Reset
After I picked up the mountain of clothes from Alteration Specialists, which felt like a shopping spree since many of the items were unworn, I shifted the spotlight to my jewelry. Specifically, to a number of cocktail rings from my mother. The stones are gorgeous, but the settings are seriously ’70s, and not in a good way.
I posted this picture of Sarah Harris wearing a bunch of Susan Foster rings in 2015 and I asked Ms. Foster if she would take on this project. First up, resetting an Australian fire opal horizontally in a barely-there rose gold setting. I’m excited to finally wear the luminous stone pictured below.
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In Tillie Virgin Wool-Blend Skirt
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Leather sandals
GUCCI
Horsebit square tortoiseshell-acetate sunglasses
MAISON MARGIELA
Stretch-knit top
SAINT LAURENT
Leather belt
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Grain de poudre skirt
MALONE SOULIERS
Gavi crossover-strap leather slides
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Wool-blend cardigan
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Le Maillon leather sandals
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Suzanne mini leather cross-body bag
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Jota chain-embellished leather sandals
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Broderie-cotton maxi skirt
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So exciting! Please share pics of the opal when you get it. I have a similar opal ring with an unattractive setting that I inherited. I have been confounded on what to do with it. I would love to wear it.
As the daughter of a jeweler…I applaud you for giving a second life to family pieces. My father always knew what to buy and how to wear it. Now that he is gone, I need to dig deep and find inspiration that would make him proud. Excited for your “new jewels”!
I happen to adore large cocktail rings and feel comfortable wearing them if they are not too “blingy” -but one to a hand. The opals that you have pictured are gorgeous stones and it will be wonderful for you to have these in settings that you love! You might think about having the larger one set in a pendant as opals are soft stones that are vulnerable to damage, which is more likely to occur with a ring.
I inherited beautiful rings from my grandmother. I had them sized up to fit my middle and pointer fingers. I love wearing them all the time.
I love the rings above as is. I guess it’s the 70’s baby in me!
Enjoy your new settings!
Cheers
This reminded me of a beautiful opal ring I had that I accidentally knocked to the floor. It didn’t fall far but it cracked the opal in half. I had the opal replaced but it was not as beautiful as the first stone. Still lovely, however, in its white gold setting surrounded by diamonds. Opals are fragile, so take care when wearing the ring.
The first one on the left is actually very beautiful, looks very Charlotte Lynggaard, I wouldn’t change anything, just clean and polish, perhaps change the stone, go for a green tourmaline cabochon or a birth stone… As a goldsmith and gemologist I can see it became very trendy to reset the stones and do some changes with family treasure. Funny thing, just yesterday started to work on cutting out a small, cute opal from the piece from Austro-Hungarian period which will be newly mounted, the stones, if natural, were much better quality back then.
Please send pictures of before & after for the rings. I’d love to be educated on the subject.
Thank you, Ana
I love this idea!! I have so many rings…all for my ring finger. Would love to be able to do more with them. Please share pictures when you are done. I just inherited an opal ring and would love to see what you choose to create!