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

31 replies

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/10/2025 11:03

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

OP posts:
LemonJellyLegs · 19/10/2025 17:39

I tried to get my ring reset and the jeweller talked me out of it. Its an edwardian emerald ring and i realised it would be sacrilige to reset it, and it would cost £1500 to do!

Viviennemary · 19/10/2025 17:44

If its going to cost you over £1k is it worth it. Maybe get it valued and trade it in for a ring you like better. Jewellers are notorious though for buying cheap and selling dear.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 19/10/2025 17:58

continuo · 19/10/2025 16:04

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.

Wow wow wow.
How talented!

I'm going to bookmark this lady. Thank you for sharing

TheWytch · 19/10/2025 18:01

Oh it's doable all right and the band could almost certainly be re-used if you wanted to keep the inscription. A picture would help but it is probable that the setting can be cut out and a new one built to hold the stone and everything reattached.

The tiny diamonds are all but worthless.

Whether it is worth doing will depend on the quality of the emerald and what treatments it has undergone. Most emeralds have been treated to some extent to hide flaws and being fragile are easily damaged. If it is damaged it may fall apar when unset. You need to get the stone appraised. You say you are within striking distance of Hatton Garden so take it into one of the manufacturing jewellers there and get the ring appraised and a quote for a rebuild.

It won't be cheap though I'm afraid. From my point of view it is much quicker and a lot less stress to make a ring for a client from fresh gold and new stones than it is to rework a sentimental piece.

Allswellandgood · 19/10/2025 18:14

I agree with most of the PPs , who have said it is far better to remake the ring in a style that would give you the most pleasure to wear.

It's amazing how much jewellery repair and of course the materials to do the work,have risen.
Just look up what gold is worth today per gram.
A cautionary tale from what happened to my DM years ago.
She took a gold ring, with a fire opal, that was made in the Georgian period, to be remade by one of the better-known jewellery companies at the time, because the gold band had worn paper thin.

They sent the piece away to be remade, and that was the last my mother saw of her ring.
We never knew if it was lost in transit, stolen along the way or by the jewellery company itself.

From that time on neither one of us ever left a piece of jewellery if it involved being sent away from the premises.

user2255679541 · 19/10/2025 18:15

@continuo Wow. Her work is beautiful. I've been wondering what to do with a large antique diamond (inherited) and she might just be the answer.

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