Re: Resetting a Diamond Ring

ennui1 · ‎06-23-2013

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. ${#emotions_dlg.blush}$

esmeraldagooch · ‎03-10-2010

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.

Lavenderjunkie · ‎03-10-2010

Listen to Esmeralda... she knows. Smile 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.

violann · ‎03-10-2010

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.

depglass · ‎03-10-2010

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?

esmeraldagooch · ‎03-10-2010

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....

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

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.

ennui1 · ‎06-23-2013

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.

smarty · ‎12-17-2011

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.

coffee drinker · ‎03-21-2010

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.