Diamonds set in glass

[footers]

Hi,
I was wondering if anybody knew if you could set a diamond in glass. I have designed and had made my Fiancee's engagment ring and wedding ring. Below is an image of the computer model I made for the rapid prototyping.
http://www.q3dstudios.co.uk/images%204%20forums/ring1.jpg
This image shows the two rings joined together which will be the case after we are married. For the time being though, the diamonds are attached to the side of the engagment ring (thinner ring).
I've had silver versions made already with the diamonds set in the standard tubes (sorry for the non technical term). The diamonds are quite small which is fine it's just that not much light can get to them and I was wondering if I could get a glass piece made (the red section) with the diamonds set inside tappered holes in the glass?
http://www.q3dstudios.co.uk/images%204%20forums/ring2.jpg

Cheers

[John]

I'm not sure I follow. So are you trying to channel set it between 2 peices of glass as shown? Are are those 2 sections metal (gold/platinum) and you want glass in the middle suspending the diamonds?

[footers]

Yes the two rings are metal (Platinum eventually) and I want glass (red section) suspending the diamonds IF possible??

[John]

Well it's a very interesting design and concept. I'm sure you could pour molten glass into a mold or something and suspend the two diamonds in the glass (I'm not a glass maker but I can see that part being done). But I'd have a few issues with the rest of it however:

1. I have no idea how a goldsmith would join the thin walled glass sheet with the 2 diamonds onto the engagement ring. Normally they would solder all the ring elements together (since they would all be made of metal). I know they use glue to hold somethings in place that can't be soldered. I suppose you could create a slit into the platinum ring that the glass could slide into that would then be glued into place.

2. Now if you were to get that far, I think you'd have another problem, and that is that the engagement ring would have a sharp piece of glass protruding from it before you had your wedding to add the second section. This could potentially cause your fiance harm. It could also be very prone to being chipped/broken off since there would not be anything to really protect it from harm on the exposed edge.

3. The next problem I see, is even if you could then assemble it by creating another slit on the other band, inserting the glass section and gluing it in place, and then soldering the 2 platinum bands together on the one side. You'd have the problem of the ring being made in two very different materials. The problem is the platinum being a soft alloy will conform to your wife's finger over time. Rings become slightly deformed, out-of-round, etc with every day wear. What could then possibly happen is the ring could deform trying to force the glass to deform with it, it of course will not since glass will not bend, and then eventually it may shatter over time.


If you really want to do this project, I might recommend finding someone who specializes in watches, perhaps they have access to someone who can custom make sapphire bezels for watch faces. Then they can make you a sapphire "glass" panel with your 2 diamonds set. The clear sapphire would probably be much hard and scratch resistant then regular glass. Whether they could do this or you can find someone who makes sapphire glass bezels would be a different story, but it's worth a shot.

[Yosef]

Hello, I just thought I'd let you know that we do some work with custom tension settings from a company called Danhov, you can view some of their work here:

http://www.dyjewels.com/diamonds/diamond_rings/tension_set_rings

That can just give you an idea of what can be done. It seems like you want to suspend the two diamonds in "mid air" between two channels of bands. I know you want them to be seperate, but I don't think that would be possible.

But if you decide to go the tension route I highly recommend going with Danhov, they do fantastic custom work. I can tell by your CAD drawings that you are a technical person like myself. I studied mechanical engineering and I have designed several jewelry items but I leave all the tension and mico pave up to the Danhov people because that is their speciality. I'd be happy to work with you to get your design brought to life.

Kindest Regards,
Yosef

[footers]

Thanks for the reply people, I really appreciate your input. The tension setting stuff does look really nice and thanks for the link to Danhov.
I never thought about talking to watch makers. I realised glass was probably not ideal, due to scratching etc. The sapphire idea is a good one. I was thinking that I could extend the engagement ring under the 'glass' panel to aid the bonding. I'll have to do some sketches to see what it would look like but this thin extension under the 'glass' could come up a little on the wedding ring side giving a surface to solder too.
Anyway thanks again. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Mervyn L. Cohn ASA]

Congradulations, you have come up with a design for the future that most likely can't work now. As John says the narrow ring will deform when worn and the insert will be sent askew. During the 1920's/1930 a few jewelers experimented with Plastics; it seems that what you have dreamed would best be suited to that. I suggest that whatever approach you follow you should avoid quality diamonds since I believe that over time they will fall from this mounting.

Merv Cohn ASA
Senior Appraiser American Society of Appraisers
www.e-praise.com