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Original poster

Would I regret changing rings?

35 replies

Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 08:07

I was young when I got engaged and married and knew I didn't like yellow gold so went for white gold not realising how much upkeep it would need in terms of replating and how much that would cost over the years.

Over the years I have become a lot more confident in my own style and what I like and I now love rose gold and more art deco styles. However would I regret changing my rings from the ones I was first given? Attached is a pic of my rings which I do love but I hate how quickly the metal looks scruffy and starts to yellow. The picture is of them straight after replating, I think if they always looked like that I would be happy but it feels ridiculous paying to replace them every 2-3 months.

Any advice much appreciated :)

Would I regret changing rings?
OP posts:
LittleCandle · 17/10/2018 08:09

The rings you chose now might be more to your taste, but wouldn't have the same sentimental value, so yes, I think you might regret getting new ones in the long run.

Happycow · 17/10/2018 08:11

Do you like them as they are, apart from the plating problem? If so, could you reset them into platinum which doesn't have the upkeep?

Or is that you want a completely different style?

If you want to add to your collection with new rings that would be fine, but id worry about losing the sentimentalality if you are selling your current rings.

Jojoanna · 17/10/2018 08:12

I changed my rings but I’m not sentimental . I still kept my old rings and I love my new ones . Like OP I married young and my tastes changed

InternalGangsta · 17/10/2018 08:13

Why do you have to replate them every few months? I've had some rings rhodium plated and it lasted for years. Could you try that?

Original poster
Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 08:16

I was thinking about resetting as I think it is the stones I care about rather than the metal which is just a PITA. Would you recommend I reset exactly as they are or could I create new rings so to speak but with the same stones. Would that retain the sentimentality?

If anyone has done so and can tell me whether it has or not that would be amazing :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 08:18

I find that it goes so quickly Gangsta. I have tried both chain and independent jewellers for the rhodium replating but it always looks scratched and yellowing after a few months.

OP posts:
Original poster
Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 08:20

To give an idea it has been six months since the last replating and this is what the metal looks like now.

Would I regret changing rings?
OP posts:
MasterSensei · 17/10/2018 08:23

I know how you feel about the white gold. My husband wasn't given any information about white gold when he brought it for me so he didn't know about the tarnishing and the replating. When we got married I had to get white gold so it didn't scratch the engagement ring.
At first I was a bit put out I love the rings but hated how it yellowed but now they're much more sentimental than that and I could never imagine replacing them.

Although I don't understand how you're having to replate them every few months? I haven't even gotten mine done and you can't even tell unless you're inspecting the underside closely.
I remember it looking quite bad at first but over time it doesn't seem bad at all now. Maybe leave it for awhile and see how you feel?

Peridot1 · 17/10/2018 08:32

I have changed mine twice. First time a completely new engagement ring with bigger diamonds. My first ring didn’t really suit my hand esp with a wedding band. We were living overseas so I bought three new diamonds as we were leaving and they each meant something. Had them set into a nice ring but still yellow gold.

Earlier this year I had them reset into platinum and I used little diamonds from another ring I had and never wore to have a wedding band made. Also had some tiny diamonds set into the sides of the engagement ring.

I love them now. Never really did before.

But DH now says if I want to upgrade again I need to upgrade the husband too. I’ve told him that can be arranged!

Pinkyyy · 17/10/2018 08:37

I think re-setting the stones would be a lovely idea. However, rose gold seems to be a bit of a trend at the minute and you need to be certain you won't want to change them again in a few years if trends change

fishonabicycle · 17/10/2018 08:39

My engagement and wedding rings are both white gold, 30 years old and never been replated! I never even thought of it. They both look fine.

Original poster
Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 08:39

That's interesting pinkyyy! I did think that the purple stones might not work with rose gold so perhaps resetting in platinum is best.

OP posts:
Original poster
Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 08:40

We were poor when we got married so my rings are 9 carat. Perhaps that is why they deteriorate quickly?

OP posts:
SapphireSeptember · 17/10/2018 10:48

Argentium silver might be a cheaper option than platinum, it doesn't tarnish. My wedding ring (that I haven't worn for two years) still looks really bright and shiny (although I've noticed that any silver jewellery that I wear all the time stays shiny, I think the oils in my skin protect it from tarnishing, although not the case with this ring.)

BertramKibbler · 17/10/2018 10:54

Lol, the size of that diamond doesn’t look like you were poor!

More seriously, I think you’d regret changing the rings entirely, having your stone reset in a more resilient metal would probably be a better solution.

I’ve some rose gold jewellery and have found the colour wears on it a little too.

Original poster
Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 11:02

It's Moissanite Bertram so much cheaper than a diamond :) I have no issue with the stones, I love them and would never sell them. I think I just need to reset it in a more resilient metal and perhaps change the style of the setting to something more to my current tastes.

OP posts:
Original poster
Redgreencoverplant · 17/10/2018 11:03

Haven't heard of Argentinian silver so will take a look thanks Sapphire :)

OP posts:
HildaZelda · 17/10/2018 11:09

I'm the opposite. My rings are yellow gold. While I like the rings I HATE the colour. I've debated getting them dipped, but my engagement ring has a number of stones that would probably need to be removed so I don't know if it would work.

Tinty · 17/10/2018 11:15

I think if you reset in Platinum it will be pricey, but how much does it cost to have the re-plated every 6 months? Work this out over the next 10 years and see what the difference is? Also the platinum will be more hard wearing and shouldn't thin as much as 9 carot gold does.

You love your rings, just imagine how much you will love them if they stay bright white all the time.

On another note, I have platinum rings I absolutely love them and I look at them every day (worn them every day for 7 years now), and I really appreciate how fab they look (shallow I know). But a month ago I was in a shop looking at a phone and the sales assistant said to me, "wow look at your rings they really sparkle aren't they lovely". I said "thank you". She then said "I have one exactly like that but mine is gold not silver". Grin.

MsMaestro · 17/10/2018 13:55

I'd have the stones reset - lovely compromise - keeping the stones but adapting them to your tastes now.

Sexnotgender · 17/10/2018 13:57

I had my engagement ring made out of stones from my mums engagement ring so not quite the same as remodelling your own but I love it.

Sexnotgender · 17/10/2018 14:01

It was originally a more Princess Di style with the sapphire in the middle and the diamond round it. Whilst absolutely beautiful it wasn’t my style.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 17/10/2018 15:31

This might be a really stupid question but could you have them plated with something else to make them look rose gold?

And like a PP, I was thinking the rose gold fashion will eventually pass and then I remembered that my own wedding ring , which was also my late mother's wedding ring, is rose gold and is nearly 70 years old!.

Gullane · 17/10/2018 20:23

I had mine reset and I completely love it. I spent a bit of time finding the jeweller - Insta is great for this kind of thing - and went through a few ideas with her before and during the process.

If you like white gold, you could consider palladium - it’s more brittle than platinum and might not work for very delicate styles but it could be a more cost effective option.

You could also consider adding stones from unused jewellery that you own - I added some little diamonds from a old ring and an odd earring. I found it really lovely to breathe new life into sentimental but unworn treasures.

Ellapaella · 20/10/2018 09:08

OP are the rings in your photo both white gold?
Just asking as I have white gold and they have never needed replating in the last 8 years.
I've always been told not to mix metals, so if you wear white gold next to yellow gold or platinum it will cause a problem but should be ok next to white gold.