Restore antique engagement ring or . . . ?

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airkay

airkay

Decade Club
Sep 13, 2014
42
159
#1
Hello, everyone. I would love to hear your thoughts about the situation with my engagement ring (mine for 29 years). It belonged to my husband's grandmother. I recently took it to the jeweler because I cracked one of the baguettes, and I learned that the platinum prongs are so worn that they should be replaced. It's a one-piece ring, so replacing the prongs means replacing the whole ring, which will make it a new ring. The center stone is an OEC 1.5 carat, L with a large, visible culet and fun fire in certain lighting. It is a character and I would recognize it anywhere. Nevertheless, although I'm attached to the ring, I probably would not have chosen the stone, and I'm not sure I would like it in a new ring. The ring should not be worn in its current condition. What would you do in my situation?

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#2
Do you still want to wear it regularly? If you do, then I would get it fixed so you don't lose the center stone. Can you get it remade so that it mirrors the original?
 
#3
lorihmatthews said:
Do you still want to wear it regularly? If you do, then I would get it fixed so you don't lose the center stone. Can you get it remade so that it mirrors the original?
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That's a great question. I guess the reason I don't know what to do is I don't wear it regularly because a) I'm not in love with the stone and b) I'm too active to wear a ring like this daily, which is why the baguette got smashed. For the price to remake the ring, I could buy something I like better that makes more sense for my life (a half-eternity band, perhaps?). But I also want to leave the diamond for my heirs in an intact condition. I have two sons and was thinking, for example, that if I leave it as is and they want to give it to someone, then the new couple can choose how to set it. On the other hand, are there other types of settings that would enhance the appearance of my funky OEC that I would enjoy wearing? I have heard that rose and yellow gold are more complimentary to OECs.
 
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#4
If you're not so fond of the stone that you want to set it in another ring, I would tuck it into the safe deposit box and leave it for your sons to use in a ring if they wish.

Any repair to the prongs will be fragile unless you put the stone in a new ring and setting.

With a ring that old there's also the issue of the back of the ring thinning from wear, and that will need to be replaced.

It's pretty common for engagement rings to wear to pieces after 20+ years of wear, and become unrepairable. The prongs and back of my ring wore out and I had the diamond reset into a new ring. I had my mom's engagement ring repaired, with the worn-out prongs tipped, but that repair is fragile and I only occasionally wear the ring because of it.

I think you should make your decision based upon what you think you'll wear the most. If you love the stone and think you'll wear it in a new ring by all means get a new setting. If you think you'd get more wear out of a new ring in a different style by all means go with that choice, and save the ring and stones for your heirs. Or maybe have them reset into a pendant.
 
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#5
I personally love old cut diamonds, but they are not for everyone. It sounds like you will get more enjoyment from putting the money it would take to make this wearable into funding a new piece instead that is more your style. If you want to pass the diamond on to your sons, I agree you should store it away safely until you are ready to give it to them.
 
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#6
BigPurseSue said:
If you're not so fond of the stone that you want to set it in another ring, I would tuck it into the safe deposit box and leave it for your sons to use in a ring if they wish.

Any repair to the prongs will be fragile unless you put the stone in a new ring and setting.

With a ring that old there's also the issue of the back of the ring thinning from wear, and that will need to be replaced.

It's pretty common for engagement rings to wear to pieces after 20+ years of wear, and become unrepairable. The prongs and back of my ring wore out and I had the diamond reset into a new ring. I had my mom's engagement ring repaired, with the worn-out prongs tipped, but that repair is fragile and I only occasionally wear the ring because of it.

I think you should make your decision based upon what you think you'll wear the most. If you love the stone and think you'll wear it in a new ring by all means get a new setting. If you think you'd get more wear out of a new ring in a different style by all means go with that choice, and save the ring and stones for your heirs. Or maybe have them reset into a pendant.
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Thanks for this info and advice!
 
#8
nicole0612 said:
I personally love old cut diamonds, but they are not for everyone. It sounds like you will get more enjoyment from putting the money it would take to make this wearable into funding a new piece instead that is more your style. If you want to pass the diamond on to your sons, I agree you should store it away safely until you are ready to give it to them.
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Thanks for replying. I’m just learning about old diamonds and I love the deco vibe of this ring. Are there other styles you like for them?
 
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#10
airkay said:
Hello, everyone. I would love to hear your thoughts about the situation with my engagement ring (mine for 29 years). It belonged to my husband's grandmother. I recently took it to the jeweler because I cracked one of the baguettes, and I learned that the platinum prongs are so worn that they should be replaced. It's a one-piece ring, so replacing the prongs means replacing the whole ring, which will make it a new ring. The center stone is an OEC 1.5 carat, L with a large, visible culet and fun fire in certain lighting. It is a character and I would recognize it anywhere. Nevertheless, although I'm attached to the ring, I probably would not have chosen the stone, and I'm not sure I would like it in a new ring. The ring should not be worn in its current condition. What would you do in my situation?

View attachment 5774921
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I love older diamonds and I think this is beautiful :biggrin: You have a variety of options. After consultation with my independent jeweler, I reset an OEC diamond into a more modern halo setting (it was originally a high mounted cocktail ring and looked entirely different); kept a mine cut in its original setting; and, my mom gave me another OEC diamond of hers that was reset in the 1960s in onyx ans yg. I wouldn’t hesitate to wear any of these today (Pics in the engagement ring thread and jewelry of the day thread) I love restyling older pieces into new things that I will love and use. It can be a lot of fun :smile:
 
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#11
airkay said:
Thanks for replying. I’m just learning about old diamonds and I love the deco vibe of this ring. Are there other styles you like for them?
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Deco is my favorite period as well. I also really love Edwardian pieces and some clean retro (30s/40s) styles. If you put deco diamond ring into Instagram, or any other place that has a collection of photos, you can scroll through and start saving some ideas for a setting that really speaks to you. I collect antique diamonds, so I have many photos saved on IG and from google searches for ring designs I want to create eventually.
 
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#14
leechiyong said:
Given you wouldn't have chosen the stone and the entire thing requires rebuilding, I love the idea of leaving it for one of your sons in the future and opt for something new for yourself.

Personally, I love OECs and would have it set into something like this in a heartbeat:
View attachment 5775154
That said, it needs to be something wearable to your lifestyle.
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Oooooh. That is pretty. You all are making me fall in love with my ring again. Thank you so much!
 
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