The loss of any high value item is always frustrating, but when it comes to engagement rings, the sentimental value is what makes a replacement all the more important. Individual diamonds lost from a ring is not uncommon, and although it may feel like daunting prospect, knowing what you are looking for will make the process far less painful.
Lost stones can occur when a prong has become loosened over time, by being snagged on clothing, during rigorous cleaning or if it did not originally fit snugly in its setting. Accent and side stones in particular are most commonly the diamonds which can fall out and get lost.
If it’s an accent or side stone that you are looking to replace, the good news is that they are much smaller and cheaper to replace than a large central stone. Side stones are often sold as matching pairs, so even if you are just looking for the one stone, it can be easier to replace them both as a pair rather than find a single diamond to match the one you still have. Similarly, accent stones can be found as a set or a lot known as ‘melee’, so buying multiple can be a good idea in case you require further replacement stones in the future, especially if you’re able to get a wholesale priced lot.
Replacing a center diamond is usually a little more costly due to their size, but good matches should not be too difficult to source for a solitaire, especially if you have a standard setting. Knowing the exact requirements and dimensions for your replacement is key here; you’ll need to measure the length, width and depth of the setting – working in millimeters rather than carat weight.
If your ring has a non-standard setting, although the exact size is important, there is a certain amount of tolerance which your jeweler should be able to work with if you cannot find a replacement with the exact dimensions. Where the ring’s malleable metal could have contributed to your initial loss, the advantage here is that it can also be used to adapt the setting to create a perfectly tight fit for the new stone. Pronged settings in particular are quite forgiving, whereas a bezel or channel setting will require a much more exact sized diamond, considering all dimensions for the best fit. If the stone is too big, it simply will not fit, and if it’s too small you risk the stone becoming loose and falling out of the setting again.
With standard commercial ring settings, you will be able to use a calibrated sized stone with a standard cut to fit your mounting, such as a round or oval shaped diamond in the correct mm size.
To find a replacement diamond tailored to your ring, contact our expert gemmologist Steve Richards.
