What to do with a "not so pretty" pear that I inherited?

[bluedawg]

I received this stone as a pendant from my mom when she re-married (my father died when I was a kid). The stone had been in a RHR my mom wore for years-- the stone itself was something my parents had received "as payment" back in the early 70s for some work (they were hippies

).

Anyway, the stone really isn't a nice one. It's very yellow next to my H round brilliant and has a visible inclusion (a black fleck)just under the table on the lower right. My mom says that when I was a kid, I'd ask to "see the mark" inside the diamond, much to her dismay...

There also seems to be a tiny bit of white inclusion which is harder to see and is almost covered by a prong (also near the lower right). The stone measures approx 10x6.75-7mm (not sure of depth). Looking at stones on PS, I therefore concur with my mom's guess that the diamond is approx 1.5 carats.

So... I asked my brother if he wanted it (he is nearing ring-purchase for his GF) and he said no thanks-- he wants a colorless and eye-clean RB (good choice!).

What can I do with this thing? I do not wear earrings. I never, ever wear the stone in its current state (as a pendant in WG setting). I only wear platinum or sterling silver rings/bracelets and I know it would look really yellow set for a RHR in platinum.

How difficult would it be to sell? Is there any sort of market for such a stone? DH and I are planning to upgrade my e-ring stone within the next year or so... would there be a way to trade the pear in towards that upgrade? Do you recommend an appraisal first? Any idea of the color grade from the photos? It is set in WG which is casting some color, but the diamond is def several shades past my H diamond.

Sorry so long... any suggestions and advice are much appreciated. Thank you!

Here's the pear next to my 1ct RB (H, VS1):

 

[bluedawg]

another pic

 

[pearcrazy]

I''ll agree that the color isn''t the best, and the visible inclusions don''t help either. Still, it has a nice shape and some sparkle. Perhaps setting in a yellow gold setting with yellow sidestones or surrounded by emeralds as a RHR ring or even a pendant like the one in my avatar might make that diamond really look nice. I don''t know if you want to sell the stone outside your family or if it has sentimental value, but I think I''d hang on to it a little longer and perhaps something will come to you.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I'm not sure why you need to do anything with the stone. Possibly just passing it down to the next generation may be the best route. This is just my opinion -> you may want to consider putting the diamond in a safety deposit box for now until you know for absolute certainty that you're willing to part with a significant piece of your parent's history.

My dad died when I was young as well and since then my mom has given to me *tons* of jewelry, far more than I can wear (or want to wear). Most of the stones will need to be reset because they're set into styles that don't match up with my current jewelry. For now, I've saved everything and so far have reset her eng. diamond into a pendant. The rest may just end up being given to my kids/grandkids.

Reselling diamonds rarely provides much money, but your best bets, if you choose this route, would be the newspaper classifieds or a consignment shop.

 

[Morticia]

I'm not a huge pear fan, but if I were to get one, I LOVE this Ritani setting for a pear. I bet yours would look beautiful in this.

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Search/JewelrySearchDetails.asp?sSKU=78975&iPos=13&sSQL=adGetJewelry+%27RG%27%2C%27%25%27%2C%27%25%27%2C%27%25%27%2C%271621%27%2C%2D1%2C%2D1%2CNull%2CNull%2C%27ASC%27

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 3/21/2005 5:23:53 PM
Author: Morticia
I''m not a huge pear fan, but if I were to get one, I LOVE this Ritani setting for a pear. I bet yours would look beautiful in this.

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Search/JewelrySearchDetails.asp?sSKU=78975&iPos=13&sSQL=adGetJewelry+%27RG%27%2C%27%25%27%2C%27%25%27%2C%27%25%27%2C%271621%27%2C%2D1%2C%2D1%2CNull%2CNull%2C%27ASC%27

This is really cute! I wonder how it''d look with an amethyst pair. I have a huge stone. . .it''s either five or eight carats (I can''t remember off hand). . .hmmm. . .

 

[aeli]

I love pears in pendants.

 

[aeli]

or something similar to this...

 

[pearcrazy]

That ring Morticia posted a link to is very similar to MaryAlaina's. Her pear was a K color and the finished product came out very nice.

Here's a link:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/first-pic-of-microset-split-shank-pear-ring.23931/

 

[ForteKitty]

how about getting it drilled to have the carbon removed? The shape looks really nice, and once the carbon''s gone you''ll probably enjoy wearing it.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

For my 16th BD, my Dad bought me a ruby and diamond ring. I loved this ring and wore it daily for a long as I can remember. However, while having some jewellery remade many years later, I decided to add this ring to the remake pile--afterall I had gotten my "use" of the ring, and besides I had many others to choose from to wear. Once done, I realized what a mistake I had made. It had more sentimental attachment then I realized, and with my Father gone, not a day goes by when I think of my regret.

But this is only my experience. You''ll come to the conclusion that is right for you with, hopefully, little regret. Good luck.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Sunni79]

The stone should be very precious to you because it was your mother''s. So what if it isn''t a great color or clarity. You don''t have it wear it. Maybe you could pass it to your own daughter one day. I would have loved to have had a family heirloom like a ring. Ultimately though, it''s up to you whether you keep it or not.

 

[Michael_E]

bluedawg,
That''s a pretty big rock and if the inclusions are not spread all over the stone it should be fairly bright and sparkly. This could be used as a pendant or a ring and still be very attractive. If you were to have several "tendrils" or vine-like extensions of the mounting going over the TOP of the stone in just the right places to cover the inclusions you would basically render them invisable. If the setting and these tendrils had small diamonds set into them as pave and the metal was a nice pink gold it would add color, (the pink tones added to the base color of the diamond could give it a very attractive hue), and life to this stone to enhance it, instead of allowing the inclusions to detract from it. I think that if you approach this in the right way, you can create a highly valued heirloom from something that you may be viewing as a bit of a shaggy dog.

 

[bluedawg]

Thanks so much for all your help.

The stone isn''t so sentimental to me because it wasn''t something my father gave my mom... though she did wear it for a long time in a ring. I have been back-and-forth about whether or not to keep it-- so perhaps that means I shouldn''t get rid of it.

I think I would like it if it could be set into a platinum setting... but it''s pretty yellow.

I really love the pendant pearcrazy has. And Michael, thank you for your ideas about the setting.

Definitely food for thought...again, thanks for your posts. This forum is great.

 

[JCJD]

I''m planning on a cushion RHR when I graduate with my doctorate in a few years, and I''m thinking of going with a warmer color (K or so) in a platinum antique-style filigree/pave setting. IMO, the warmer color diamonds look pretty awesome in those older style settings, the color just gives it some heirloomy quality.

Anything by Leon Mege would be scrumptious! Here''s a fancy yellow pear ring, filigree and pave ring, and halo-set pear pendant. A halo-set pendant might do the trick for your pear - use gemstones to "mask" the yellowness of the pear. Plus, the inclusions will be less visible to passersby on the neck than on the hand.