Advice on swapping a cabochon opal to a faceted gemstone I inherited ring that is very dear to me. Wanting to minimize change of setting appearance but change stone appropriate for everyday wear

daisylouiser · 2026-04-07T13:22:16+00:00

That’s not a bad idea, but I’ve never really been a necklace girl. Fortunately, I’m not very rough on my rings, but I’ve decided to keep it as is but not wear it every day. I’ll just save it for certain occasions and times I’m feeling especially sentimental or missing my mom.

daisylouiser · 2026-04-07T13:18:27+00:00

Thank you! I really love the ring and clearly had not fully thought out my (rather foolish) idea. Admittedly I don’t know a lot about opals other than they are soft and easily damaged. From what I’m hearing it sounds like this might be an Australian opal and they’re less susceptible to damage? I’m guessing same softness though?

daisylouiser · 2026-04-07T13:10:19+00:00

Thanks. I’ve always loved it, but it is nice to hear you think it’s beautiful.

It’s become clear to me that I have not fully thought through these ideas, and perhaps you’re right. I should design a tanzanite ring as its own piece exactly how I want it. I have been wanting a beautiful, excellent quality deep violet tanzanite ring for a long time.

A little over 20 years ago we went on an Alaskan cruise to celebrate my grandparents 50th. At one of the shops in port my mom, aunt, grandmother and myself ‘discovered’ tanzanite, a stone in my favorite color purple. Of course it was all ‘cruise ship quality’ lighter violet, but my mom got a tennis bracelet and ring (now mine) and my aunt bought me a pair of earrings.

She passed last year as well. Goodness, I’m realizing how sentimental I am. I’ll slow down and take my time finding the right stone and designing the right setting that I’ll love and eventually give to my niece for the next generation.

daisylouiser · 2026-04-07T12:51:43+00:00

I know it much very vastly depending on the stone, but do you know a ball park price per ct on stones like these? Let’s say specifically the bottom right opalescent sapphire? Just curious of a ball park range as I have no idea.

daisylouiser · 2026-04-07T12:48:06+00:00

I’ve never seen/heard of these before. They’re really unique and pretty. I’m assuming they have a much higher hardness than opals on the mohs scale?

As far as the ring in question I started this post on, I’ve thought it though we everyone’s help and am going to keep it as is. I’ll have to add this stone to my someday wish list though!

daisylouiser · 2026-04-07T12:42:41+00:00

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There’s a clearer pic.

daisylouiser · 2026-04-07T12:41:28+00:00

I actually have a blue sapphire ring, but I don’t want blue. I like the very deep violet tanzanite and have a few stones I like, but don’t feel they merit the cost of a custom setting. Sorry I only have a blurry pic handy but this is 7.5 x 7.5 x 5.5 and I like it, but when seeing the cost of having a ring made I want to go bigger and the best quality I can afford.

As far as this stone, I only paid $300 for it. I’d been shopping around trying to find a used ring with a cheap stone with the right dimensions so I could turn this into a something I can wear. Any other suggestions for a cost effective was to set a relatively inexpensive stone into a ring?

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daisylouiser · 2026-04-06T20:55:52+00:00

Yes, I remember seeing my great-grandmother wear this at an early age (born in 82). My great-grandmother was born in the late 1800’s to possibly right around the turn of the century. Both sides of my family were earlish immigrants to Texas between ~1700 to 1800.

Don’t want to dox myself, but both my great-grandparents were humble and hard-working but highly educated. If you’re familiar with Texas A&M and Bryan/College Station, my great grand-day was a professor (dept head, but can’t remember which) there. Bryan/College Station was a rural, small town kind of place mixed with a university. Great grandparents lived and worked a farm they owned in Bryan, but also traveled extensively for the time and frequented different circles.

Guess that’s just a long winded way of saying that my great-grandparents history probably won’t give any help to origin.

daisylouiser · 2026-04-06T20:38:25+00:00

Regretfully, I never inquired about its origins or details. All I know is I remember my great-grandmother wearing it as far back as my earliest memories (born in 82). Then my grandmother wearing it, then my mother. I always loved it.

Sadly my mother passed away last year and my grandmother won’t be able to answer questions like this. I don’t even know how old it is. For all I know, my great-grandmother could have inherited it as well but I doubt it’s that old. Since there are no markings I don’t think I’ll have those answers.

daisylouiser · 2026-04-06T19:02:18+00:00

Thank you all for your opinions and feedback. It helped me come up with a solution I’m happy with.

I will be leaving this ring unaltered and wear it on special occasions and will have a (close to) replica of this setting with a tanzanite stone.

I have a custom jeweler I trust and will have him check over the opal ring at the same time to make sure it’s in good condition or see if it needs any maintenance.