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CVB For Next Project

  • Thread starter Thread starter MTHealthyLiving
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MTHealthyLiving

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After much trial, error, tears, and waiting, I’m very much in love with the ring I had made from a ring my husband gave me last year. He’s still a little heartbroken over the fact that it’s not the ring he gave me. But, he seemed intrigued when I told him that I would like to have the original setting melted down, and use the original diamonds to make a band. That way I can eventually be wearing all of the ring he gave me.
I am LOVING CVB’s style, and would love it if you could share any experience, photos, cost, time your project took, with me!
 
I have been told by more than one jeweler that it isn't a good idea to melt gold and make it into a new ring. A necklace, maybe. But not a ring. Maybe someone with more knowledge can give an explanation or debunk that myth.
 
I had a great experience with Caysie and I feel my ring is solidly built. There are others who report different experiences than I had.

But I am happy and my ring is gorgeous.
 
There are many happy customers of Caysie here! I think when a jeweler makes hundreds of rings, it's not unusual for a tiny percentage to have complaints. You can find many, many positive threads on her pieces. She has made me one band and 4 beautiful rings! I continue going to her because she is an outstanding designer with an excellent bench. Times varied a lot depending on the ring. Some were ready in 8 weeks, and two were longer (like maybe 12 weeks) because we had diamonds custom cut for the setting, so the rings were not started until those came in. They were definitely worth waiting for!

If you haven't already seen it, here is a thread with some of her pieces:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-jewelry-the-new-cvb-eye-candy-thread.211825/
 
unsettled said:
I have been told by more than one jeweler that it isn't a good idea to melt gold and make it into a new ring. A necklace, maybe. But not a ring. Maybe someone with more knowledge can give an explanation or debunk that myth.
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I think this is correct as far as what we have been told here. Used gold is sent to a refinery and melted with other gold and you wouldn't get your own gold back. I suppose there could be a jeweler that does it, but I have not heard that.
 
Our experience was mixed. DH and I designed our rings and commissioned Caysie to make them (plus two of her standard bands). Thankfully the final products are fine and of high quality, but it was painful with delays and broken timelines without any communication.

If you want to read the details, there’s a long thread (with lots of opinions and controversy) here - https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ose-my-cads-wax-and-off-to-production.231834/
 
I have had positive experiences with Caysie. I have had several rings made and she worked with my husband on another project. He really admired her communication with him because he was clueless. I have 4 rings in the works now and communication has been great. One of the rings has custom cut stones so it's a longer timeline and I wanted top tier carving. I am really excited.

My previous projects are in the thread linked above :).
 
It's been 8 weeks now and I'm still waiting for my 7 stone Norah. Initial communication was excellent, and all of my concerns were addressed, but no responses as yet as to final delivery date. Fingers crossed it's soon
 
@MTHealthyLiving - I'm very sorry to say that your hope isn't a practical one. I imagine there is at least someone, somewhere, who claims they will reuse the gold from an owner's ring to fashion a new one. But I don't know of any scrupulous jeweler or bench who will will do so. Melting a gold ring is simple enough, but refining the result -- to, e.g., get rid of the solder used on the original ring -- and assaying it is cost-effective only when done in bulk. So that's why those in the trade send no-longer-desired mountings, fittings, their bench sweepings and other scrap to, e.g., Hoover and Strong or another outfit that specializes in this service.
 
MollyMalone said:
@MTHealthyLiving - I'm very sorry to say that your hope isn't a practical one. I imagine there is at least someone, somewhere, who claims they will reuse the gold from an owner's ring to fashion a new one. But I don't know of any scrupulous jeweler or bench who will will do so. Melting a gold ring is simple enough, but refining the result -- to, e.g., get rid of the solder used on the original ring -- and assaying it is cost-effective only when done in bulk. So that's why those in the trade send no-longer-desired mountings, fittings, their bench sweepings and other scrap to, e.g., Hoover and Strong or another outfit that specializes in this service.
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There is actually a bench near me that will, but I just really like CVB’s work. But if she won’t do it, I will use the bench that does. They do great work and have come highly recommended.
I’m sure I can have them build something for me that is similar to a CVB piece.
 
MollyMalone said:
@MTHealthyLiving - I'm very sorry to say that your hope isn't a practical one. I imagine there is at least someone, somewhere, who claims they will reuse the gold from an owner's ring to fashion a new one. But I don't know of any scrupulous jeweler or bench who will will do so. Melting a gold ring is simple enough, but refining the result -- to, e.g., get rid of the solder used on the original ring -- and assaying it is cost-effective only when done in bulk. So that's why those in the trade send no-longer-desired mountings, fittings, their bench sweepings and other scrap to, e.g., Hoover and Strong or another outfit that specializes in this service.
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And the plan is to have the setting melted down and added to more gold, as surely it can’t be recreated into something new all on its own.
 
Interesting! Wishing you all the best, I know there's much sentiment underlying your vision for this new piece.
 
I’ve never worked with CvB so have no comment there, but I have heard from several very well-respected and reputable jewelers (David Klass being one) that it is not feasible to melt down a ring to make a new setting.

Years ago I asked a local jeweler to do just this for me, wanted to have my original wedding band melted down and used in my new e-ring setting. He told me he absolutely could do it and I paid a deposit. Later a sales associate from the store called to tell me that he tells people that but doesn’t actually do it - he just sells the old settings for scrap. He knew people would never be able to know for sure and he got away with it, but she knew how much that original wedding band meant to me and didn’t want me to fall into the same trap. Bless her for that.

All that to say, be careful. You have a lot of people here telling you this cannot be done, so you need to be very cautious with the one person with a vested interest (your money) telling you that they can do it.
 
mrsgreeneyes said:
I’ve never worked with CvB so have no comment there, but I have heard from several very well-respected and reputable jewelers (David Klass being one) that it is not feasible to melt down a ring to make a new setting.

Years ago I asked a local jeweler to do just this for me, wanted to have my original wedding band melted down and used in my new e-ring setting. He told me he absolutely could do it and I paid a deposit. Later a sales associate from the store called to tell me that he tells people that but doesn’t actually do it - he just sells the old settings for scrap. He knew people would never be able to know for sure and he got away with it, but she knew how much that original wedding band meant to me and didn’t want me to fall into the same trap. Bless her for that.

All that to say, be careful. You have a lot of people here telling you this cannot be done, so you need to be very cautious with the one person with a vested interest (your money) telling you that they can do it.
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Yup, this ^. I worked for a jeweler who told people the same. It was a strange/sad realization and our relationship didn't last long. I'm a hobbyist metalsmith training on a bench, certainly not forging any fine jewelry. & even then, for boho-style silver projects, it is only acceptable for us to melt down old settings on practice pieces. Any jeweler offering that sentimental service would have zero idea what other alloys your gold or platinum was mixed with. New, pure, gold would need to be added. Pitting, discoloration, and even disintegration can occur in casting. It's just not something someone (with a healthy understanding of metallurgy and chemistry) would do without refining the piece which certainly isn't easy or cost-effective, even in bulk.

& also chiming in to say that I highly recommend CVB should you choose to go forward with a custom project. 1 or 2 exceptions linked above does not make the rule. You can honor her style by working directly with her- I promise she is wonderful to speak to. Having a local jeweler produce a copy just wouldn't be the same.
 
While it is true that you can't just melt down a ring and immediately reuse it for all the reason above and more. But, it is not true that it can't be done. The key is that the maker has to work with a metal refiner who offers this service. They will melt the metal, purify it to remove all the non-gold, and then re-alloy it with compatible mixes to get to the goal karat weight and amount of material needed. You will have to pay a fee for this and an additional fee for a custom casting. Most makers are casting several pieces at once. If you want only this special gold, then they have to cast only one piece at a time. More time, more expensive. But, for sentimental pieces, it may be worth this. Just ask CVB if she works with a refiner that offers this and ask about costs.

If CVB cannot do this, I seem to recall that David Klass may have a refiner he works with to do this and could work with you for this setting. I suspect @Wink could also find a refiner for this service, although I'm not sure if HPD will create a setting with all outside stones.
 
rockysalamander said:
While it is true that you can't just melt down a ring and immediately reuse it for all the reason above and more. But, it is not true that it can't be done. The key is that the maker has to work with a metal refiner who offers this service. They will melt the metal, purify it to remove all the non-gold, and then re-alloy it with compatible mixes to get to the goal karat weight and amount of material needed. You will have to pay a fee for this and an additional fee for a custom casting. Most makers are casting several pieces at once. If you want only this special gold, then they have to cast only one piece at a time. More time, more expensive. But, for sentimental pieces, it may be worth this. Just ask CVB if she works with a refiner that offers this and ask about costs.

If CVB cannot do this, I seem to recall that David Klass may have a refiner he works with to do this and could work with you for this setting. I suspect @Wink could also find a refiner for this service, although I'm not sure if HPD will create a setting with all outside stones.
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I think David does offer this, he offered it to me on my recent project. However he did not quote me a price on the service.
 
2EABF99A-AE6E-45DE-AB2D-091F64E88194.jpeg Oh my gosh! Just saw this and am in love!
Do you think she can add the halo to my ring? Lol!
 
I've never worked with CVB, but wanted to chime in about the idea of having gold melted down. My DH has a gold chain he was given after his father passed away. He's worn it for years, but it's starting to get weak from over a decade of daily wear. When we asked multiple jewelers about the feasibility of having it melted down and then re-using even a bit of the original gold for a new chain we were told it was a very bad idea due to all of the issues stated above.

That isn't to say it's impossible, but I (like others) would be EXTREMELY careful about people who claim they can do it, and to make sure they are trusted and well-known.
 
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