you can do with it as is?

How about a simple no frills pendant??

widget

 

[Ellen]

Darker.

 

[Ellen]

This one shows the slight scratch on the table.

 

[Ellen]

Last one, hand shot, not very good at left handed shots. lol

 

[Ellen]

Thanks widget! Like I said, I had/have no idea how good it is or isn''t. I just always loved it, my grandma wore it all the time, and I''d tell her how much I loved it, so I guess that''s why she left it to me.

I could make it a pendant, but then I couldn''t see it. I''d rather have a ring I can see, and remember her by....

 

[pricescope]

Ellen, i love it as it is.

 

[belle]

gosh ellen, i think it''s just beautiful. the setting is perfect.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 11/17/2006 12:38:21 PM
Author: Pricescope
Ellen, i love it as it is.

Thank you! You are probably not the only one. I''m sure there are women going, are you mad? lol I know how these people think.

The thing is, I am JUST not a size gal, and while this ring looked great on my nanny''s hand (it was larger), it just overwhelms me.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 11/17/2006 12:41:12 PM
Author: belle
gosh ellen, i think it''s just beautiful. the setting is perfect.

Thanks belle! I knew this was gonna be a hard sell.

 

[decodelighted]

I like it "as is" as well .... if you loved it on your grandma, I would REALLY REALLY think long & hard before *gasp* cutting it into a different SHAPE.

What about it makes you not want to wear it as it is now? Large pieces like that are very in fashion (when worn solo on a hand ... not with five other rings

)

Or you could unset the stone, put it in a pendent or pin or something ... leaving the stone the same size & the original setting in tact & then who ever has it next could still make the decision to reunite the two at a later date.

I don''t think *I* could ever re-cut a family stone like that. Unless it was just fixing a flaw or somethng ...

 

[belle]

i''m not a size gal either ellen and truthfully, if it were mine

(oh to have the dilemma!) i might think about having it recut into something a little more managable as well. but that setting.....oh, it is so perfect! could you just wear it on certain occaisions and embrace the size?

 

[Ellen]

deco, I loved it on my grandmas hand because it fit. Her hand was larger, and could carry the ring. My hand is much smaller, and as I said, I am just not a size gal. So to me, it''s not attractive. I know most of you have a hard time fathoming that, but it''s just how I feel.

As for cutting it, it''s still the same stone, the same person still wore it and gave it to me, it''s just a different shape. What good does it do me if I don''t wear it? And as I told widget, I''d like a ring, that I can look at.

I have 3 boys. Who knows if they''ll get married, who knows if their wife would want it when I''m gone? And at this rate, they wouldn''t even know what it used to be...

I really just wanted something different I could wear.



belle, I have not ruled out just trimming it down a bit. The main reason I was entertaining a new shape, is that I also have been given the Emerald cut diamond from my moms engagement ring. So the only two RHR''s I have, are the same shape.

 

[MustangGal]

What about a bangle bracelet? That might not look so bad with the large size, and you could still see it.

 

[Kismet]

You probably should take it to a lapidary first to find out what can be done to it. No sense getting your heart set on having it cut into an oval shape (or whatever) and then find that it''s just not feasable to do. You can add me to the crowd that likes it as is, but since you are going to change it I would talk to Richard Homer to see what magic he can work on it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, Ellen, that''s a beautiful ring! It kills me to think of taking that stone out of the original setting. Surely you can wear it on a special occasion or something? I really think the setting is so pretty.

Okay, to compromise, the only thing I might do is recut the stone into the same shape just a bit smaller, and remake the head to fit the smaller stone. That way the ring is still your grandmother''s ring, with a better size aquamarine with surface blemishes removed.

 

[hlmr]

Ellen, I love that stone, that ring, and especially where it comes from. Please, don''t be too hasty when making a decision to change it! Of course, it is totally your choice, but it really is a lovely piece to keep as is......for more than one reason.

 

[pyramid]

I know it is personal taste. I absolutely love the ring with the two diamonds at each side, and the groove in the ring and then the link which covers the ring. The aquamarine is beautiful colour and looks a lovely long rectangle too. It is beautiful but then it is up to you. You don't have a daughter who may wear it as is sometime, do you.



Oh just read it is 3 boys you have, what about saving it for a grandaughter, then it would be her great grandmothers ring, a real heirloom.


It even has Leon Mege type claws, and they are original claws. It would just be a sin to change it in anyway I think

 

[MINE!!]

OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not recut this stone... please don''t please don''t!!!

 

[Linda W]

Ellen,

I am with MINE. PLEASE leave that beautiful ring the way it is. My dear grandma gave me two of her rings, before she passed away in 1988. She received them in 1921 from my grandpa. Every so often, I take them out and just stare at them and think of her. The bands are thin from her wearing them. I think of getting them fixed, but don''t want anyone touching them right now.

Please keep the ring the way it is.

Linda

 

[pyramid]

The aquamarine does have bad windowing though, you can easily see through to the band below. This is an aquamarine which Wink sold years ago and posted on the boards cut by Richard Homer I think, but then I think it may be too much for your beautiful setting. I would leave the stone as is. If you want an oval, why not just buy one, you can buy cheaper aquamarines of nice colour sometimes.

 

[movie zombie]

one you cut it, you can''t get it back....and believe it or not you may years from now regret cutting it.

wear it periodically or not at all.....but please please please don''t cut it! perhaps you can get it repolished which might help with nicks. it would be a great heirloom down the road......

movie zombie

 

[WTNLVR]

I agree. Either save it for an heirloom or set it in a pendant, but don''t recut it. I''m very sentimental and if I was lucky enough to have something like that from my gmo I would never recut the stone. Reset fine, recut, no way. But, that''s just me. I doubt that recutting an aqua would be worth the effort. They are very reasonably priced for new stones so I wouldn''t touch the old one.

 

[VRBeauty]

Oh my goodness what a beautiful ring! Are those trapezoid cut stones on the side? And the stone is such a beautiful deep color!

I have to vote with the majority here. I can see why you might consider the ring a little large for everyday wear. but why not keep it to wear on special occasions? And who knows, it might grow on you over time....

 

[monarch64]

Just looked at your pics and read through this thread, and IMO, I would leave the stone as is (first) and I think it''s gorgeous in its current setting, but the best option I can see is having it set into a pendant as others have mentioned. It''s really just gorgeous! I just can''t see anything so fantastic as it is coming out of re-cutting it!

 

[riogems]

I would leave it alone too... Keep in mind (you may consult with a lapidary on this) - you will probably lose some color (usually you do when you reduce the stone depth in aqua) and if you cut it a lot smaller you will lose a lot of depth.

Better to change your size preference than to change the stone...

Hahahhahha.. if it was only that easy.

But seriously, if you do re-cut it and wear it; when you look at the new ring on your finger it won''t look anything like what you have now (and what you remember). So you would probably be better off just buying a smaller aqua (in honor of preserving the bigger one).

 

[Ellen]

Thank you all for your comments.