topic Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring in Jewelry

Resetting a Diamond Ring

coffee drinker — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 23:19:14 GMT

The band on my diamond engagement ring cracked/split if you can understand that. The band is very thin and I don't think it could be soldered (sp?). Have any of you had your rings reset and if so, would you share the approx. cost. I do have other rings and 14K jewelry items that could be sold since I don't wear them anymore. Also, some of the stones in them could possibly added to the new setting.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

Kimi Eliz — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 23:26:22 GMT

It really depends on the setting you choose. I recommend visiting your local jewelry and getting an estimate. An estimate is always free!

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

blackhole99 — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 23:34:06 GMT

I had my diamond from my engagement ring reset back in the eighties and it cost 300 dollars, but the gold was 14k and it was a cast setting with a bezel set diamond. Gold was fairly cheap back then, but the guy that reset it was an artist. ???

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

drizzellla — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 23:35:12 GMT

I have never had a ring reset but I am interested in any replies you get. I have my Mom's wedding ring that was cut off of my Mom's finger at the hospital. It broke into 5 pieces. And it should be reset.

If you want to have other stones added to your ring, you might need to have the ring custom made. And also keep in mind the color of the stones that you are adding to the new ring. That the color of the stones match - if you want them to match. A friend of mine had a new ring made from 2 rings. They were both rubies. And unfortunately the rubies were not the same shade. It looked a bit odd.

But today they can show you what a ring will look like on a computer before it is made. But I am sure it just adds to the price.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

Nightowlz — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:01:19 GMT

If the band split on the bottom they can rebuild the shank. With the price of gold don't know what the charge would be. If you have other jewelry you want to add some other stones to it find a reputable jewelry repair shop & get some estimates.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

abbeythe 8th — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:06:26 GMT

If you choose to have your diamond reset, either choose a jeweler you trust completely or have the diamond reset in front of you. There are too many sad stories where the diamond was switched for a fake.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

MissysMomma — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:13:34 GMT

I had that very same thing happen to my engagement ring a long time ago. At that time it was repaired by a local jeweler and had been fine. Years later I had it reset and have been very happy with the new setting. A few years ago I noticed the my wedding ring was damaged - had taken it off on vacation and placed it on a table and noticed it was no longer round but more oval shaped. That time I went to Jared and had them replace the entire shank of the ring. It was about $200 to repair. I like getting repairs done at Jared since they do all the work right there and don't send pieces out.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

Pearly Shells — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 03:49:06 GMT

I had my diamond reset last year. I could have chosen a ready-made setting or a custom setting. I chose custom because there was no ready-made that would accommodate my stones. I used a small local jeweler because the large chains would not do a custom setting. Cost was $1300 for 14k white gold.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

Gooday — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 03:52:19 GMT

I just had my 1k pear shaped diamond set in a halo setting using most of my diamonds and it was 1200. It just depends on the ""heaviness"" of the setting and if there are stones already in it.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

MartieHugs — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 04:32:35 GMT

I had a very old ring that belonged to my grandmother and the shank was worn and broken. I simply had a new shank put on the existing setting because I really loved it. Good as new. Looks like new. Much cheaper than a whole setting. Just make sure you use a reputable jeweler. I would suggest finding a manufacturing jeweler who does repair work. Not a mall jeweler, or big box jeweler. Should be under $100, depending on the material.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

ennui1 — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 05:27:23 GMT

On 6/22/2014 MartieHugs said:
I had a very old ring that belonged to my grandmother and the shank was worn and broken. I simply had a new shank put on the existing setting because I really loved it. Good as new.

I had an antique ring sized, and the shank was so thin that the jeweler gave me a new shank. Preserved the antique setting.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

esmeraldagooch — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:55:00 GMT

Giving you options:

The ring may need reshanking. The jeweler will tell you if you need a quarter or half shank.

If you have other rings in your collection about the same size shank that you don't wear, you can have them recycle the gold and cut it off that ring and solder it onto your wedding ring. Very cheap fix.

If you go shopping for a new ring you have a choice of mounts or semi mounts. Mounts have no additional stones, semi mounts have additional stones on the mounting. Many websites have these setting available to view before you shop to find styles you like. As you shop you will notice some settings have cast heads and some the heads your diamond will fit in are independent. The rings with the cast heads only fit calibrated diamonds of a certain size, if your diamond is not that size you can't use it. The heads which can be replaced are very flexible to any size or shape.

Why am I telling you this? If you go to a jewelry store, you may find a mount or semi mount you like but your stone may not fit and the jeweler will try to sell you another diamond to fit the ring, I don't think that is what your plan is.....

Selling your old gold and other rings to fund this purchase: Buying old gold is big business and if your jeweler can buy gold from you at a deep discount and sell you a ring at a three key mark up he makes money at both ends. How to decide if he is giving you a good amount for the gold? Take all the gold to a jeweler and have them weigh the gold you are going to sell. Ask what the gram weight of the scrap is. Write it down and leave. Call around to multiple places who buy gold in your area and find out what their pay out for the day is for old gold/scrap gold. You will see prices will be all over the place as everyone has a different payout. After you have the information, look up the pay out at US gold buyers, they have their payout listed every day. More than likely they will pay way more per gram than any place you have in town. Many of us have used them multiple times with great results. http://www.usgoldbuyers.com/ When you open the link, the payout is listed in ounces. Take that number and divide by 31.1 to get the $$$ per gram payout.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

Lavenderjunkie — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:05:06 GMT

Listen to Esmeralda... she knows. And let me add this info.... it's not inexpensive to add stones to a ring... even if you supply the stones and even if the size and color and clarity are perfect. That is because the cost of setting stones is high and you will be charged per stone. Sometimes it's much less expensive to sell the old stones and setting and use the money toward a completely new setting. So investigate all your options before deciding.... repair may be the best for you or even buying a new semi-mount that already has the side stones, or maybe a new setting without any side stones. Get the info and the price, see what you like, than decide.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

violann — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:07:21 GMT

Don't decide to reset until you've had the ring assessed by an ETHICAL jeweler. My grandmother's engagement ring was worn almost to the fineness of a thread, and a local jeweler built it up to its original thickness with matching color gold. I also had my engagement diamond reset in March. A very , VERY pretty setting with about 28 very small diamonds cost me about $250. The smaller diamonds are all channel set, and my original diamond is about 1 1/2 carats, so DH wanted it set in very stable prongs. I was thrilled! Bottom line- always do your research about potential jewelers, and get at least two opinions.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

depglass — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:34:36 GMT

Esmerelda - three key markup, is that triple the wholesale price? jeweler pays $400.00, sells for $1200.00? I've never heard this term, but people I've known in the jewelry business talk about triple markup and quadruple markup. Quadruple meaning that wholesale $400.00 item will be $1600.00?

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

esmeraldagooch — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:03:00 GMT

On 6/23/2014 depglass said:
Esmerelda - three key markup, is that triple the wholesale price? jeweler pays $400.00, sells for $1200.00? I've never heard this term, but people I've known in the jewelry business talk about triple markup and quadruple markup. Quadruple meaning that wholesale $400.00 item will be $1600.00?

Yes, If you look at a catalog at your jeweler with prices on them there will be a Key symbol at the bottom of the pages. If you see three little key drawings it is triple key. You can see what they really are paying for your item....

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

151949 — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:10:12 GMT

It all depends on the setting - how much gold or platinum there is and if you choose side stones. My engagement ring broke at the weld where the setting is and by the love of God we found it in the grass - the sun hit on the stone and we saw it shining in the grass - how lucky was that. I got a much safer - more bulky setting the second time and with 10 small diamonds down the shoulder of the ring. They do give you some credit off for your old setting.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

ennui1 — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 17:18:39 GMT

On 6/23/2014 esmeraldagooch said:
Selling your old gold and other rings to fund this purchase: Buying old gold is big business and if your jeweler can buy gold from you at a deep discount and sell you a ring at a three key mark up he makes money at both ends. How to decide if he is giving you a good amount for the gold? Take all the gold to a jeweler and have them weigh the gold you are going to sell. Ask what the gram weight of the scrap is. Write it down and leave. Call around to multiple places who buy gold in your area and find out what their pay out for the day is for old gold/scrap gold. You will see prices will be all over the place as everyone has a different payout. After you have the information, look up the pay out at US gold buyers, they have their payout listed every day. More than likely they will pay way more per gram than any place you have in town. Many of us have used them multiple times with great results. http://www.usgoldbuyers.com/ When you open the link, the payout is listed in ounces. Take that number and divide by 31.1 to get the $$$ per gram payout.

I can never decide if it's better to sell old jewelry as scrap, or as used jewelry on ebay or consignment.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

smarty — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 19:07:37 GMT

Yes, esmeralda is right, definitely check around. You may also want to invest in a good jewelry scale so you know exactly what you have. They aren't expensive and can be found easily on amazon. One thing you do want to be careful with a remount...the setting fees. Sometimes a jeweler will charge per stone for a setting. It's fine when you need one stone reset, but when you have 50 little sparklers that really can add up. Don't be afraid to ask for a discount on the mounting, especially if you have purchased from the jeweler before. And be sure they offer a guarantee on their work.

Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

coffee drinker — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:17:27 GMT

Thank you all for your replies. And a special thanks to Esmeralda. You've given me plenty of information to make a wise decision. I'm thinking of going with recycling the gold from an old ring and solder it to my ring -- if that would be possible. Also will get a couple of estimates. I don't have much, but don't wear much of it, so why not sell. Wish I had sold this stuff last year when prices were higher.