Price of new jewelry is too much?

[Andreaoid]

I've been back and forth with my local jewellers about creating a new signet ring since November. I want to model it on my late husband's. His is too big to alter and very sentimental to me so I've decided create a new one from my own 14k gold.

How much would you expect to pay? The job is to create an oval signet ring (slightly larger face than women would normally wear), tiny ring size D, a deep seal engraved family shield and laser inscription of two words (the ring size is too small to use hand inscription). All of this will use mostly my 14k gold but they also need to use new 14k grain to make it pure 14k hallmark so some new gold will be used.

This is jewellers in East Midlands. They just called me, after 5 months of finalising and dragging out the process. The quote is £3,100. I nearly fainted. Is it (un)reasonable to call it quits? I'm 35, widowed and wanted something of my husband's to wear every day. But it seems like I'm not in the right 'salary band' for it.

Not to be ungrateful about your sharing your story but the thread is about a piece of jewellery no matter what meaning. Plus there are other reasons for the ring. It'll be made out of gold my late grandma gave me for exactly this purpose.

I know grief has ebbs and flows and I can't know what's around the corner for me. I'm not very sentimental person, I've sold and given away most of my husband's things. We adapt and carry on. I just wanted to replicate his ring in mine. Nothing more, nothing less.

I called them this morning and asked them about options. We decided to explore the avenue of making it from new gold (only 9ct this time) to the same spec, using my 14ct gold to pay for some of it and then cover the difference. The new quite came to £3,150 minus my gold, down to £2,300.

I checked the pricing with Bentley & Skinner who specialise in signet rings and the full price of the similar size ring with the same spec really fits. So, I guess that is it. I might ask for a quote for a slightly smaller face and shoulders next, but I assume the size might not move the price lower significantly. They keep telling me I mostly pay for the bespoke job. And if the difference is £100 or £200, then I'd rather have the original design than something I'm just settling for. We shall see.

I'm having a wedding ring enlarged 9ct gold which is costing £120.
Also my engagement ring is being turned into a pendant again 9ct gold and that is £200.

Fine. I was just trying to be helpful as someone who's been in your position.

I would shop around TBH. I know Gold has shot up, however this seems very high .Jewellers are like anywhere else really good and bad! Chain stores like Ernest Jones /Goldsmiths are dear. Can u see if a small local one may be better? An old style jeweller mended my gold bangle for £15.00!

I have just had two pieces made from a mix of family pieces and pieces which were no longer to my taste. One was about a year ago, was smaller and still in four figures. The second piece I have just got and was much the price you were quoted. The designer was excellent, several meetings, sets of drawings, options for how and where stones were set. They had to do CAD drawings for the workshop as it was very particular design. The bespoke service is much of the cost, things like using a workshop which will melt your jewellery separately. I now have a beautiful piece which I love but may be frightened to wear. I hadn’t really thought about value but they have done me an insurance valuation which makes the price of getting it made look much more reasonable!

Maybe remove the actual front of the ring and have it set as the Centrepiece of a bangle ?

Either with your own gold or adapting an existing bangle ?

The price is from a small local, family run jewellers in Lincoln. They work with goldsmiths in Birmingham, old boys in their 70s. So, I guess it's just the running price of bespoke jewellery nowadays.

@Andreaoid have you decided to go ahead? I can pm you a Lincs jeweller I have used previously, who may be able to assist.

I've been working on changes to make the ring price more palatable. But I'd be interested in hearing about your recommendation so feel free to DM me!

OP, I’d really shop around. I had a sapphire and diamond ring remodelled last year, using my own 14ct gold. The design I wanted was intricate, but the whole cost of the redesign, remodel, and being sent off to be hallmarked came to £1000. This was from a local jeweller to me, who makes his own jewellery in his Workshop above the shop.

Your jewellers have taken five months to get back to you. You don’t need to be rushed into any decision. Take your time and get some more quotes.