Okay if I were a heel I would put sell them (yes I love them) but I can't believe that the metal couldn't be modified by a talented bench. Perhaps Erica or Grace (or Wink) would know of a talented bench nearer to you so there isn't a customs issue. Hope to see ear shots after the modification ~Red

What Red said!

Thanks! They are 1.5 cts each (7mm).

Thanks for your input everyone. Perhaps I'll email Erica or Grace tonight, and see if they can offer suggestions, since they are familiar with the settings. If they can be safely modified, I'll save that job for later this year, since we're moving to the US. Saves the duty, and the shipping will be a little less expensive I believe.

Morning Glory - Thanks for helping me figure out a little more analytically what I need to do. I'm too emotionally attached to these things, and THIS is why I finally brought the dilemma to the boards. Everyone's reasons for what they would do with them helps me put my priorities into perspective.

I'll email a few vendors and see what can be done with them and take it from there.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your input.

I voted for modifying, as well. I would think that you could have the top "tube" elongated to accommodate your earlobes, without changing the part of the setting that holds the stone. As a result, you would be altering so little of the setting that it shouldn't really make a difference in the integrity of them as antiques??? I think???

I don't know if this logic holds water, though, since I don't know antiques. Maybe modifying in them in any way decreases their value? But if you can't wear them as it is, they are of even less value to you, right?

Look, I have more questions than answers for you. Way to be helpful, Hadley!

All I know is that they are too pretty to sit in a jewelry box, and the way you talk about them, it seems they mean too much to you to sell them.

Is it sad that I'm bonding with you over having meaty earlobes? Mostly my ears are proportional, but then at the bottoms it looks like my lobes were plucked from my grandfather and put onto me like a Mr. Potato Head. Well, at least I don't have grandpa hair growing out of them (YET).

I would totally try to modify them, it seems from the picture that this kind of modification should be possible.
Good luck, I hope you can wear and enjoy them soon.

Dayna, if it were me, my heart wouldn't let me do anything other than try to have them modified. It doesn't look like it would be that tricky, to me, at least.

I also voted to modify them. I don't think it would be that difficult to do it.

Thanks ladies. I've put in an email to Grace at JBEG, to see if their bench would do it. Will let you know how it goes.

LOL - Hadley, bonding over meaty earlobes? You're too funny. I saw you got your new moissy studs! Can't wait to see them on you!

Yeah!!! They are much to nice not to wear!!!

modify the earrings or modify the lobes - those beautiful stones deserve to be worn!