# Engagement Ring: Loose stone. Problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678 "2002-03-29T01:42:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/1 "2002-03-29T01:42:50Z")
The future Mrs. Stockton and I received her engagement ring last Friday. The jeweler is an old friend and made me a nice deal. We selected an antique setting (platinum, 4 prongs) and a different antique diamond. He set the stone and re-sized the ring and FedEx’ed the thing to us. It is round (the stone) and just under 1 carat. Upon examination, the stone is not moored tightly in the prongs. With my fingertips, I can turn the whole thing 360 degrees with no effort whatsoever. It is not “loose” or wobbly, it is just “turnable.” Is this a concern? I’m not obsessed about it and I don’t want to complain to my old pal (who pulled a lot of strings to bring it in on time and under budget). Is there a doper out there (hello, SamClem!!) that can tell me if this is a worrisome thing that needs to be fixed or a typical situation? Disclaimer: Despite my newbie post count, I’ve been here for years - lurking since the days of Melin and Satan (and Heather-you-know-who) and lost several dozen posts in the recent unfortunate meltdown. I’ve searched the archives and found several threads about a diamond’s WORTH and why NOT to buy them, but nothing on a loose rock. Searching Google for “Loose engagement ring stone” brings up exactly 12 zillion sites that advise buying your stone loose, then buying the setting. Anyone? Ease my mind here. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/2 "2002-03-29T01:48:27Z")
I’d be concerned. stones shouldn’t wobble when set correctly IMHO ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/3 "2002-03-29T01:55:06Z")
a stone that has been set properly, should not move. how old is the stone? What type of cut? Mine is from my Great Grandmother’s ring, made sometime around 1913. The cut is old European and needed a special 6 pronged setting. Go to the jewler, post haste! ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/4 "2002-03-29T02:19:37Z")
Thanks wring and Miss Creant… How old is the stone? Don’t know. It’s old. We made a considered decision NOT to support DeBeers or the nasty stuff that’s going on in Africa now, so we chose an antique stone. It IS old euro cut. Your 6-prong solution is on the mark, because a single prong failure on this 4-banger will lead to immediate catastrophic loss. Looks like we’re off to the jeweler unless some other teeming experts chime in with the “all-clear”. Much obliged. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/5 "2002-03-29T03:21:02Z")
by the way, [here’s](http://www.geocities.com/brian_stringer/) my ring if you want to see how they mounted the stone ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/6 "2002-03-29T04:11:21Z")
Google, “jewelry repair loose stone”. Read. [http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/1998/sep98/0998fys1.html](http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/1998/sep98/0998fys1.html) [http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/7212/care.htm](http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/7212/care.htm) > [@](#): > > If you find any loose stones, threads, or clasps, irregularities in the jewelry’s shape, or the fit is no longer comfortable, take it to get repaired. It’s less costly to repair a loose stone than to lose it altogether. [http://www.gottrocks.com/jewelcar.htm](http://www.gottrocks.com/jewelcar.htm) > [@](#): > > ! If you see a loose stone, do not wear the piece until your jeweler has had a chance to check and correct the problem. Hie thee to a jeweler and fix thou thy ring. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/7 "2002-03-29T05:55:14Z")
(Credentials: jeweler’s daughter and grandaughter, worked in the business for many years) Go to a jeweler and get the prongs tightened. You most likely _won’t_ lose the diamond unless the prongs gap so widely that the diamond can be pried out, but a stone is not supposed to be able to turn around like that in its setting. The cost will be minimal and if left alone the movement of the diamond can cut into the prongs of the ring and wear them down quickly, and so weaken the prongs and increase the chances of losing the stone. So: no, not an emergency, but get it fixed soon. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/8 "2002-03-29T05:59:07Z")
**Gaudere**??? **you’re** a jeweler’s daughter, too??? my dad had his own business for about 40 years, was well known in that part of the state (has also worked down in FL since retirement). I was the only girl at the high school prom wearing _real_ pearls . (of course, I wore cheap ass shoes, too, but hell, we know what’s really important, don’t we?) ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/9 "2002-03-29T06:02:56Z")
Incidentally, switching to a six prong will make the stone more secure and has a more “rounded” look, but even standard 4-prongs are set well enough that breaking one prong doesn’t mean the stone is neccessarily going to fall out; those stones are set _tight_ in strong metal. And if your prongs are platinum, there’s not much in the way of a tougher metal. So if you like the look of a four-prong better, I don’t think you’re endangering your diamond by using it; I prefer them myself. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/10 "2002-03-29T06:08:18Z")
Yes, me too, wring. 😉 I got my pearls for my _college_ graduation, but they were AAA quality; I know since I filed the order myself. 😃 I worked in the store since I was high enough to clean the glass cases. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/11 "2002-03-29T15:06:07Z")
get it fixed. The worst that can happen is that you are out some money. however, if you lose the stone you will regret not having done this. I would suggest a 6 prong setting myself, but that’s only cause I am mot dainty with my ring at all. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/12 "2002-03-29T16:10:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stockton \* > \*\*Thanks wring and Miss Creant… > > How old is the stone? Don’t know. It’s old. We made a considered decision NOT to support DeBeers or the nasty stuff that’s going on in Africa now, so we chose an antique stone. It IS old euro cut. Your 6-prong solution is on the mark, because a single prong failure on this 4-banger will lead to immediate catastrophic loss. Looks like we’re off to the jeweler unless some other teeming experts chime in with the “all-clear”. > > Much obliged. \*\* I don’t know what **you** should do. But I know what **I** would do. I wouldn’t wear the ring until I had a jewler reset the stone, even if every single SDMB diamond “expert” said that loose is OK. ---
**Author:** ![don\_willard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@don\_willard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_willard)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/13 "2002-03-29T21:06:12Z")
All the stones in my many rings get loose all the time and have to be tightened at enormous expense by arrogant jewellers, who I never had a good experience with. Even if you can get past their snottiness they know nothing and have some slave labor in the back room. My current jeweller calls his, “The chinaman.” NEvertheless I agree with everybody else, get it tightened but plan to get it and every ring youhave tightened all your life because they have not figured out how to keep them tight. Well actually they have but they don’ t want it to get around. In other words probably a million clever minds have come up with some device that would keep your stones tight forever, but then there wouldn’t be enough work for jewellers. Like dentists, they would have to think up various other things to do with your jewels. If you go to one of the big gem shows or a jewelry show you’ll find all pleasant dealers and they might even tighten a stone for you if you buy something else. You get much better deals in jewelry at a big gem show too. One of them told me once hold up your ring taken off to your ear and tap it on the ring part, not on the jewel part, and if you hear it rattle, get it tightened. ``` Just for fun ask a jeweller sometime what a diamond is made out of and what rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and topazes and tourmalines are made out of. ``` ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/14 "2002-03-29T21:49:14Z")
**don** - may I call you that? On behalf of my father (the jeweler), let me assure you that not all jewelers deserve the characterization that you give here. Generalizations like the ones you made are particularly odious when they’re made based on what (given your post) was limited information. Certainly there are crooks, in any business. And, I’m sorry that you’ve dealt with people you didn’t care for or trust. However, your little ‘test’ for a qualfied jeweler (and my dad studied for years, in addition to being a quality artist), is insulting. Tell ya what - Sam’s Club and Wal Mart have jewelery counters. And there’s some really nice pieces to be had at art shows and so on. Please, however, be assured that your experience was only your experience, and not necessarily the best predictor for anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/15 "2002-03-29T22:19:46Z")
Thanks all. Looks pretty darn unanimous in here. Gaudere - Great info. DDG - Leave it to you to find the proper google search string. Thanks for the links. DSimmons - Words of wisdom. Wring - Amen! The key word is TRUST. Off to the jeweler… ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/16 "2002-03-30T03:45:18Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by don willard \* > \*\* who I never had a good experience with_\*… arrogant jewellers… snottiness they know nothing… slave labor in the back room… Well actually they have but they don’ > t want it to get around. In other words probably a million clever minds have come up with some device that would keep your stones tight forever, but then there wouldn’t be enough work for jewellers. Like dentists, they would have to think up various other things to do with your jewels. Interestingly, I am not having a good experience with you. You have to choose, **right now** , whether you want to continue to contribute to General Questions. Because I’m sick of you bringing your opinions into this forum. Do it again and you’re done. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engagement-ring-loose-stone-problem/100678/17 "2002-03-30T09:29:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don willard \* > **Like dentists, they would have to think up various other things to do with your jewels.** I always get a new dentist when they start doing things with my jewels. As for the chemical stucture of diamods and rubies, simple is good.