New ring from old

[Susan930]

Hello all. I’ve been lurking for a while and decided it was time to say hello and ask my first question. A little background information first.

I was engaged 33 years ago. We went to a local jewelry store and bought the only diamond engagement ring and wedding band that we could afford. I have no idea as to
any of the 4 c’s of the diamond, except maybe the size, probably around .45. I never had it appraised. What did we know, we were young, stupid, and I thought lucky
enough to get a diamond at all. However, that diamond has not left my finger since 1972.

My husband tells me that it’s my “turn” to upgrade. Yes!, it only took 32 years of marriage and the raising of 5 children (all jewelry-hound girls by the way) to get a “turn”. However, I’m not so stupid anymore. I’ve decided on a 1.35 carat stone - 1 because I deserve it, 32 for the years of marriage, and 5 for the children.

Now (finally) here’s the question. My band doesn’t look wide enough to support a diamond that size, and, being the sentimental fool that I am, I don’t want to get a new
band and discard my original. Has anyone ever heard of taking wedding and engagement bands and incorporating them into a new band, making 1 ring out of three?

It sounds crazy, I know. Hey, I said I wasn’t so stupid anymore, I never said I wasn’t crazy. I’m thinking it would end up being a two tone ring, with my old yellow gold wedding band, then the new white gold ring with the diamond, and finally my old yellow gold engagement
ring (without the stone, of course), made into one big fat ring. Can anyone point me in the right direction to start my search for such a design? I’m hoping this can be done and will look something like the ring seen on the Precious Metals news page. Thanks for any help.

 

[Susan930]

I intented to give the link to the ring on PM's news page. Here it is
http://www.preciousmetals.com.au/news.asp

 

[Susan930]

okay, thanks, I guess it was a dumb idea.

 

[katbadness]

Susan,

You may want to post the question again on another forum (RockyTalky or even maybe Diamond Hangout or Show me the Ring). Those forums have a lot more traffic.. So the chances of you getting your question answered is greater.

I'm not a jeweler, but I don't see why a custom jeweler shouldn't be able to design something like what you're describing, as it sounds to be a simple enough design to do.

Let me see if I can find a design akin to what you talked about.

 

[Matata]

Susan930....your math is incorrect....it should be 3.51 carats: 3-for achieving a 32 year marriage, 5-for contributing copious amounts of your body's calcium to the birthing of 5 children, and that's why 1-you deserve it

 

[katbadness]

Here's one design from a recent post, that you may want to consider/modify..

The downside is the fact that your old rings will be cut a little bit to accomodate this particular design.

I'll see if I can find another design that lets your old rings intact.

 

[katbadness]

And these are the pics from the Precious Metals page you had originally:

I'd say this project is very doable.

The jeweler can solder the 2 gold rings (the wedding ring and the engagement ring without the head that holds the diamond) together onto the WG ring.

 

[Upgradable]

I just undertook a similar project. Twenty years ago my husband proposed with a lovely .6 carat diamond in a filigre setting. We had the stone reset so it would be "mine." Now that we are looking to upgrade to a bigger stone, I used the gold from my existing set along with my great-grandmother's gold band to have a new contour setting made for the .6 stone. Now it truly is a "family" ring, being made from cherished pieces from my side, his side, and including me for 20 years. This ring will now go to my daughter, and although it doesn't look the same, it will carry all the love and many years (estimated 125) of happy marriages to her.

 

[Upgradable]

Here's a picture of the finished product.

 

[katbadness]

And here's another design that is similar to what you're talking about.

Here's the specifics on the ring.

More designs found here.

 

[Susan930]

Oh my, I could never wear a 3.51 carat ring. I was thinking that perhaps 1.35 was too big. Thank you all for your kind responses. My quest has begun.

 

[Susan930]

Upgradable, did you melt down your ring and use the gold for the new one? That's an idea I could work with. I worry that my way, the finished product would look like 3 rings soldered together, and thereby not have a smooth flow to them so to speak.

Oh, and, yes, that is the ring I saw at Precious Metals.

 

[moremoremore]

I was going to suggest melting it down too...I think it's a fantastic idea!!!

 

[katbadness]

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On 9/30/2004 9:38:25 AM Susan930 wrote:





Thank you all for your kind responses. My quest has begun.
----------------

Glad we can help. Post again when you're looking for a diamond/design. I'd love to see what you come up with.

 

[Upgradable]

Yes, they melted together the gold from my original set along with my great-grandmother's band. It sounds funny, but I feel the connection to it all! It was a perfect way to preserve the history of the relationships while giving it all a new future.