Antique ring remodelling ideas

[Aurea]

Hello all!

I'm hoping for some Mumsnet wisdom and ideas for a vintage ring I have been given which used to belong to my GGM.

I think it's from 1920s. It consists of a round dark blue sapphire and 25 old cut diamonds of around 0.8ct in total. It also has pearls (one of which is cracked) which I don't like.

The band is massive, I can even get it easily on my thumb so it definitely needs resetting and remodelling.

I was going to use most of the diamonds in the setting, but I guess less is more sometimes.

Here is a photo of the vintage ring in its existing state (the photo is not of the ring on my own finger as I am a size J in case you think it fits, as it doesn't.)

Here is also photo of my existing rings I would wear on my other hand.

I would want the band to be platinum to match.

Anyway, please fire away with inspiration.

Thank you so much!

Oh that’s a shame about the sapphire.

Would a cluster like this work?

Ooh Sex, I'm quite liking that.

Would you personally use an antique synthetic stone (which apparently is a fabulous colour and flawless as it was lab grown) which has the same properties as a natural sapphire, or stick solely to the natural, old cut diamonds of which there are plenty?

I have one lab sapphire, it's OK, but it doesn't do the surrounding diamonds justice. I do love a cluster ring though. And don't be afraid of a high antique setting. One would look great on your right hand to compliment your wedding set. Could you get the sapphire incorporated into a chain?

I’m not a jewellery expert, but I don’t believe this ring is from the 20s/30s. It’s not remotely Art Deco and if you look at jewellery in that period, it’s altogether lighter in construction than this ring.

Therefore I think it’s Victorian. That would tie in with the synthetic sapphire too. Pearls were sought after then and that accounts for the use of pearls. Flower rings were popular too. Sometimes Victorian jewellery was a mix of silver and gold. Platinum wasn’t around.

I’m not sure I’d bother to have it remodelled. What gem components you have are worth little as the diamonds are tiny. I think I would see if it could become a pendant. Ring remodelling can be expensive and you won’t get the value out of it. I don’t like the diamond cluster idea I’m afraid. You could easily buy a new one for less money than remodelling. It’s a shame the ring isn’t to your taste but it’s destroying an heirloom and I think that’s a pity as it’s come down through the generations. It reflects your GGMs taste and perhaps that should be respected? I don’t think the resulting new ring will be great I’m afraid. If you have money for this project, would you not be able to buy a ring you do like?

This is a Victorian ring with a synthetic sapphire. Also some history of synthetic sapphires.

Thank you Bubbles for your advice.

You could be right that it's Victorian as my GGM was born around 1880. I think her husband acquired it for her at an auction, so I'm not sure of the provenance of the ring.

The diamonds have been valued at around £75-100 each and there are 25 of them in total so around £2000 worth of diamonds. The remodelling into platinum would be around £1k.

I'm not really sure what to do. I cannot wear the ring as it stands as it's even too big for my thumb and the diamond area is wider than my ring finger.

The options are to leave it in a drawer to gather dust, sell it or remodel it. 🤔

Can it be made into a pin?

I love rings. Pins not so much....

I think it’s beautiful as it is. Sorry that’s not really helpful! It’s wonderful to have a piece of jewellery that’s been handed down through the generations; a real connection with the past and your ancestors. I used to wear my great grandmother’s wedding ring, until one devastating day when I lost it. I’m still gutted about that, ten years on.

Do you have a daughter you could save it for?

No. Two teenage sons.

I have to go and pick up the ring from the jewellers anyway so I'll speak to them and see what they say....l.

Could you get the diamonds set into an eternity band?

Possibly, although I have one already have a modest one on my left hand (sorry, I sound really spoilt).

I think you are incorrect on the value of the ring. The Victorian ring in the picture is for sale for £850. You have more diamonds but that won’t make it £3000 worth of ring. If you can get it done in platinum for £1000, that’s a deal!

If you really want it remodelled as a ring, can you keep the central “sapphire” cluster and add the other diamonds into the shanks. Pearls are soft and not great for rings.

I think it’s a shame you cannot wear it but I’m still thinking conversion to a pendant might be best. Add a flat back to the ring so it sits flat and dispense with the curved back of the ring.

If you can’t wear it as it is then I’d get it remodelled into a cluster. It’s a shame to let it sit in a drawer unused.

I’d probably only use the diamonds.

I would just keep the little flower shape. Sapphire and all, I love the round sapphire. Remove the rest and keep the old fashioned looking flower ring. It has a story behind it so that is worth something.

Hopefully just removing the shoulder stuff would make remodelling cheaper. I think I would try different jewellers once you have decided what you want as that quote is a lot to pay.

If you get it remodelled, you can keep the stones you don’t use and use them for something else in the future.
That might sound obvious, but some jewellers take the spares as payment.
I had my grandma’s strings of pearls restrung as two bracelets for me and my sister. We have the original clasps and a couple of pearls left if we ever want to do anything with them.

I'd also keep the sapphire and original flower shape. I think you will lose too much of the history if you ditch the sapphire altogether. I don't think it matters that the sapphire is lab grown - it's beautiful.
I'm also a believer in not leaving things in a drawer. They are meant to be worn and loved. If you change it to something that you really like, maybe one day you will pass it down to a gd or ggd, who will value it because it was yours, as you value this because it was your ggm.

I think it's Victorian too and I wouldn't touch it apart from having it resized.

There is a website called the London Victorian Ring Co. which might be worth looking at for inspiration. They have some beautiful rings which would fit nicely with your existing style and accommodate the stones from the ring too.

Thank you so much everyone again.

I have an initial appointment with the jeweller on Tuesday, so I will take some ideas along with me.

I am now minded to keep the lab created sapphire (jeweller confirmed it was a gorgeous colour and still worth £200-300 in her opinion) and diamond flower style as much as possible. It's currently mounted on silver so this will need to be changed. Also, she initially said the old cut diamonds weren't totally symmetrical so would be better enclosed in metal, like a rub over setting.

Why do you think of these styles with milgrain effects?

Although the diamonds would be larger and the sapphire smaller.

I love those two sapphire rings you have posted!

Both of those pics are lovely. See what the jeweller thinks would work best.

The first design would make the ring look bigger, since the diamonds wouldn't be right next to the centre stone and this would highlight the beautiful sapphire. OTOH, the second design is closer to the original and is also really lovely.

The original blue stone will only accommodate the same number of diamonds round it as at present. A greater number as shown in your pictures means you need a bigger central stone. You don’t have one. So I would consult the jeweller about what is actually possible because I’m not sure those designs are.