Wedding Set Reset

[nowicanseethemoon]

When my ex-husband and I got divorced, I had to decide what to do with my engagement ring and wedding bands. I had an appraisal done on the set, and it confirmed what I'd always suspected (i.e. known). I had an I1 diamond. And while it is pretty, it wasn't large enough or a high enough clarity to be worth much. So, what was I going to do with it? It seemed wasteful to let it sit in a box somewhere, so I talked to a jeweler about my options. They suggested I use the diamond for a pendant and said they could make the channel set bands into earrings! I'd never considered the earrings part of it, and liked that idea. And since my ex-husband and I are on friendly terms, it didn't seem weird to me to keep the stones and wear them in a different way - sort of a memory of the good times. The best part was, there was enough platinum in the engagement ring to pay for the entire deal, except for the chain I bought to go with the pendant.

Here is what it used to look like



The diamond is a 1.10 carat (6.18 x 5.71 x 3.80 mm) princess cut
Color F
Clarity I1

And the bands were each 3 mm set with 10 2.0x2.0mm princess cut diamonds (.50 tcw) F, VS1

And what they look like now

 

[nowicanseethemoon]

Here are a couple of "action" shots.





The end results are very simple, but wearable, and I am getting a lot of enjoyment out of a piece that would have been sold for almost nothing or sitting in a drawer gathering dust.

 

[arkieb1]

I love re-purposing!!!! No waste and everyone wins - and they look great on you too!!!!

 

[marcy]

They turned out gorgeous.

 

[missy]

I love re-purposing!!!! No waste and everyone wins - and they look great on you too!!!!

Ditto. How great you are able to enjoy them this way!

 

[nowicanseethemoon]

Thanks ladies! I'm happy I could repurpose them too. It's interesting to look at the ring picture now - my taste in rings has certainly changed since then.

 

[IE_Princess]

I'm a big fan of repurposing as well, and I think you chose well! I think this is also a great idea for someone who might want to save the diamonds for a child but not actually keep it as an engagement ring. I was just talking to two friends yesterday who have e-rings from prior marriages that they don't want to wear but don't want to sell for pennies.

I also think it's a great choice for a heavily included stone. I'm in the process of having my grandmother's I1/I2 set into a pendant; on my hand I just zoom in on the flaws and end up not liking it, so it was recommended that I try a pendant so that I am still wearing the "heirloom" stone but don't actually have to stare at it all the time.

 

[dtnyc]

The transformation of the bands into earrings is fantastic!

I love jewelry recycling! Also awesome you were able to pay for all of the work w/ the metal from the e-ring.

 

[junebug17]

Both the earrings and pendant are beautiful!! the princess stone makes a gorgeous pendant. What a great idea to have these made, so much better to have some wearable pieces than to have diamonds languishing in a jewelry box! Well done!

 

[Smith1942]

Oh, that is just BRILLIANT! No waste and lots of enjoyment...and a truly lovely way to commemorate all that was good. Does your ex know? You said you were on friendly terms. I expect he'd be touched that you haven't sold or rejected the wedding jewellery.

 

[Acinom]

That's a great transformation. It's is great you can still enjoy a vesutiful set, but in a different way.

 

[nowicanseethemoon]

Oh, that is just BRILLIANT! No waste and lots of enjoyment...and a truly lovely way to commemorate all that was good. Does your ex know? You said you were on friendly terms. I expect he'd be touched that you haven't sold or rejected the wedding jewellery.

My ex doesn't say much, but said he was glad I still had them (he's not a big communicator ).

 

[Enerchi]

WHat a clever idea about the two bands becoming earrings!! I also would not have thought of that ---- clever jeweller you have there!!

And the pendant looks FAB on your neck!! Enjoy - remember the good times, indeed.

 

[Laila619]

Great job! Enjoy your beautiful new pieces!

 

[pregcurious]

Very classy pieces!

 

[SDDiamondLover]

The new pieces are both classics. Really pretty! I love playing with stones and finding another way to use them.

 

[Dandi]

They look fabulous! I love the pendant especially!!

 

[Ally T]

That are beautiful! I particularly love the pendant

 

[lknvrb4]

Wow, they turned out great! I really like the pendant.

 

[Orchid Lei]

Great transformation!

 

[nowicanseethemoon]

Thanks guys! I wear the pendant all the time and like having a pair of understated earrings to wear when I'm feeling mellow. I'm really happy with how the repurposing worked out.

 

[starrynight]

Those turned out lovely!! What a great recycle

 

[gemgirl]

I love recycling! Good for you! Very nice now and they won't remind you of the past because you've made them into something completely different.

 

[pandabee]

Beautiful repurposed set!! I love the idea of turning that into a necklace and earrings, it seems like such a simple concept but now can be pieces you can enjoy everyday without even having to look at them! Can't wait to see the set complete with your new ering

 

[msop04]

Ya know, I normally don't go for princess cuts, but... that pendant looks so classy! I love it!!

 

[diamondringlover]

Very nice indeed, I am really digging the earrings

 

[Rosebloom]

Wonderful transformation! And how luxe to have a 1 ct pendant.

 

[LLJsmom]

Your e-ring looks awesome as a pendant!! And love your new earrings!! Bling you can wear all the time every day!! Yay!!

 

[nowicanseethemoon]

Ya know, I normally don't go for princess cuts, but... that pendant looks so classy! I love it!!

I don't either anymore. My taste has certainly changed over the years. But the nice thing about this stone is even though the clarity isn't good, it's very white and sparkly. You never really saw the inclusion in the ring, but you really don't now. And the prongs they used protect the corners while not really being noticeable. And free repurposing makes me a lot more style-tolerant than I am over a prospective e ring. KWIM?

 

[SB621]

I love re-purposing!!!! No waste and everyone wins - and they look great on you too!!!!

Yup me too!!! I love recycling old jewelry into newer pieces or something that is more my style! Very nice and I love the earrings! I never would have thought of that!