Near disaster - Avoid future repeat?

[rei35]

I was so scared reading your topic but SO GLAD you found the stone. My parents in law are jewelers in LA downtown. This incident should have NEVER happened and NOT ACCEPTABLE.

 

[TheMrsKwok]

If I were u , I will get it bezel set! I cannot imagine losing it ...

 

[coloradolvr]

* I * would get it reset in as strong a setting as possible because I know I am a klutz and I wouldn’t be comfortable wearing it otherwise. I also think they look beautiful in a six prong setting. But ultimately you have to balance what you love with what you can stomach.

Thank goodness you found it!

I wouldn't be comfortable with three prongs on such a large stone. But then again, if you're getting insurance.....

I had a pear shape diamond that was tension set (with a protective metal guard on the tip). I just couldn't stop worrying about it, basically I ended-up never wearing it (and it wasn't 5cts) so I sold it.

I say get what makes you'll comfortable, we have enough to worry about.

First thing--get it insured. A plus in this nightmare is that you have had it into a jeweler and, in my past experience, they always get a cost estimate, yours and theirs (in case something happens while it's in their shop for repairs or whatever). You may have to pay for their appraisal but it's worth it (peace of mind, etc.).

As for the prongs, I would prong the heck out of it--5 carats needs safety!

When similar things have happened to me (not with 5 carats!)--lost something that means a lot to me--and I find it, I figure the gods, spirits, the universe, my deceased parents, whatever, may not give me another chance.

Happy that it was found.

This is beautiful and safe. Perhaps your husband hasn’t really thought about what it would look like or is thinking chunky 80s setting. I don’t even notice these prongs and peace of mind is significant.

Have you thought about putting it in a bezel setting? It it were me, I would pave the bezel and make it east-west. How cool would that be?!!!

You might want to look into a V shaped “prong” for the top of the pear. It’ll keep the shape of the diamond better than a regular shape prong and will be just as if not more secure.

I believe that lessons in life will be repeated until learned. So if I were in your shoes, I will have it insured first. And second, I will opt to have more prongs for safety.

What does your new jeweler recommend? I think you should wear and enjoy your ring, and if the three prong setting makes this impossible, I’d have it mounted in a sturdier setting with the additional prongs.

As a jeweler, I would never recommend setting a stone that large in three prongs. Six is definitely the way to go, with a V prong for the tip. Also having prongs retipped repeatedly is not safe for the jewelry. To retip prongs heat has to be applied, every time heat is applied to the ring air bubble form in the metal on a microscopic level. It’s called porosity and it’s why you don’t what to do numerous repairs or resizings on a ring- because you ultimately make the ring brittle. Prongs should only be retipped when absolutely necessary and platinum prongs should not need to be retipped for several years unless they caught on something significant in accident type circumstances, definitely shouldn’t be needed from standard daily wear.

Interesting...thank you!
I have seen 6 prong studs for a long time now...stylish yet functional. 5 tcw is a large enough stone to accommodate more metal. Do it!

Wow, what a story and I’m so glad you found it.
I agree re everyone’s super-helpful advice and only wanted to add that I have been very happy with Jewelers Mutual insuring my important pieces.
They are easy to work with, I always get a helpful real person who is knowledgeable and they have been around forever.
In addition, I find I enjoy my big pieces much much more and wear them more frequently and without stress...the way it should be!
As soon as you fax them the appraisal, you are good to go and enjoy!!
(PS- I am only a happy customer and have no other interest in their business!)

I was so scared reading your topic but SO GLAD you found the stone. My parents in law are jewelers in LA downtown. This incident should have NEVER happened and NOT ACCEPTABLE.

If I were u , I will get it bezel set! I cannot imagine losing it ...

I just wanted to update my ring saga for all of you that were so kind as to chime in with your thoughts and recommendations. It always bothers me when we don't hear back on a story I am so happy to say that after what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was the better part of 6 months, I picked my ring up from my jeweler yesterday. I am beyond thrilled with their craftsmanship. We ultimately decided to go with 5 prongs with the tip being a v prong. The jeweler drew up the design in a cad system and sent me renderings along the way. It was a painstaking process as the dozens of pave diamonds were removed from the original setting and reset in the new recast platinum setting. The lesson learned from this is that when my husband and I originally purchased the ring we should have had the integrity of the original setting evaluated by an independent party. As @Mrosemarie said the setting was probably compromised when it was retipped. That was only done once but apparently was enough. My jeweler was truly mystified how the setting was that damaged. He said that it was basically at risk for the entire thing coming apart. Ugh.

Again, thank you all for your thoughts and recommendations and I am happy to share my happy albeit expensive ending to my story!

 

[sdkitty]

I just wanted to update my ring saga for all of you that were so kind as to chime in with your thoughts and recommendations. It always bothers me when we don't hear back on a story I am so happy to say that after what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was the better part of 6 months, I picked my ring up from my jeweler yesterday. I am beyond thrilled with their craftsmanship. We ultimately decided to go with 5 prongs with the tip being a v prong. The jeweler drew up the design in a cad system and sent me renderings along the way. It was a painstaking process as the dozens of pave diamonds were removed from the original setting and reset in the new recast platinum setting. The lesson learned from this is that when my husband and I originally purchased the ring we should have had the integrity of the original setting evaluated by an independent party. As @Mrosemarie said the setting was probably compromised when it was retipped. That was only done once but apparently was enough. My jeweler was truly mystified how the setting was that damaged. He said that it was basically at risk for the entire thing coming apart. Ugh.

Again, thank you all for your thoughts and recommendations and I am happy to share my happy albeit expensive ending to my story!

wow.....that's a big diamond....glad it worked out for you

 

[kemilia]

I just wanted to update my ring saga for all of you that were so kind as to chime in with your thoughts and recommendations. It always bothers me when we don't hear back on a story I am so happy to say that after what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was the better part of 6 months, I picked my ring up from my jeweler yesterday. I am beyond thrilled with their craftsmanship. We ultimately decided to go with 5 prongs with the tip being a v prong. The jeweler drew up the design in a cad system and sent me renderings along the way. It was a painstaking process as the dozens of pave diamonds were removed from the original setting and reset in the new recast platinum setting. The lesson learned from this is that when my husband and I originally purchased the ring we should have had the integrity of the original setting evaluated by an independent party. As @Mrosemarie said the setting was probably compromised when it was retipped. That was only done once but apparently was enough. My jeweler was truly mystified how the setting was that damaged. He said that it was basically at risk for the entire thing coming apart. Ugh.

Again, thank you all for your thoughts and recommendations and I am happy to share my happy albeit expensive ending to my story!

View attachment 4592531View attachment 4592523

All's well that ends well!

 

[efleon]

Just stunning!
Such a story and so happy for you with the great ending.
Wear in good health!

 

[coloradolvr]

Just stunning!
Such a story and so happy for you with the great ending.
Wear in good health!

Thank you so much for the kind words!

 

[Hurrem1001]

Another option would be a bezel setting.

 

[aerinha]

It wasn’t the number of prongs that failed, it was the bad work done on them that caused the diamond to fall out. Sounds like how ever many you had, they would have let the stone fall. If this new setting is made correctly I don’t see why you couldn’t stick with three prongs if you prefer that look.

Also, not wearing the ring in the shower or while mixing things with hands like bread dough will keep the prongs tighter

 

[meluvs2shop]

Beautiful stone. Happy to hear about the happy ending. I lost a diamond once -never to be found. I was upset for a long time.

 

[ODEDIHAIMS]

Your ring is absolutely stunning. So glad it all worked out!