QuestionIs it possible to mount a single circular diamond in a piece of Black Onyx. I have a 14k gold ring with a rectanular Onyx. I would like to put a single diamond in the middle of the Onyx. Is that possible?
AnswerAlbert, indeed it is possible to mount a diamond in the stone. The problem is with what and how. The what is metal. The how is a hole drilled with a diamond drill through the stone. I suspect most jewelers do not have the facility to do this drilling accurately.
The methods of mounting include metal, generally gold, either a plate of gold with a place to set the stone or a tube for a bezel setting. The tube has a slight rim to cover any edges of the drilled hole in the onyx. Bexel setting includes cutting a place in the tubing to fit the stone and forcing metal down to secure the stone. Then, whether bezel set or in low prongs, the entire piece is attached to the onyx. The back of the piece is also a tube, just the right fit for the drilled hole. The edges are burnished down to the back of the stone to secure the setting and diamond to the onyx.
What is amiss here? Your stone is in your ring and the back of the onyx may not be reachable! A solution is to have the hole drilled, stone bezel set with a slight rim at the top side, then all set with epoxy cement into the stone.
What I believe most jewelers will suggest is to remove the stone and either drill it and set the diamond, or replace the stone with one already drilled to accept a stone mounting. Either way, the expense of removing the stone and resetting it will likely be close to the labor of the rest of the work.
Yes, it can be done. But the options available mean a trip to a jewelery store with a working jeweler on the pemises.
I hope this helps. God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
September 4,2007 7:12pm
