Resizing a Ring with a CZ Stone: Safety & Best Practices

Question
Hi,

I have a dilemma.  I got engaged yesterday and need to resize my ring tomorrow.  It is a single CZ stone about 1.25 carat size set in a silver 4 claw setting. My mum is going to her jewlery class tomorrow and doesn't know whether soldering the shank will crack the CZ or not?

I am worried that heating the ring to solder it back together may crack the stone, but equally taking it out of claws will be tricky.

Could you please let me know what you advise?
Thanks so much
Nicki

Answer
Dear Nicki,

The CZ must be removed. A tool must be used to gently bend back just enough prongs to allow the stone to be removed.  A flush cutter pliers will work with one jaw just at the prong and stone meet and the other on the prong. Hold steady and with the cutter edge at the prong tip, the pliers may be turned away from the stone setting to open the prong. If the ring is held straight up and down, the pliers are held sideways, with the length of the pliers going in the same direction as the top of the stone flat facet.  The pliers will be perpendicular to the ring band.  This can cause a mark on the prong and it will need to be sanded and polished once the stone is reset.

Resetting will mean placing the CZ in the prongs and gently squeezing in the prongs  which were bend outwards using needle nose pliers. Then using the pliers again parallel with the stone top facet and perpendicular to the ring shank, place the plier tips on two prongs at the tip and squeeze just enough to move the prongs. Go around the stone like this until all are aligned again and the stone is secure.  If this o is the stone, the pliers points come in like this XO, if that makes sense.

The class instructor may have a better tool than a flush cut pliers to move the prongs outward, thus avoiding any nicks in the prongs.

Best wishes! God Bless and Peace.  Thomas.