Re-setting a ring . Is it do-able or worth it?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I have been given a ring (family heirloom type) it is not my taste , I;d never ever wear it . But there is a beautiful emerald (I;m assuming ) in the centre and tiny diamonds .

Cannot read the hallmark (it needs cleaned ) but the date engraved (with initials) is1922 so its over a hundred years old .

Is it sacrilege to have it re set ?
Would it be possible to keep the original band with the date and hallmark ?

DD would like it made into a plain ring with a bevel of gold round the central stone to protect it , no diamonds .
If I did anything to this ring it would be for my daughter , not me .
Or should I just stick it in a drawer for another hundred years ?

We;re in travelling distance for Hatton Gardens

TIA

No advice but I’ve got the same questions so hoping someone with knowledge comes along!

I don't think it's sacrilegious to have a ring re-set. Far better for the stones and metal to be worn and enjoyed than be stuck in a drawer.

A good jeweller with give you an honest opinion on whether it's possible to preserve the original engraving and hallmark. It may not be, especially if the shank is fragile or if it needs to be very significantly re-sized.

Please can we see? I love antique jewellery.

What is sacrilege is to leave it in the back of of drawer and then lose it or have it stolen. Personally I would get it valued by an auction house or antique dealer and then decide. The scrap value will be low and the cost of remaking it prohibitive. May be easier to sell and buy new, but I'm not sentimental about objects.

I'd get it re-set! Lucky DD. I will inherit a few rings from my mum in due course, and she has one Victorian amethyst ring with five stones that is hideous isn't my style at all so I will have that made into a ring each for my daughter and neice. So, I'm a firm believer in giving things a new lease of life so they can be loved and worn again.

I think it's a respectful thing to do. We're using some of the diamonds from my DM's engagement ring (a 1960s 3 diamonds on a twist), setting them into a ring made for DS for his 21st birthday. He couldn't wear it in it's present guise and DM would be thrilled we're doing this. It would lie in a drawer otherwise as I wouldn't be able to wear it. I wear DGM's 1930s white gold and diamond art deco engagement ring most days as I love it as it is.

I'm in the process of getting my grandma's engagement ring reset. I don't wear gold and it didn't fit me anyway. The jeweller is going to reset the diamonds into a white gold band, kind of inlaid into the band so it will look more modern.

I asked a jeweler who was doing some other work about resetting my engagement ring (convoluted reasons no offense taken by DH)

Quote was £1-1.5K 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫
We didn't got ahead with it

It’s been done for as long as we’ve had jewellery. I was told the diamond side stones in the trilogy ring passed down from my paternal grandmother are old cut brilliants and almost certainly predate the ring setting.

As long as it isn’t an “important” period piece then I think that whatever will result in the most wears and most pleasure is the best thing to do.

Wow-that's not cheap!

I was shocked and asked if he just didn't want the job (as i know building tradesmen often quote high if they dont want the work)
He said no... its just the way.of things and also it would have required extra gold to the ring (so some of the cost was material)

It would be lovely to reset as opposed to it sitting in a drawer.

I recently went to a local jewellers to enquire about resetting a stone and was quoted 2k for a platinum setting. I remember not so long ago, the same request would have been under £1k.

A few options, could the current band by melted and used to make the new setting? Alternatively, if your jeweller can purchase a standard setting, that would be cheaper as opposed to making bespoke.

It’s worth enquiring at a Hatton Garden jewellers as there’s so many shops, I imagine the pricing will be competitive.

I've had the very same issue. Inherited a couple of rings valued around £10,000. Don't like them. Was quoted about £2,000 each to have them reset. Didn't feel like spending the £4,000 so I just wear them occasionally as mementoes.

My sister had an emerald bracelet and was told emeralds are very fragile and not to risk resetting it. So she sold it!

Friend had a beautiful emerald ring reset it looks stunning. She had her mother's rings all diamonds had the stones reset into a gold bangle. I lusted after that.

Definitely go to Hatton garden

Jewellery making is a highly skilled and extremely lengthy process. I inherited a ring over 30 years ago and it's been stuck in a drawer ever since. I think the amount you were quoted is quite reasonable and I'd happily pay that to have my ting remade into something I'd enjoy wearing.

Oh , lots to consider !

I know as the band is engraved that reduces value (though I'm sure it could be buffed out )
Emeralds are fragile yes , this ring hasn't been worn since goodness knows when. Two of the tiny diamonds are missing , they'd be easier to replace but even then I wouldn't wear it .
The band fits DD so it wouldn't need adjusted . I think it would be a lot of work to re-configure as DD would like .

Friends of mine have both used a local craftsperson to have inherited jewelry reset into pieces they will actually wear. The one I have seen is a silver (poss white gold?) bangle studded with jewels from a couple of rings. It's absolutely gorgeous. (NB the lady they used is based in Herts.)

You could have a plain gold band and the emerald then set into a pendant, however it’s one of those circumstances where if you’re going to pay, you may as well get exactly what you (or DD) want.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget
Why not have the emerald set into a pendant?
No need to re-size for you or DD or any other family member further down the line.
If you wanted to, you could have the gold from the ring melted into a "blob" (sorry - I couldn't think of a better description) and engraved with an initial? I've thought about this with a couple of rings of my mums.
You really need an "artesian" type jeweller, not HG.
Good luck.

Any chance of a pic, btw?

I'm a metalsmith working in gold and silver. It's a wonderful idea to have heirloom jewellery remade, and there are several goldsmiths who create amazing pieces from the original.

It's not work I do - I'm a good, competent, creative smith, but imo designing jewellery from heirloom pieces is another level of expertise.

The very best person I can possibly recommend is Isabella at the Remarkable Goldsmiths. Not only is her work absolutely exquisite, but she knows gold better than anyone else I know (she actually forges her own gold in beautiful shades). She creates gorgeous pieces - have a look at here remodelling section on her website.

Emeralds are brittle but hard. A skilled jeweller can set them, but will hold their breath a bit while doing it!
i am a jeweller- I really think that jewellery has a story to tell - it’s so personal. I think putting a ring in a drawer for decades is a shame, and that it should be adapted and changed over the years, it is part of its story. I love remodelling jewellery because it’s like breathing new life into it. I always will tell customers if their piece is particularly special or skilfully made, and suggest they may want to keep it.

I have the same quandary re a ring that belonged to my great grandmother that’s apocryphally worth £15,000 (need to get that confirmed!).
It’s too small to fit me or my DDs so im
dithering about what to do with it.

I was surprised at how little it cost. To have my engagement ring melted down and reset cost 450 quid 4 years ago. That price included a ruby as well.

I'll get a photo uploaded .
I was looking for something similar online to what she wanted , but they all seem to be Lab Grown Emeralds and call me a philistine but part of the charm (IMO) of emeralds is the inclusions . Not opaque but not clear like glass from a green bottle .

I saw one on Etsy , even in 14k gold it looks like it'll be way less than doing work on this ring . But its LG Emerald .

The stone in the ring I have is small so would be ideal to bevel or swiss set

I was warned the stone can fall apart when I enquired about resetting a ring of DMs

so I wear it as it is, knowing she chose and loved it