Our style and lifestyle change over the years and it’s quite natural that our taste for an engagement ring does too.
Maybe like me, you went from wearing mostly silver to predominantly yellow gold and your engagement ring doesn’t match your current metal preference. Perhaps you feel more confident than you did when you first got engaged and you wish your ring was a bit bolder or your center stone bigger or in a different shape. Maybe you have reached a milestone in your family life or career and you would like to celebrate that with an upgraded ring on your finger.
Whatever the reason might be, the process can be daunting and emotionally charged. Since I recently personally went through it, I wanted to share some tips and suggestions to help you successfully achieve the upgrade you desire while preserving the sentimental value of such an important piece of jewelry.
1- Identify what to modify in your engagement ring
The style of the band
You like your center stone as it is but your style has evolved. You would rather wear a different color metal and/or another style of setting. This is the most budget friendly option: you will only pay for the metal of the new ring and labor for resetting the gemstones. You can even get credit towards your new ring by refining your old ring’s metal.
The center stone size
You were in a different financial situation at the time of your engagement and now you feel more comfortable. You would like your engagement ring to reflect that.
Several options here, you can:
- upgrade for a larger center stone
- surround your current one with a halo
- add rings that will surround and enhance your current one.
Adding color gemstones
Maybe you would like to incorporate some colored gemstones to reflect your partner or your children's birthstones. Perhaps you inherited some family heirlooms you wish to add as a complement to your center stone.
2- Identify what to keep in your engagement ring
The metal
Your engagement ring may have been passed down from a beloved family member. The idea to scrap it breaks your heart. While it will not save you money, because of the extra labor involved, you can melt your current ring and reuse the same metal in your new band.
The center stone
Your center stone carries a sentimental value and while you would like to enhance it, you don’t feel comfortable trading it for another one.
The side stones
You love your side and/or accent stones on your current ring, you simply want to upgrade the center stone this way there is a continuity between the old and the new.
3- The process of upgrading your engagement ring
Now that you have identified what is here to stay and what to change in your original engagement ring, the fun part begins.
- Spend some time researching online and in physical retail stores what styles appeal to you the most that fit in the criteria defined above. Gather images of your favorite rings on an easy to share cloud based storage.
- Contact a jeweler you trust to get estimates both on your current engagement ring if it is repurposed or on the making of a brand new one from scratch in the favorite styles you gathered.
- Once you approve the budget, the jeweler will request a first deposit and start working on your well deserved ring upgrade!
Are you curious to see how I upgraded mine? Read this post
Are you ready to start your ring upgrade project with me: contact me here.
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