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Is it expensive to...

Ally66

Ally66

Brilliant_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 19, 2013
Messages
757
...have a bunch of small diamonds taken out of a setting to use in another piece?

I have inside-out diamond hoops that I just don't like on my ears. (I think I've learned that hoops are something you do have to try on to be sure about.) There are 32 3-point diamonds and if it's not costly out of proportion to the project, I'd love to use them in a 3 row band or maybe a bracelet.

Here they are, in case the type of setting might make a difference. Anyone have any experience with something like this?

IMG_3815.JPGIMG_3811.JPG
 
Depends on what you consider expensive. You might be better off selling the earrings and just buying the ring. Jewelers factor in the cost of the customized setting and the labor to set 32 diamonds. Unless they are super ideal diamonds, I wouldn’t suggest it. But I guess it won’t hurt to get a quote if you want a basic setting. Do you have any inspiration pics?
 
Yeah, that's kind of what I was imagining, @nala They're not super ideal, but they're very pretty. But, it's a lot of fiddling with little stones and I realize that could be pricey.

This is pretty much what I'm thinking:

1594833409168.png
 
90% of the diamonds I use in new projects are from jewelery I have or purchase because it is much more cost effective than purchasing them all new through the jeweler.

Mine never charges to take them out of the settings and will ship the empty gold back to me when the new project is finished. He only charges for the time/skill it takes to set them all.

If you love the diamonds and have seen them in all different lighting and think that they'd suit a ring I think repurposing jewelery is fabulous.
Although I know those hoops can be expensive and if you could sell them for more than the diamonds would cost alone it'd be worth it! So really it depends on that.
 
@TheGarnetGirl, thanks for your thoughts! I actually have the earrings listed for sale but I'm getting close to selling for 50% of what I paid, and I'm not ready to go that low (allthough, I have certainly sold pieces with that much and more off before, and I know that's what secondhand jewelry selling is like). I guess I would need to reach out to some jewelers and get an idea of what kind of cost would be involved in something like this.
 
Ally66 said:
@TheGarnetGirl, thanks for your thoughts! I actually have the earrings listed for sale but I'm getting close to selling for 50% of what I paid, and I'm not ready to go that low (allthough, I have certainly sold pieces with that much and more off before, and I know that's what secondhand jewelry selling is like). I guess I would need to reach out to some jewelers and get an idea of what kind of cost would be involved in something like this.
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Yes I would do that and see what the cost would be, how many diamonds are needed for it, what it would cost if you provided the diamonds vs. what the project would cost with the jeweler sourcing them for you!

Then weigh your options!
 
Does selling the earrings even at 50 percent off pay for the ring?
 
It could...I have found some on Etsy from sellers I have used for other things, so I guess it depends on feeling good about the diamond quality.
 
A sparkly update to my question! I contacted DanielM and he accepted the "challenge," and turned my earrings into this beautiful band. Daniel is so kind, and lovely to work with. He had the finished ring back to me in less than two weeks. It's about 6mm wide, which I love -- I've always wanted a wide band. The diamonds are originally from IDJ, 0.84 ctw, with loads of sparkle all lined up together.


IMG_4452.JPGIMG_4453.JPGIMG_4451.JPGIMG_4368.JPGIMG_4367.JPG
 
Looks lovely! Congrats on your pretty new ring!! I really like three row bands :D

In case someone in the future chances upon this post, the thing that will probably determine how cost effective a melee resetting project is is the general cost of labour in your area/ of your bench. If you live in an area where labour is expensive it’s typically not worth the effort. If you live in an area with lower cost of labour it becomes way more worth it. The less the amount of work involved in your project, the more cost effective. It’s not worth ripping up a designer/signed piece in 99% of cases. If your jeweler allows you to put the gold in your original piece towards the new piece, it becomes even more cost effective. If your original piece was bought from a high labour cost area/jeweler, ripping it up is rarely worth it since you’ll lose the labour cost. Some jewelers will take pieces as trade in but I feel like most of the time that’s a worse deal than breaking up a piece into constituents. I realise that this is not really useful for OP anymore but maybe for someone else in the future looking to reset a piece with lots of melee :)
 
Glad to have seen the end result of this project. The ring came out very nice. So glad you were able to reuse the stones from your earrings. You've totally inspired me in this regard. I have a pair of pink sapphire earrings that I'm not really into anymore. The sapphires are melee but excellent quality. They're prong set so I hope it would be easy to remove them. I'm gearing up for a sapphire eternity ring project and those stones would certainly come in handy and save me money.
 
Thank you, @LIGemzGal! I'm so pleased with the ring, happy that I was able to create something I will wear very often instead of letting those diamonds just languish in my jewelry box. And your pink sapphire project sounds beautiful -- I hope you'll show your ring off if you move forward with it!
 
Wow, beautiful ring! Your diamonds look lovely in their new home.
 
@Ally66 without asking for too much detail, did there end up being any cost savings from re-using the stones from the earrings, was it a wash given the labor involved, or did it end up costing more?
 
Ally66 said:
A sparkly update to my question! I contacted DanielM and he accepted the "challenge," and turned my earrings into this beautiful band. Daniel is so kind, and lovely to work with. He had the finished ring back to me in less than two weeks. It's about 6mm wide, which I love -- I've always wanted a wide band. The diamonds are originally from IDJ, 0.84 ctw, with loads of sparkle all lined up together.


IMG_4452.JPGIMG_4453.JPGIMG_4451.JPGIMG_4368.JPGIMG_4367.JPG
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So lovely! What a terrific result! Kudos!
 
@lala646, my ring is wider and more total carat weight than anything I was looking at to buy "ready made," and I paid $200-300 less than any of those rings. So, I had more confidence in the quality of the stones and got a larger ring overall for a lower price. The quality of this ring is wonderful, heavy and solid. I feel like it is very good value for the cost as well as giving new life to something I didn't wear.
 
Ally66 said:
A sparkly update to my question! I contacted DanielM and he accepted the "challenge," and turned my earrings into this beautiful band. Daniel is so kind, and lovely to work with. He had the finished ring back to me in less than two weeks. It's about 6mm wide, which I love -- I've always wanted a wide band. The diamonds are originally from IDJ, 0.84 ctw, with loads of sparkle all lined up together.


IMG_4452.JPGIMG_4453.JPGIMG_4451.JPGIMG_4368.JPGIMG_4367.JPG
Click to expand...

I love a happy ending. She’s beautiful. May you enjoy her for many years to come.
 
What a fabulous transformation!
 
@Ally66 getting exactly what you wanted, but of better quality, and at a lower price, what a win!!!
 
I know what you mean about all of this. I bought some in and out hoops in pre loved here and my ears must be a little wonky because they face out to the sides.

I want a sapphire pendant and to make a halo around it, so I was thinking I could use one to make the halo and the other to make an eternity band (or however far around it will go).
 
@whitewave, for sure! I think that sounds like a great re-use if you're not wearing your earrings. And that's exactly what happened with mine -- they turned out and it just wasn't the look I wanted. I'm hoping to try some different styles in person some day and see if I find the right ones.
 
Ally66 said:
A sparkly update to my question! I contacted DanielM and he accepted the "challenge," and turned my earrings into this beautiful band. Daniel is so kind, and lovely to work with. He had the finished ring back to me in less than two weeks. It's about 6mm wide, which I love -- I've always wanted a wide band. The diamonds are originally from IDJ, 0.84 ctw, with loads of sparkle all lined up together.


IMG_4452.JPGIMG_4453.JPGIMG_4451.JPGIMG_4368.JPGIMG_4367.JPG
Click to expand...

This ring is so pretty, he did a great job.
 
Oh, @pearaffair! Yes! And now I want the sister to your diamond bracelet! :kiss2: (And I love your ring stacked with the wide gold band!)
 
This turned out beautifully!! I love it!
 
Ha!! It sure does!!:lol::kiss2:
 
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