Jewelry & Gemstones Resources

4 tips vs new head for diamond ring Question: I have a diamond ring that some of the prongs have worn down.

Jewellery Manufacture and Repair

Price: $22.12

A couple of years ago I had a jeweler look at the ring and they suggested a new head, since they wouldn't just fix the prongs.

I have since taken it to a different jeweler and they recommend 4 tips since the head is fine. The stone is not loose.

Would I be better off in the long run having a new head done or would just the four tips be good?

Answer: G'day and many thanks for your query

You've done the right thing by getting a couple of quotes in the first place, so well done!

But the first thing you should do is - DO SOMETHING BEFORE YOU LOSE THE DIAMOND....

As you have already made some headway means that you and these jewelers are all saying there is something wrong and if you don't take action, you will regret it.

Personally (and I have only recently done this for one of my wife's pendants) is get the prongs (claws) replaced if the setting is fine and the jeweler doesn't recommend replacing the whole thing.

However there is also the question of cost. The prongs are generally (very rough guide) about $10 bucks per claw while a new head (which has new prongs anyway) might not cost that much more because it is easier for the jeweler to replace the head, than fiddle around with individual claws. It's simply a question of time, because the jeweler is charging you by the hour for the work done.

So if 4 claws takes longer to do than replacing the whole head...? Under those circumstances - and as long as there is NOT a great deal of price difference - I would go with replacing the whole setting.

However; and this is NOT meant to alarm you, I have heard of a jeweler replacing the setting (not very well) and later the whole setting fell from the ring loosing the diamond as well - Sheesh!

As you know YOUR setting is fixed and sound then the worse that could happen is loosing another claw - but saving the diamond.

Let your FRIENDLY jeweler take another look and put both cases to them. See what they say and take their advice - not mine. The reason for that is they can see the problem, and I can't.

Hope this helps.