Gold diamond ring - needs shrinking

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
Hi,

Anyone any experience about getting a ring made smaller here in CH.

I have a couple of issues.

Background is that last week I actually got round to buying the missus a one and a half carat diamond ring with an 18 carat gold band. Promised this about a decade ago.

Got it in a pawnbroker friends shop in deepest Lancashire - and it cost less than 2000 CHF. Very nice ring - even though this is not my cup of tea.

My wife (trusting soul that she is) had it valued in CH when we came back and it is genuine and "worth" more than I paid.

Problem is that the ring is too big and so she tried to get some quotes about shrinking it.

I am not sure which shops she went to, but the cost was over half the value of the ring - just to remove some gold and solder it.

Any ideas where she could get this done at a normal price? Also a place that would not jemmy out the diamonds and replace them with some Cubic Zirconia or Moissanite? No one would try glass these days -would they?

2
Literally any goldsmith would be qualified to do that. It depends on the setting and style of the band - it's not always possible to do. I've never paid over 100 for the service, when it was possible.

If you're worried about being scammed, document exactly what it is you've handed over on the work order.

3
Manor will do it,

4
She works at Manor and gets 20 percent discount normally - I never realized that they provided this service. I will get her to try tomorrow.

Thanks for the info.

5
Don't shrink the ring, 'cos they'll be keeping the little bit of removed gold that you've already paid for.

Increase the size of her finger by hitting it with a hammer and repeat as necessary.

6
Or feed her excess amounts of food, that will also help the ring fit. Ice cream, chips, chocolate, McDicks etc.

7
No they don't. They give you the little piece of gold back in a little plastic bag.

They do it for free if you bought the ring from them but you have to pay for the service if you didn't

The hammer option is probably cheaper though.

8
And what exactly does one do with a few milligrams of gold in a little plastic bag, apart from put it somewhere safe, promptly forget about it and throw it out in 2 years time ?

It's basically worthless to all and sundry apart from a jeweller. 1 gram of pur gold 24ct to buy is about Chf 45.--. Yours is 18ct at best, soalready 25% less minus smelting costs etc....maybe worth Chf 20.-- at very best....

Go for the hammer

9
I was only saying what they do not what you're supposed to do with it. You could always ask them if they want to buy it I guess.

My wedding ring was my grandmother's and is actually 22 ct but I realise that it's pretty rare to have a 22 ct ring these days.

10
I can see that you live in Aargau so you can try for instance in Freiburg in Germany which is 1.5h drive.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=juwel...rmany&t=m&z=16

I would suggest calling the jewellers beforehand and asking for an approximate price. It should be way cheaper than in Switzerland.

11
If the ring is snipped and re-soldered, the crown the gem sits in will be distorted and open up.

You need a new ring and the gem reset.

Expanding rings one or two sizes is easy, if not the pattern hasn't been eroded too deeply.

12
There is a cheaper alternative, but kind of a band-aid. Called Ring Snuggies or the Ring Noodle, it's a plastic clip that takes of the slack on the finger.

Either these...

http://www.esslinger.com/howtosizear...ringguard.aspx

or these...

http://www.ringnoodle.com/how-they-work.html

13
It all depends on how the stone is set and usualy stones in solitaire type rings can be adjusted very easily, especialy a claw type setting.

14
Hi,

I had the same problem two months ago and I found very nice guy, goldsmith with his own atelier:

Goldschmied / Atelier Peter Schafroth

Seefeldstrasse 90, 8008 Zürich

044 383 88 55

He did it within 3-4 days for 70 CHF, and I was very happy with the job. But doesnt speak too much English...

15
Yes, exactly I too agree with my friends its really tough for a simple person to arrange and give a perfect shape..if you really want to manage the shape without having and scratches on your stone you should have to consult with Goldsmiths who have a solid knowledge as well they will also suggest you to what would be beneficial for the stone your are worried about. Otherwise, you may also contact with the store from where you bought that. Do, anything after knowing the true facts which doesn't harm your stone.

Thanks & Regards,

Itshot.com