Resetting an Heirloom Diamond
Taking the diamond out of a family heirloom and resetting it in a different ring is certainly possible, but you need to be aware of the pros and cons before you start.
‘Diamonds are forever’, as the saying goes, but what if you inherit a diamond ring and don’t like the setting? It could be that your aunt leaves you a family heirloom in her will or perhaps your grandmother left you her own engagement ring to use when you pop the question with your partner.
Whatever the origin of the diamond jewellery, there could be any number of reasons why you prefer to have the diamond moved to a different setting. Perhaps it is set in yellow gold and you feel that platinum of white gold would make the diamond look more dazzing bright white. Similarly, a diamond that is slightly coloured could appear brilliant white in a different setting.
Alternatively, the setting and even the diamond itself may have endured wear and tear. Placing a diamond with a chipped girdle in a bezel setting instead of a prong setting would make it look like new, for example. It is also possible that the prong setting on the old setting is no longer sufficiently strong and secure to hold the diamond safely.
Active lifestyles and diamond jewellery
An active lifestyle is another reason why customers sometimes decide to replace the setting of an heirloom diamond with one that is more secure and less prone to being caught in fabric during sports or other activities. Some people want to combine the diamonds of their parents’ engagement rings on both sides of the family in a new setting. Others feel that a family heirloom would not sit comfortably with the wedding ring of their choice, either by design or style.
Not every ring handed down is an engagement ring, of course, although placing a diamond in a new setting in order to use it as an engagement ring is a popular reason for resetting an heirloom diamond.
By contrast, women may opt to re-use the diamond(s) on their engagement ring for different purposes following a divorce, if they can no longer bear to be reminded of their previous marriage but still have a great affection for the jewellery that came with it.
Although vintage jewellery has seen a surge in popularlity in recent years, not every vintage diamond ring is a jewellery item worth preserving. If you really don’t like the style or design of the ring, resetting the stones in a new, more fashionable setting may well be a good option.
Diamond expert
It is worth remembering, however, that there is always a certain risk involved in removing diamonds and other precious stones from an older setting – however small that risk. Although diamonds have a reputation for being indestructable, over the years cracks and chippings may have occurred that create internal pressure. It is therefore always advisable to leave resetting an heirloom diamond to a diamond expert and to check the credentials of that expert before you commit to resetting heirloom diamond jewellery.
Due to the risk and costs involved in resetting an heirloom diamond, many diamond jewellery specialists recommend that you should only consider resetting a diamond of at least 1.00 carat. Below that, there is often no technical reason not to reset an heirloom diamond but the cost involved in resetting the diamond may outweigh that of buying a new diamond ring or diamond pendant.
If you were given an heirloom diamond ring by a relative on either side of the family, it is highly recommended that you approach plans to alter the setting sensitively, as such a family heirloom may have great sentimental value as well as monetary value. There is nothing worse than to unwittingly cause offence to the kind donor(s) by changing the ring given to you without their consent.
A company that resets diamonds may require that you obtain an appraisal, lab report and mapping of your diamond before it takes possession of the gemstone. If not, it is still advisable to get a good description of your diamond before it is sent off to a laboratory, to avoid any risk of the stone being swapped with a lower quality one at some point during the process.
Questions to ask before you reset an heirloom diamond include:
- Will the diamond be sufficiently insured for theft or loss during every step of the process?
- Where will the resetting be conducted, on the premises or will it be sent away?
- How long will it take to reset your diamond?
- Can the jeweller show you examples of previous work done in resetting heirloom diamonds?
An honest, reliable and knowledgeable jeweller will be only too happy to answer all of these questions and show you references and samples related to other reset heirloom diamonds.
