Jewellery remake: making the bad come good

[totallyfree]

Hello lovely PSers, I come once again seeking your collective ideas and wisdom, images and experiences

So almost a decade ago I had a relationship end, and it's taken a very long time for me to decide what I'd like to do with these three rings.

The engagement ring/wedder is 18k white and yellow gold, aquamarine centre with 45(?) diamonds, they must be 0.01ct each? I would estimate the rings at a size 4. The mens wedder is 9k white and yellow gold, with three smaller aquamarines. I have no paperwork, though it's on my list to contact the manufacturing jeweller and ask if they still have any records I could obtain.

So, what to do? Sell as a set? I might get $500 at most? Given I am unlikely to be in possession of "spare" jewellery again I am strongly considering having the stones reset into something Is it worth it? Would it only make sense to have the centre element of the e-ring turned into a pendant?

Any other thoughts, recommendations etc? Thank you for reading

 

[the_mother_thing]

I think I would see about 'repurposing' some of it since you may not get much for them (unless you tried selling privately on LT or DB). The ering - maybe see if you can have the aqua/halo removed & add a bail for a pendant, and if the two remaining bands of diamonds could then be soldered together for one simple band, maybe. Just an idea.

 

[bunnycat]

I think Jenn's given some good advice.

If there's a way to take the e-ring apart and use the halo'd portion as a pendant, that would look very nice! And if the 2 bands could be salvaged for a stacker like Jenn says. Stackers tend to sell on the secondary market pretty quickly (LT or DB is the best bet).

The mens band you might get a bite on eBay (or DB or LT). Get it a nice clean and polish and see what happens. (You won't get tons for it, I don't think, but probably something...)

 

[totallyfree]

Thank you Jenn and Bunnycat

I think a preliminary plan...
1. A pendant from the aqua halo. It does look like it was manufactured in three pieces (2x bands, 1x halo), so should be 'easy' to undo and put a link (or two) for a chain.
2. Stacker bands - these slope away from the central yellow gold wedder, and I think if you put them other they would form almost a knife edge type band. I know someone who else antique/second hand jewellery at the markets so might put my feelers out with her... I'm in Darwin, Australia so the logistics or payment and shipping are off-putting if I can get an 'easier' cash sale locally.
3. The mens band... aqua's aren't everyone's thing, so I was thinking of having them replaced with diamonds or CZs to broaden my market. Similar rings sell for $1000+ aussie dollars, so would $500 be reasonable?

And that brings me to a final small project I've been wanting to do for a while, and imitation Choppard Happy pendant - the floating gem style using the three small loose aquas. My mother also has a fair few loose sapphires of various colours she might be happy to pass on to have used.

If anyone else has ideas or inspiration I'm all eyes

 

[VRBeauty]

Have the center of the e-ring made into a pendant. Work with a jeweler who will take the men's ring as scrap and apply the value to the cost of the remake.

I'd see about turning the two women's bands into some sort of blingy earrings - huggy style, maybe - or some sort of stackers.

 

[totallyfree]

A quick update on my scouting journey:

To convert the aqua/diamond halo to a pendent I was quoted $500. Not sure what others would charge, but there is only one jewellery bench in Darwin so it's hard to get a comparison. I was told the quote comprised the labour to remove the aqua from the bezel (as it cannot be exposed to heat), convert the halo to a pendent and then reset the aqua. To be honest the $500 was surprisingly high for me, but this is not an area I have great experience in.

The sales assistant I spoke to (not a jeweller) then discussed some different ring or pendent ideas. I did feel a lot of pressure to accept an intricate design (lots of scrolls, curves etc) and we didn't even get to discussing price. She did mention that the cost would be offset by the scrap metal collected, but couldn't/wouldn't give any details.

So, and informative but somewhat disappointing trip! However it's taken me 10 years to get this far, so I guess the rings go back in the jewellery box until I can take them on a trip. I am travelling to Singapore in a few weeks so it may be worth exploring my options there.

If anyone has feedback on the cost or process to convert the halo to the pendant I am all ears