A fun dilemma

[badunnin]

My mother recently received new diamond earrings from my father for their anniversary, and her old pair, instead of being traded in, fell to me. Mom received these for their 25th wedding anniversary, and they were her first pair of diamond earrings, so they have sentimental value.

Now the dilemma - I rarely wear earrings. When I told a friend about them, she said "I don't think I've ever seen you in earrings." I know. When I do wear them, they are funky, colourful things, like my green Murano glass ones that I bought at the art museum.

So, mom and I talked about having them re-set into something more modern. They are about 1/2 ct total (.25 ct each), and are currently in a very traditional, yellow gold setting. I'm looking for ideas on rings, funkier earrings, or a pendant. I see a lot for graduated sized diamonds, or for solitaires, but very little for 2 matched diamonds.

Ideas?

[lisas3575]

How fun! Congratulations on your inheritance. I'm hoping for some diamond earrings someday...

I'd suggest looking around at places that offer true jewelry craftsmanship, like The Real Mother Goose (http://therealmothergoose.com/collections/collections_jewelry.htm) or Guild (http://www.guild.com/art/jewelry.html) for ideas. I found a wedding set that I fell in love with at RMG, but I already had my stone. I bought the corresponding top and bottom bands and had a local artisan craft the main wedding band using my stone. I love it and get compliments on it all the time-- it is so nice to have an unusual piece that I don't see on any other woman. I'll post a pic of it if you're interested.

I haven't heard if you're still coming to Portland this summer-- that's where RMG is located (several locations) and it's definitely worth checking out, even just for fun. One of my favorite stores/galleries. :cool:

[Luv to Cook]

I have a few loose stones as well and checked out a local jeweler that I love.

Here is his website.

http://www.marraccinidesigns.com/home.html

Enter the website and then click on jewelry, then click on apostrophe...I alwasy thought those designs were cool for getting loose diamonds set.

What fun! Have a great time deciding.

Anita

[tbb113]

You could do this with what ever type of drop pleases you (I'm assuming the two circles on the chains would be the diamonds)

http://www.tiffany.com/shopping/item.aspx?CategoryID=502&category=diamonds&c_id=WEB1&c_it=A37&start_id=11&

or something like these

http://www.mondera.com/jewelry/product.asp?partno=3004145&sourceid=MSNDF


http://www.mondera.com/jewelry/product.asp?partno=3004155&sourceid=MSNDF

http://www.mondera.com/jewelry/product.asp?partno=3004153&sourceid=MSNDF

http://www.mondera.com/jewelry/product.asp?partno=3005305&sourceid=MSNDF (not sure if you want to go religious)

http://www.diamond.com/detail.asp?GEN5=ODIA0900MSDF0005&pf_id=9207&dept_id=163&md_id=1&msnshopping=1

[Goin' Coastal]

Have your ears pierced twice. Wear the diamonds all the time and be as funky as you want with the other "holes". I personally hate the bother of changing earrings and just wear my diamond earrings all the time. Life is easy that way! :)

[Cronopia]

What about a simple figure 8/eternity with a diamond embedded in each o? Symbolism-wise it's kind of interesting-passing on of the diamonds from your mother to you, perhaps to your children.... I have no concept of what carat sizes look like, but depending on size could be 8 or oo.

[Chefzhat]

Bethany, once you re-set them are you planning to wear them all the time? Or just for special occasion?

Personally, I'd keep them set as earrings. You can never go wrong with diamond earrings. Even if you don't think they are your style now, when you are older they might be.

Re-setting costs are pretty high, too - BTDT.

[beacooker]

I agree with Debie. Plus, if you want to continue the tradition of handing these earrings down, simple diamond studs are going to stand the test of time the best. What is funky and fun now might be hideous by the time your daughter inherits the earrings.

[BeachBum]

I wouldn't change them either. But why not look into getting some fun artisan "jackets" for them? My MIL always wears big funky jackets with her diamonds and they look great.

[badunnin]

A second piercing is definitely out. I don't plan on handing them down again - I won't have children. I would like to wear them every day (thus the ring idea, or a pendant). My fear is that if I start changing them out for other earrings, I will lose them. Cronopia - I like the eternity idea...

Lisa - I love the artists you posted! Unfortunately, I'm taking classes here this summer, so can't take them in OR. I haven't quite figured out how to be in 2 places at once. ;)

[SandyM]

Hi Bethany! ;)

I had a diamind ring made into a really pretty necklace by my jeweler in Brighton. I'll show you when I see you next week. :cool:

[BeachBum]

I have a friend that has a diamond ring with just 2 diamonds. It is beautiful! It has a real art deco feel. They sit next to each other (left to right) and one is slightly ahead of the other one, but not enough to feel diagonal. They are surrounded by delicate looking filigree in white gold (or platinum). Perhaps looking at estate pieces will give you some inspiration?

[rosie_one]

Well, I'd have them set as you like and then you can always reset them again if you feel things have changed in your life. I like the idea of a ring myself...

These diamonds are too small, but you get the idea.

http://www.dreamstonejewellery.co.uk/catalog/index.php?function=detail&productCode=D1A5SBP



How about this style with two stones instead?

http://www.dreamstonejewellery.co.uk/catalog/index.php?function=detail&productCode=D177STN

[badunnin]

Rosie - I love that site! I love the look of this (http://www.dreamstonejewellery.co.uk/catalog/index.php?function=detail&productCode=1114AMQ) one.

My thing is this y'all - I love the diamonds. They were mom's. But as they are currently set, I won't wear them. And I want to wear them. At this point, I don't care if I might wear them in this setting in the future - I don't want to box them up and have them sitting in a drawer until that point in time. As Rosie said, I can always have them re-set in the future. I'd prefer to have mom's diamonds, whether in a ring or a pendant or in a funkier pair of earrings (even bezels would be better, and I'm considering that, but I don't think they would showcase these particular stones that well) or in something I'd wear daily, be able to look at it, and think of mom.

[Chefzhat]

Originally posted by SandyM
I'll show you when I see you next week. :cool:

Ahem. :cool:

[badunnin]

Originally posted by Chefzhat


Ahem. :cool:

Yeah, well we found we had too much to talk about when we had dinner this week. ;)

You'll be in town for my housewarming klatch, I'm assuming? ;) :eek:

[Chefzhat]

Originally posted by badunnin


Yeah, well we found we had too much to talk about when we had dinner this week. ;)

You'll be in town for my housewarming klatch, I'm assuming? ;) :eek:

I haven't been invited yet.

Sniff. Sniff. Everybody hates me . . .

[badunnin]

Originally posted by Chefzhat


I haven't been invited yet.

Sniff. Sniff. Everybody hates me . . .

Nobody's been invited, silly! I just started shopping, but hope to be in by the end of the summer.

[Chefzhat]

Ah. Well in that case.

:D :p

[rosie_one]

Originally posted by badunnin
Rosie - I love that site! I love the look of this (http://www.dreamstonejewellery.co.uk/catalog/index.php?function=detail&productCode=1114AMQ) one.


Absolutely! Love the ring style you chose. It's actually a little bit similar to my wedding bands, very flowing; in my mind the diamond symbolizes our "rock" of a relationship in the flow of life. I also completely agree that you should wear the stones and love them rather than letting them languish.