Resetting a European Cut Diamond Ring: Setting Options & Specifications

Question
Hi Peter,

My boyfriend recently received his grandmother's engagement ring. It is a a 1 ct European cut Diamond, surrounded by 56 small diamonds (not sure of the size).

The center stone is F color. I am not sure of the clarity. We want to use the center stone and smaller stones and reset them to create a new ring.

My question is...what type of setting and specifications are best for maximizing the beauty of this type of diamond? I prefer a 3 stone setting, but am open to other ideas. If we go with a 3 stone, what size side stones would you reccomend? And can a European cut be set with modern brilliant cut diamonds?

Also, can you give a ballpart estimate on what it would cost to add sidestones (to create a 3 stone) and reset the center and smaller diamonds in a platinum setting?


Answer
HI KIM,

MOST FOLKS RECUT OLD EUROPEAN CUT DIAMONDS TO MODERN BRILLIANT SPECS BECAUSE THEY ARE WORTH MORE RECUT. YOU HAVE LITTERALLY THOUSANDS OF OPTIONS FOR A NEW RING. ONE GENERAL RULE IS NOT TO MIX THE CUTS IN ONE RING. I THINK THE OLD EUROPEAN CUT IS VERY GOOD BY ITSELF. I WOULD TRY TO WORK AROUND THAT IDEA. YOU CANT CHANGE YOUR MIND AFTER THE STONE HAS BEEN RECUT. WHAT GREAT FUN TO SEARCH THE WORLD FOR A SETTING FOR YOUR RING. GOOD HUNTING.

PETER