Worth it to re-purpose jewelry?

[Mreader]

I have some cocktail rings that belonged to my mom that aren't really "me" and was thinking of using the stones as a halo around another stone I have and just rebuilding a ring. I realize that my question might not be easily answered, but I wondered if the cost for the labor would really be worth using my own stones - like would it save much $$? I haven't gotten any quotes yet, just wondered if anyone has had any experience in this domain. Part of what happened is I wanted to buy a piece of jewelry (pictured) and the darn thing was sold out once I called about it. I was thinking of having a similar one built again with my diamonds, but the piece cost $980 which isn't a ton, so didn't know if it might end up being that cost in labor anyway! LOL. Any advice, as well as maybe some ppl you have worked with for custom stuff, is appreciated

 

[MeowMeow]

To me yes it is but I am very sentimental and having those parts in my jewellery is important to me. So yeah I would pay

 

[MamaBee]

I agree with Meow Meow that I would use the diamonds because they belonged to my mother.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I am a sentimental old fool
so a yes from me too

Also a jewlery blog i follow (Calla Gold) she is always saying "wear it, don't warehouse it !"
So if those cocktail rings are just sitting around not doing anything ....

Do you want to show us them ?

 

[Beautiful-disaster]

I’m sorry I don’t know (but would like to find out). I’m assuming of you supplied the materials (did you intend on using the gold from the rings too?) then you would just be paying for the labour (bench work). Interested to see some answers from people in the industry.

 

[bludiva]

i don't think it will save you a lot of $ but if you are not able to sell the existing piece you have and you want to custom make a piece it's worth looking into. the labor of unsetting and resetting the stones may not be worth it financially so it may be more about how sentimental you are about the stones. ivy and rose have a setting that is similar to what you have pictured, not sure if they could use your existing melee. good luck!

 

[dk168]

So far I have re-purposed a 6-stone carré cut band with 2 loose stones (totalling over 2.8ct) from the same parcel into a bangle; and a 1.96ct MRB into a bangle bracelet, all earth-mined diamonds G/H VS quality, not ideal cut (they are over 40yo!).

I am about to set a blue step cut stone of unknown type with a window into a ring.

They all have sentimental values, however, the original settings did not suit me personally.

Rather than getting rid of them, I decided to re-purpose them instead into something that I would and can wear.

IMHO, it depends how much sentimental value is attached to a piece, and how much one is willing to pay for re-purposing the piece.

For me personally, the diamonds are worth the expenses involved to have them re-purposed in Platinum as they bring me fond memories. Besides, they would cost an arm and a leg to replace nowadays!

However, I am using Rhodium-plated Silver for the blue stone as I don't have that much sentimental value attached to it, and am not going to have it tested to find out what type of CS it is.

DK

 

[seaurchin]

This probably won't be too helpful lol but I'd say it just depends on:

If the diamonds in your mother's ring have sentimental value to you or not.

What you could get for your mother's ring as-is if you wanted to sell it.

If you could find a ring like the one you liked above without having a ring made and what it would cost.

What the value of the diamonds in your mother's ring are

...And I probably left out a few things.

In general, whenever I try to do that sort of thing I seem to end up getting deeper and deeper into a mess and spend more than if I just kept it simple. But of course, your mileage may vary. Good luck!

 

[pearaffair]

I am a sentimental old fool
so a yes from me too

Also a jewlery blog i follow (Calla Gold) she is always saying "wear it, don't warehouse it !"
So if those cocktail rings are just sitting around not doing anything ....

Do you want to show us them ?

Haha omg I love that

 

[ksage92]

I repurposed a sapphire/diamond ring I didn't wear and had it reset (with additional stones) in to a pendant I do wear much more. Savings? Nah! Sentimental? Yes! Good luck with your project!

 

[lydial]

I just paid to have some ideal cut "hearts on fire" (1.5 mm) melee from a thin pave band repurposed into a new pave band. The maker needed to find matching stones to complete the band but all in all it was less than buying all new stones (I think) but not much. But I never wore the pave band - it was too abrasive on neighboring rings. I hope to use the new one!.

 

[Mreader]

i don't think it will save you a lot of $ but if you are not able to sell the existing piece you have and you want to custom make a piece it's worth looking into. the labor of unsetting and resetting the stones may not be worth it financially so it may be more about how sentimental you are about the stones. ivy and rose have a setting that is similar to what you have pictured, not sure if they could use your existing melee. good luck!

so funny you mention Ivy&Rose because that is where this ring is from that I loved and was sold out!

 

[Mreader]

I am a sentimental old fool
so a yes from me too

Also a jewlery blog i follow (Calla Gold) she is always saying "wear it, don't warehouse it !"
So if those cocktail rings are just sitting around not doing anything ....

Do you want to show us them ?

Sure! These are the rings and now that I’m looking at it I’m not so sure I would want to break them down LOL. I was thinking of purchasing a spinel which is what the middle stone is of the ring that sold, and then removing the diamonds in the cocktail rings to create a halo around.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Sure! These are the rings and now that I’m looking at it I’m not so sure I would want to break them down LOL. I was thinking of purchasing a spinel which is what the middle stone is of the ring that sold, and then removing the diamonds in the cocktail rings to create a halo around.

I must say i do love them
They look sparkly and fun and also quite glamouse to me

Perhaps wear them for a few to see how much you enjoy them before you make any big descions

Our tastes do change and fashion comes and goes

 

[bludiva]

Sure! These are the rings and now that I’m looking at it I’m not so sure I would want to break them down LOL. I was thinking of purchasing a spinel which is what the middle stone is of the ring that sold, and then removing the diamonds in the cocktail rings to create a halo around.

i haven't bought from ivy & rose but have seen people post about the and they seem like nice folks, i'd ask them their advice. the other thing you could do probably inexpensively is turn one or both into a pendant if you might wear it that way.

 

[stonehunter20]

I echoed the posts above. I am also sentimental and I would definitely repurpose the jewels from your mom in this ring for a new ring that represents me.

 

[denverappraiser]

It depends.

The labor to set melee diamonds (that's what jewelers call those little guys) is often more than the price of the diamonds themselves. In the case of custom work, it can turn out to be quite a bit more. Vintage pieces often include some damaged stones that you may not want to use and not all pieces are equally easy to take apart. All of that said, yes you can take diamonds out of one piece and make another. Jewelers do it all the time. I hesitate to quote someone else's prices but most custom jewelers will give you an estimate if you ask. No, there's not usually a big saving for supplying your own tiny stones, but there's a big opportunity for adding sentimental value, which is the point of most of this anyway.

 

[Mreader]

i don't think it will save you a lot of $ but if you are not able to sell the existing piece you have and you want to custom make a piece it's worth looking into. the labor of unsetting and resetting the stones may not be worth it financially so it may be more about how sentimental you are about the stones. ivy and rose have a setting that is similar to what you have pictured, not sure if they could use your existing melee. good luck!

It depends.

The labor to set melee diamonds (that's what jewelers call those little guys) is often more than the price of the diamonds themselves. In the case of custom work, it can turn out to be quite a bit more. Vintage pieces often include some damaged stones that you may not want to use and not all pieces are equally easy to take apart. All of that said, yes you can take diamonds out of one piece and make another. Jewelers do it all the time. I hesitate to quote someone else's prices but most custom jewelers will give you an estimate if you ask. No, there's not usually a big saving for supplying your own tiny stones, but there's a big opportunity for adding sentimental value, which is the point of most of this anyway.

This is so helpful thank you!

 

[Mreader]

so funny you mention Ivy&Rose because that is where this ring is from that I loved and was sold out!

And that setting they have in their semi-mounts is the exact same one that was used to sell the spinel, so now I'm thinking of getting the setting and then finding a spinel; but then to find one that fits. Hmmm so many possibilities now

 

[Ionysis]

Those rings are absolutely lovely. You could probably break down the lower one more easily and the diamonds are well matched. But I would wear them a bit first.