topic Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ in Community Chat

REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Spinach30 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:15:27 GMT

I've been insuring my engagement ring as I'm afraid I'll lose my center stone. I've been thinking of taking the diamond out and replacing it with a CZ and keeping the real diamond in a safe. Have any of you replaced your stone with a CZ? I'd be saving $45.00 a month!

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

chrystaltree — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:20:54 GMT

I have not done that but I think it's a smart move. Many women have done it either with high grade CZ or Moissanite. Most of those wealthy women and celebrities who flaunt their million dollar wedding rings are wearing diamond simulants on a daily basis. They get duplicates made of those rings, they wear the CZ and keep the diamonds in safe deposit boxes. That's what made the KK Paris robbery so ridiculous. Rich women don't put themselves at risk like that.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

wagirl — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:22:09 GMT

I think that is a good idea only why don't you just buy a CZ ring that looks similiar to your real diamond and wear that instead? Put your real one away and then you won't have to pay to have it reset and if there are any other smaller accent stones, they will be safe too.So many lovely cz rings out there in silver and in gold. Any diamond of any size is valueable and when it's gone, it is heart breaking.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:22:54 GMT

I think it would be sad to shove such a precious gift into a lock box - you should wear it and enjoy it and not worry about what might happen. It was given to you in love - enjoy it!

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

SahmIam — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:27:00 GMT

I did. Well, I sold it years ago because we needed the money. Replaced it with a CZ from HSN and honestly....it looks the same, lol. I have a few diamond pieces I inherited so going forward, I only buy CZ's. Why spend the money if you don't have to? Plus, I don't worry about losing the real thing that, to me, is worth far more than any dollar amount because they belonged to someone I dearly loved (and she loved me just as much).

CZ's for me!

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

henderson — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:27:35 GMT

I have a policy with Jewelers Mutual for some pieces (you can google them online). $45 a month seems very expensive for your policy if it's just for one ring. I think we pay $182 a year and I have about 10 pieces of jewelry we insure -- 2 wedding bands, engagement rings, pearl earrings, several bracelets and necklaces. I haven't ever replaced a stone with a CZ. Your ring is also insured for the gold content. It seems a shame to lock away the diamond in a safe and not enjoy it. Why would you think you'd lose the center stone? It should be set properly and a jeweler can check that for you. Are you worried about theft?

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Isobel Archer — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:27:50 GMT

My diamond engagement ring is not large - 3/4 carat, but there is no CZ I have bought - and I have some expensive ones - that come close to the sparkle (and this after over 30 years of daily wear). There really is nothing like a real diamond.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Gardengal55 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:28:09 GMT

That's certainly one way to protect your diamond but you won't have the pleasure of wearing it. Aside from keeping it safe it's just sitting there. Why don't you have it reset into a pendant or other ring setting? Plus there are some beautiful gold Diamonique rings here at QVC you may like. I lost my diamond in the kitchen 2 years ago (luckily found it) but it was my fault because I only once took it to a jeweler to have the prongs checked. Been married 34 years! The setting is high and unfortunately it catches on things. Learned my lesson and I have been considering resetting it into a setting not so high.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Spinach30 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:31:47 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
I think it would be sad to shove such a precious gift into a lock box - you should wear it and enjoy it and not worry about what might happen. It was given to you in love - enjoy it!

That's a very sweet sentiment!

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Spinach30 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:33:29 GMT

@henderson wrote:
I have a policy with Jewelers Mutual for some pieces (you can google them online). $45 a month seems very expensive for your policy if it's just for one ring. I think we pay $182 a year and I have about 10 pieces of jewelry we insure -- 2 wedding bands, engagement rings, pearl earrings, several bracelets and necklaces. I haven't ever replaced a stone with a CZ. Your ring is also insured for the gold content. It seems a shame to lock away the diamond in a safe and not enjoy it. Why would you think you'd lose the center stone? It should be set properly and a jeweler can check that for you. Are you worried about theft?

Yes, theft is a worry too!

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

violann — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:34:51 GMT

I have a collection of older QVC wedding sets ( 20 years + or - ) that are really fabulous. I saw one on eBay recently at a bid that was 3 times what I paid. The purchases were before the price of gold took its big jump.

They are all beautiful and really look like diamonds. All of mine are in reasonably hefty 14k white or yellow gold.

If I were attempting to get the bang for the lowest buck, I'd look for one of those old sets. I've never had one of them go cloudy, and the styles are traditional and lovely.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

2blonde — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:38:14 GMT

IMO, what is the point of having a beautiful diamond if it's kept locked away where no one (including you) can enjoy it? $45 per month seems like a lot for one ring, unless it's a HUGE diamond. I'd insure it for less money, then I think I'd go ahead and wear it. Then if I lost it I'd buy a CZ replacement, rather than the other way around. If the stone is that large, then a replacement CZ will look like a CZ, not a diamond IMO. The larger the CZ, the more obvious it is.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Eileen in Virginia — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:39:21 GMT

I bought a Diamonique ring that looks just like my real engagement ring. I use it when we travel and I don't have a secure place to put my real rings when I'm not wearing them. Have you checked to see if your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy covers any jewelry? If so, I'd drop your current policy and make it a point to have the prongs on your engagement ring checked periodically to make sure they're secure.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Harpa — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:58:43 GMT

I still have the real diamond that I replaced w/ a larger Diamonique stone. I have wanted to design a brooch, but not gotten to it yet.

I couldn't go too much larger or it would have altered the original setting -- the center stone on a branch sprayed w/ sapphires.

Diamonique (haven't gotten any lately, but at the time) was exceptional quality, and the ring looks beautiful, which is now in possession of my DD (DH, her father, who choose that ring, who is dec'd.)

A loose diamond doesn't fetch that much. Unless you wanted to do something specific (like what I wanted to do), I would just let a jeweler check the setting.

For my 2nd marriage, I actually did lose a diamond...a couple of times, each time I found it -- the last time (before I finally sent it back to the manufacturer to be re-set), the diamond had fallen out at a restaurant. We actually had to go back and there it was on the floor underneath the table where we sat!

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

chickenbutt — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:02:56 GMT

My problem would only be that unless the stone is very tiny, the CZ will just look like clear glass - not the least bit like a diamond.

I've not considered replacing any of my diamonds but the only thing I would consider would be a good quality Moissanite.

I do have a couple of Moissanite stones that I set into stud earring findings and I can put them right next to a diamond and you can't tell the difference. Put a CZ of that size next to a diamond and it's just, well, bad looking compared to a diamond.

JMHO, FWIW. YMMV

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Kachina624 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 20:30:46 GMT

I don't think you'll fool anyone with a CZ but you might with a Moissanite as they're so much more realistic. You can buy unset stones from the manufacturer, Charles & Colvard. They are beautifully sparkly.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:12:36 GMT

@Spinach3 wrote:
I've been insuring my engagement ring as I'm afraid I'll lose my center stone. I've been thinking of taking the diamond out and replacing it with a CZ and keeping the real diamond in a safe. Have any of you replaced your stone with a CZ? I'd be saving $45.00 a month!

Hi @Spinach30 !!

There's a couple things that come to mind ......

First, please shop around for a different policy ... and also check if you can just get a rider on your current homeowners or renters policy to cover your diamond ring. Unless you have a 10 carat center stone, paying $540 a year for one ring is really a bit much, IMO.

Secondly, Please go to a reputable jeweler and have them check your setting. If you fear the stone will fall out, make sure it's secure.

Thirdly .... why not shop around for an identical Diamonique ring that you can wear when wearing a diamond is probably not a good idea.

JMO

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

GSPgirl — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:15:00 GMT

@Spinach3 wrote:
I've been insuring my engagement ring as I'm afraid I'll lose my center stone. I've been thinking of taking the diamond out and replacing it with a CZ and keeping the real diamond in a safe. Have any of you replaced your stone with a CZ? I'd be saving $45.00 a month!

Just to let you know that CZs are a lot harder to keep clean. We bought my engagement ring with a good quality cz because we couldn't afford a real diamond. It was beautiful, but I knew it wasn't real and when we could afford it I had it switched to a real diamond. I pay the extra amount on my homeowner's policy to insure it. It makes me happy to look at it and wear it every day.

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

Libbylady — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:27:09 GMT

Removing a real diamond, or locking it away, brings to mind the time people used to have clear plastic slipcovers made for living room furniture. It begs the question, "What are you saving it for?"

Yes, maybe you could lose it, or maybe it could be stolen, but it was given as a promise of love and commitment by a person you hopefully care deeply about. I think jewelry should be worn and enjoyed for as long as possible and as an honor to the giver.

If you lost a loved one, you treasure the time you had with them, not regret that you ever knew them since they are now gone.

DH has been very generous with jewelry gifts over our 49 years. I love to wear these tangible signs of his love, and I don't obsess about their loss. I take normal precautions and have a few CZ's for travel. Find a good hiding place at home if you go away for a trip, but get that pretty stuff out in the fresh air! Think how many people will be happy when they see it making you happy!

Re: REPLACING REAL DIAMOND WITH A CZ

NickNack — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:27:13 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
I think it would be sad to shove such a precious gift into a lock box - you should wear it and enjoy it and not worry about what might happen. It was given to you in love - enjoy it!

I agree completely with hoosieroriginal. I would never put an engagement ring in a lock box and would definitely not replace the diamond with a CZ. What enjoyment will you get from it being in the lock box?