Help finding a jeweler to redesign my wedding band

[Viola]

I've been on the hunt for a jeweler/bench that will agree to redesign my original wedding ring for my 5 year anniversary. It really is a plain 3 mm 18kt solid band, that I would want to have remade into a 2-2,5mm bead/pave set eternity with milgrain on the edges. This seems to be a difficult task as I've reached out to BGD, Whiteflash and Victor Canera -and none of them are willing to do it. I really really really want to keep my ring as it has sentimental value for me.

So, to my question, I would love to know if anyone here has had their jewelry remade, and in that case what jeweler did you use?

 

[vintageloves]

I don't want to step out of line, but this is my honest advice: if you are sentimental about your ring (very understandable!), keep it as is. I think you might regret altering it beyond recognition. What you're describing is so different than what you have, I would get it as a separate piece and stack it with the plain band.

 

[KristinTech]

I had a plain platinum band that transformed into something like you’re thinking. It was not sentimental to me at the time (it is now! — 14 years later). I had diamonds added, but no miligrain. The diamonds are bead set.

I don’t remember how much it was. I used M. Martin on Wabash in a Chicago.

Tiffany legacy is $3Kish, and you can obviously get it cheaper elsewhere. But just for comparison!

 

[Rfisher]

You are more likely to find somewhere local to you with in house bench willing to do the work, rather than the big houses you contacted, I'd think. Or is there a niche market craftsman out there who specializes in this? I dunno.
But my vote is to keep as is. And buy what you want separate.
I'd have to have a long standing personal relationship with the one doing the work to never have the doubt in my mind that my sentimental band wasn't just thrown into the scrap heap and I was given a replacement.

 

[Viola]

I don't want to step out of line, but this is my honest advice: if you are sentimental about your ring (very understandable!), keep it as is. I think you might regret altering it beyond recognition. What you're describing is so different than what you have, I would get it as a separate piece and stack it with the plain band.

You’re not stepping out of line at all. I know, I am a bit scared that I will regret it. But I can’t seem to even get a quote, so that might be a sign to not alter it.:roll

I have quite small hands and short fingers so I don’t have a lot of room on my finger. Another option is to have it slimmed down, and with time add a few new bands.

 

[Viola]

I had a plain platinum band that transformed into something like you’re thinking. It was not sentimental to me at the time (it is now! — 14 years later). I had diamonds added, but no miligrain. The diamonds are bead set.

I don’t remember how much it was. I used M. Martin on Wabash in a Chicago.

Tiffany legacy is $3Kish, and you can obviously get it cheaper elsewhere. But just for comparison!

I like your stack! I have a trinity that I sometimes stack with my wedding band.

Yes, that is the look I’m going for.

I’m in Europe, so it would have to be someone who’s used to working with international clients.

I love the Tiffany one, Whiteflash has one similar as well.

 

[Viola]

You are more likely to find somewhere local to you with in house bench willing to do the work, rather than the big houses you contacted, I'd think. Or is there a niche market craftsman out there who specializes in this? I dunno.
But my vote is to keep as is. And buy what you want separate.
I'd have to have a long standing personal relationship with the one doing the work to never have the doubt in my mind that my sentimental band wasn't just thrown into the scrap heap and I was given a replacement.

I think you are right, as I don’t seem to be able to get a quote. I’m in Sweden, so maybe I should ask around at our local jewelers.

My god, that would be a nightmare, I have been thinking about that, that it needs to be a trusted jeweler, hence me reaching out to some of the trusted around here. I don’t have a relationship with any jewelers where I am, and somehow I’m a bit scared to have it done here.

I might go down another path, maybe keep the ring as is (well have it slimmed down to 2 mm) and start a stack.

 

[vintageloves]

You’re not stepping out of line at all. I know, I am a bit scared that I will regret it. But I can’t seem to even get a quote, so that might be a sign to not alter it.:roll

I have quite small hands and short fingers so I don’t have a lot of room on my finger. Another option is to have it slimmed down, and with time add a few new bands.

I hear you about not having any room on your fingers. I have small hands and a high web, so I can only get away with about 5mm of ring. No stacks here. One option is to wear the eternity on your opposite hand and keep your true wedding band where it is.

I have to say, as someone who has lost her wedding ring, um, a lot, of times, I think it's sweet you're so attached to your ring and I wouldn't give it up, even if I just kept it in its box. I'm also thinking having it custom altered might be more expensive. You're looking for a pave eternity ring with millgrain. I think that would be easy enough to find.

 

[Golden_bird]

I think you are right, as I don’t seem to be able to get a quote. I’m in Sweden, so maybe I should ask around at our local jewelers.

My god, that would be a nightmare, I have been thinking about that, that it needs to be a trusted jeweler, hence me reaching out to some of the trusted around here. I don’t have a relationship with any jewelers where I am, and somehow I’m a bit scared to have it done here.

I might go down another path, maybe keep the ring as is (well have it slimmed down to 2 mm) and start a stack.

Oh please ,leave it alone or just wear in different hand or resize and wear on different finger but it really needs to be someone very skilled to put diamonds in , more Likely you will get ruined band plus will have to pay for it ! I would say you are looking for like 700-900$ for a remake . Just find a band you love premade and save your time form stress and hasstle

 

[ringbling17]

I've been on the hunt for a jeweler/bench that will agree to redesign my original wedding ring for my 5 year anniversary. It really is a plain 3 mm 18kt solid band, that I would want to have remade into a 2-2,5mm bead/pave set eternity with milgrain on the edges. This seems to be a difficult task as I've reached out to BGD, Whiteflash and Victor Canera -and none of them are willing to do it. I really really really want to keep my ring as it has sentimental value for me.

So, to my question, I would love to know if anyone here has had their jewelry remade, and in that case what jeweler did you use?

I would reach out to David Klass. He remade my engagement ring set into a eternity band and then reset the center diamond into a pendant.
His prices are very reasonable especially and he can provide CADS. He even purchased the gold back from me. My ring was under $500 to make and my pendant was under $400.

 

[Maisie]

I was going to suggest David Klass too. He won’t do it if he thinks it’s not possible to do.

 

[Viola]

I would reach out to David Klass. He remade my engagement ring set into a eternity band and then reset the center diamond into a pendant.
His prices are very reasonable especially and he can provide CADS. He even purchased the gold back from me. My ring was under $500 to make and my pendant was under $400.

Thank you! I’ll send him an email.

It really isn’t about keeping the cost down, its more about keeping the ring and using it every day. Sounds great though that he has reasonable prices.

I am reconsidering doing this project, and maybe just starting a stack, either way I’ll reach out to him.

 

[JPie]

This designer in The Netherlands was recommended many years ago by a trade member of PS. I've never used them but their site suggests that they could help you:

http://www.custom-made-jewelry.com/remodeling-jewelry.html