I know I read one these boards once about a member who set her own stones into rings (nothing expensive) and for the life of me can't find the post. How do you do this?
I have a cheap CZ ring that I like, but the center stone is awful. If I could not pay a jeweler (provided I could even find one to do the work), I would love to fix this. How would I go about setting say a Chris UK stone in there? I'm not worried about damaging the ring, since it wasn't expensive and I can always get a new one...but as of right now it's awful and shouldn't be worn out of the house, LOL.

I would think (and I've only done this once with questionable results), take something like a razor blade or sharp knife and pry ... ever so gently on a few prongs. I had a marquis that I took the end and two of the sides (of 6) and pried them out a little. Then I slid out the gross stone and slid in the new one. Carefully, with a tape wrapped pair of pliers, I tightened the prongs back up.

The point is CAREFULLY. what shape is the center?

It's a square center. I posted pics of it next to my halo here:
http://betterthandiamond.com/discussion/ubbthreads.php/topics/735537/What_do_you_think#Post735537

I tried it with one of my silver rings and got the stone out but broke the tip off of the prong pressing it down over the over new stone so I wouldn't recommend trying it!

that's something i do... on a regular basis... 'cuz i can't stand the round brilliant CZs that come in everything.

i also make beaded jewelry, so i've got all sorts of tools floating around *but* i've been tweaking jewelry by switching stones out (and such) since gradeschool.

a prong lfiter makes things easier. and electrician's tape wrapped around the pliers to cushion them.


and my best advice - don't mess with anything if you'd be heartbroken if you destroyed it!

OOH that sounds like a handy little tool!! I absolutely will not be heartbroken if the setting is ruined, since I never wear it now. However if it works I'll jump up and down for joy!! Thanks for the info, can't wait for my sparklies to get here so I can play!!!

Every time I have tried it with one of my sterling rings, I always end up denting or bending a prong. I will tighten up a stone with my beading pliers, but I will leave the setting and unsetting to the experts. LOL!

I htink you need to cover the pliers in tape to not dent the prongs, but I have actually never tried this.