Engagement or diamond rings are an investment piece and can be very personal. Sometimes, a design can use updating or repurposing. The question of how much to put a diamond back in a ring opens other questions for you to consider. In this article, we will explore what kinds of things go into the cost of how much it will take to reset a diamond.
Key Takeaways
- James Allen and the Blue Nile. Both of these companies make high-quality jewelry, and each has its own unique selling points.
- The main difference between the both is that James Allen offers an array of intricate set designs. Whereas, Blue Nile boasts an expansive array of glittering jewelry products.
- Blue Nile was once renowned for its expansive and impressive online diamond selection, yet James Allen has since outdone it in recent years. James Allen diamonds boast an impressive 600,000+ glistening loose diamonds, while Blue Nile offers 400,000+ dazzling loose diamonds.
- James Allen offers a lifetime warranty that covers an extensive range of services, including professional cleaning, for free.
Questions to Ask Before Resetting A Diamond
First, we recommend finding a jeweler you trust and have worked with before. They will usually ask you what constraints are involved before following through with their recommendation. Some questions they may consider are:
- How many prongs need re-tipping on the engagement ring?
- Was there any loose diamond? Will there be a replacement stone?
- Was the diamond or the ring damaged?
- Does the band need replacing?
- Do you have a stone to reset with already?
- How large was the stone?
- Do I want it to stay a ring or am I comfortable with diamonds being used as another piece (like earrings)?
The answer to these questions may then determine what you want to do with the diamond ring or if you want to buy a brand new diamond ring altogether.
Getting Started: Find A Reputable Jeweler
Finding someone trustworthy to handle a high-value purchase like a diamond or ring can cause some anxiety. There are less intensive ways to find a reputable jeweler like James Allen, Yelp, Blue Nile, or community reviews online of businesses. Having a brick-and-mortar store guarantees no one will be running off with valuable gemstones.
Luckily, there are accredited bodies that professional jewelers are a part of to confirm their reputation.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certifies professional jewelers. Look for the GIA Graduate Gemologist (GG) or the GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP) credential during your business search.
A GG has gone through schooling to learn the technical knowledge needed to handle rare gemstones. An establishment with individuals certified with AJP certifies accurate diamond information when selling to a consumer.
Once in the store, a good sign of an upstanding jeweler is the amount of knowledge and services they are willing to provide without cost to the customer. It is worth asking for post-purchase incentives or maintenance services for purchases.
If Maintenance Is Required
Depending on the age of the ring, it may require maintenance. One way to tell the age of the diamond engagement ring is to check the wear on the setting. A setting is used to hold existing diamonds in place, but it is also used to protect the precious stone from scuffing. Over time, the prong setting will lose its edge and become dull. It might even cause a diamond to fall out.
Re-tipping is a common service for repairing a prong setting that is not completely broken. For example, if the prong setting does not completely cover a diamond, this would be a routine, but additional cost re-tip the prong.
When a center stone or a diamond completely falls out of the prong of the wedding ring, it is necessary to rebuild the claw of the prong setting. This requires more precious metal material to create a new prong altogether.
Diamond Replacement
Even the components of a ring hold sentimental value. One stone or even more stones can get lost over time, leaving no choice but to replace the diamond with a new stone. Diamond replacement can occur if, for some reason, a couple wants to preserve as much of the antique ring or wedding ring (assuming it is older) as possible. Or perhaps there were missing diamonds. Small diamonds can sometimes fall out of a setting. Getting new diamonds for the smaller ring may be more cost-effective. Precious metals like platinum gold or sterling silver may benefit from a new setting, with the same stones.
The life of the original ring can be renewed by adding a new diamond. Other ways to improve the larger diamond include adding diamond accents on the band, adding more diamonds in the center, or even creating two rings from its components. In modern times, couples find themselves not only choosing diamonds to represent their love but other stones for a center stone.
Band Replacement
Sometimes, it is worth more to preserve loose diamonds from heirloom rings rather than the band. This may be because the stone is a larger diamond, or are natural diamonds, or the gemstone cut is unique. If the diamond feels loose, remove the ring and adjust the setting again until it’s secure.
However, it can be more difficult for a jeweler to create a new ring, or even recreate the same one. Sourcing precious metals like white gold or platinum, or the process of resetting a diamond that is older can also be difficult.
Creating Your Own Design
Perhaps your intention is to create something new altogether. The overall cost of remaking a diamond ring varies from reworking parts of it to re-designing it together. While it can vary depending on certain factors, this can bring up the price significantly due to labor costs.
- How intricate is your wedding ring design?
- How many loose stones do you have to make a new engagement ring?
- Is the design based on an existing engagement ring or being repurposed from an old ring?
- Do you want colored gemstones in your ring?
In decades past, it was common to create a sample band out of material for a jeweler or other craftsperson to mold and create. Today, computer-aided design, or CAD, is used by jewelers to create professional, and precise custom jewelry design. CAD is used in many other manufacturing industries and is a major part of the fashion and jewelry industry. This digitally accessible program allows a wider pool of experts and craftspeople to actualize their vision.
That being said, an intricate design, or one with a unique design, can definitely run up costs. When creating your own design, it is best to start with templates that are common in jewelry design. Often, this requires a medium base knowledge of jewelry design, which is why it is always helpful to collaborate with a jeweler.
Common Settings
Settings for a ring come in and out of fashion. Wedding ring styles from the past often were made using a simpler process. And while many types exist, generally, there are three kinds with some variation out there:
- Prong setting (four-point)
- Prong setting (six-point)
- Bezel setting
- Halo setting (often surrounded by yellow gold)
- Channel setting (for additional stones)
Prong settings are often the least complicated to put a diamond engagement ring back in its setting. The other engagement ring settings vary in price depending on whether they include other smaller gemstones and how they are inlaid, and cannot always be compared together.
How Much Does It Cost To Reset A Diamond Ring
A diamond ring reset generally costs less than buying a new ring, if you are just replacing parts of it. Geographical location can shift prices as well. At the time of publishing, the cost can run between $1,000 to $5,000.
The process of finding a way to put your diamond back in its ring can be daunting. In some situations, you may simply need to set the stone back. In others, you may need to find a new stone entirely. Depending on how much you want to save, what raw materials you are working with, and how much it cost can be up to you. Even trying to preserve the look of the original ring may not be as simple as it seems. But as an eternity ring, searching for the best way to display your wedding ring is definitely a worthwhile endeavor.
FAQS
Can you put a diamond back in a ring?
You can put a diamond back in a ring easily, depending on the setting.
How much does it cost to reband a ring?
It costs up to a few hundred dollars to reband a ring.
How much does it cost to replace a missing stone in a ring?
It costs up to a few thousand dollars to replace a missing stone, depending on the size of the diamond.
What happens if diamond falls out of ring?
If diamond falls out of ring, see a certified jeweler to reset the diamond, if possible.