Redesigning Your Wedding Ring: Is It Possible?

Redesigning your wedding ring is a great way to breathe new life into a cherished item. Whether your ring has simply worn down over time or you want to commemorate a new chapter in your life, a redesign can be a deeply personal and meaningful process. You can modify your ring to fit your current tastes, choosing from a variety of design options and complementary metals or gemstones that express your individuality and narrative. Redesigning your wedding ring allows you to honour your past while embracing the future, creating a unique piece that reflects your journey and style.

Adding coloured gemstones to a new design

Adding coloured gemstones to your wedding ring redesign is a great way to express your individuality and narrative. It's an opportunity to create a unique piece of jewellery that reflects your personal style and journey. Here are some things to consider when adding coloured gemstones to your new design:

Durability:

The durability of gemstones is an important factor to consider, especially if your wedding ring will be worn daily. Gemstones are rated on the Mohs scale, which measures their hardness. Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance, with a rating of 10, making them extremely durable and resistant to scratches, chips and breakage. This means they can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. Rubies and sapphires are also good options, with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale. These gemstones are less likely to be damaged over time but can still add a pop of colour to your ring.

Colour:

When it comes to colour, the choice is yours! Sapphires come in a wide range of colours, from pastel purples to vivid oranges, yellows and greens. You're sure to find a shade that speaks to you. Rubies, with their deep red hue, are associated with love and the heart, making them a fitting choice for a wedding ring. If you're looking for something unique, consider a coloured diamond. While most diamonds are white, about 1 in 10,000 exhibit natural colour, including bold canary yellow, sparkling pink, pastel green, eye-catching black and champagne. Blue diamonds are among the most expensive.

Setting Style:

The setting style of your gemstones can also enhance the overall look of your ring. Traditional settings often place coloured gemstones in yellow gold, while diamonds are commonly set in white, yellow, rose gold or platinum. However, there are no rules when it comes to setting style, so feel free to get creative and choose a combination that makes you happy. Alternating diamonds and coloured gemstones is a popular choice, allowing you to incorporate a pop of colour while maintaining durability.

Shape:

Gemstones come in various shapes, and you can incorporate multiple shapes into your wedding band. The most popular shape is the round brilliant cut, which is commonly used for all types of stones.

Sentiment:

When redesigning your wedding ring, you may want to preserve the sentiment and significance of your original piece. Adding coloured gemstones can be a way to infuse new life and meaning into your ring while still honouring its past. Whether it's choosing a gemstone that holds symbolic value or incorporating family heirlooms, your redesigned wedding ring can become a cherished modern heirloom.

Recreating a ring from a photograph

Redesigning a wedding ring from a photograph is a beautiful way to celebrate personal growth and new beginnings. It allows you to preserve the sentiment and significance of your gems while infusing them with new life and style. Here are some steps to guide you through the process of recreating a ring from a photograph:

Choose a Jeweller

Select a jeweller who specialises in custom designs and has experience in recreating jewellery from photographs. They should be able to guide you through the entire process, from design to execution, ensuring that your vision is brought to life.

Provide Detailed Photographs

To recreate the ring accurately, provide the jeweller with clear and detailed photographs of the ring from multiple angles. Ensure that the photographs capture all the intricate details, including the setting, gemstones, and any unique features. The more visual information you can provide, the easier it will be for the jeweller to understand and replicate the design.

Discuss Design Elements

Communicate your design preferences and any desired changes to the original design. For example, you may want to keep the overall structure but change the type of metal or add additional gemstones. Discuss the possibilities with your jeweller, who can advise on what changes can be made while preserving the integrity of the original design.

Select Materials

Based on your design choices, select the type of metal, gemstones, and any other materials required. If you wish to incorporate any gemstones from your original ring, ensure that they are carefully removed and prepared for setting into the new design.

Review Design Sketches

Work closely with your jeweller to review design sketches and make any necessary adjustments. This step ensures that you are satisfied with the new design and confident that it captures the essence of the original ring while incorporating your desired changes.

Finalise the Recreation

Once the design is finalised, the jeweller will carefully craft your new ring, incorporating the selected materials and bringing your vision to life. They will ensure that the new ring is a beautiful recreation of the original, with any requested modifications, creating a meaningful piece that honours your past while embracing the future.

Resetting a ring after divorce

Resetting a ring after a divorce can be an empowering experience and a way to symbolise moving on and starting anew. It can be a chance to redesign your ring into a stunning new piece of jewellery or keep cherished elements while refreshing its design. Here are some ideas for resetting your ring:

Transform Your Ring Into a Necklace

You can turn your diamond ring into a beautiful necklace by taking the diamond out of the band and setting it in a new pendant. This way, you can wear it close to your heart as a symbol of strength and new beginnings.

Break Down Multiple Diamonds Into Unique Pieces

If your ring has several diamonds, consider breaking it apart to create different jewellery pieces. You could make matching earrings, a lovely pendant, or a stylish bracelet. Each piece will hold its own special meaning, allowing you to enjoy various styles.

Create a Bracelet with the Centre Stone

Use the centre stone from your ring to design a stunning bracelet. Set it in a delicate chain or incorporate it into a bangle—a stylish reminder of your journey and a celebration of your independence.

Design a Bold Statement Ring

Instead of keeping the original design, consider redesigning your diamond into a bold statement ring. Add colourful gemstones or change the setting to something modern and eye-catching. This ring reflects your personal style and showcases your strength and individuality.

Turn Your Ring Into a Minimalist Necklace

Redesigning your ring into a minimalist necklace allows you to keep the memories of your marriage without a constant reminder of the end of your relationship. It's also a great way to showcase your sense of style.

Transform Your Engagement Ring Into a Right-Hand Ring

Wearing your old engagement ring on your right hand is a way of reclaiming it as your own. It reminds you of your strength and independence. You can give the ring a new design, wear the band without the stone, or use the stone for a different piece of jewellery.

Create a Gorgeous Bracelet

Bracelets are timeless pieces of jewellery that can be worn daily and are a more subtle way to wear your diamond than an engagement ring. Repurposing your diamond into a bracelet allows you to keep the memory of your past relationship without constantly looking at the ring.

Turn Multiple Diamonds into an Elegant Diamond Necklace

If your old engagement ring has multiple small diamonds, a diamond necklace can be the perfect way to redesign it. Consider the style of the necklace, the setting of the diamonds, and the length that will flatter your neckline. With these factors in mind, you can create a gorgeous diamond necklace that's uniquely yours.

Create an Elegant Pendant

A diamond pendant is a timeless piece of jewellery that can be worn for any occasion. Working with a skilled jeweller, you can design a custom pendant that suits your style and ensures that no one else will have anything like it.

Create a Brand New Pair of Diamond Earrings

If you have an old engagement ring with multiple stones, you can create a brand-new pair of diamond earrings and use any remaining stones for a necklace. If your ring only has one diamond, you could get a second stone to create a unique and beautiful pair of earrings.

Changing the metal type

Choose the Right Metal

The most common metal choices for wedding rings include yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum, palladium, titanium, tungsten carbide, and tantalum. Each metal has its own unique characteristics, such as durability, scratch resistance, and price. For example, platinum is known for its durability and hypoallergenic properties, while rose gold has a romantic pink hue that complements all skin tones. On the other hand, tungsten carbide is a strong and scratch-resistant metal perfect for those with an active lifestyle.

Consider Your Skin Tone

When selecting a new metal type for your wedding ring, consider how it will complement your skin tone. For instance, white gold and platinum have a cool-toned white finish that goes well with fair and rosy skin tones. In contrast, yellow gold is a versatile choice that suits anyone but looks particularly stunning with olive and darker skin tones. Rose gold, with its warm pink hue, is another excellent option for all skin tones.

Match with Your Partner

If you and your partner want to have matching wedding bands, you'll need to choose a metal that suits you both. Discuss your priorities and preferences to find a metal that aligns with both your tastes and lifestyles. This could mean selecting a metal that is durable, hypoallergenic, or simply aesthetically pleasing to both of you.

Sentimental Value

If your wedding ring holds sentimental value, you may want to consider reusing the existing metal to create a new design. This way, you can preserve the memories associated with the original ring while giving it a modern update. Jewellers can melt down your existing gold or platinum and use it to craft a new ring, ensuring that the original metal is not contaminated with other metals in the process.

Design Options

When changing the metal type of your wedding ring, you also have the opportunity to explore different design options. You can opt for a simple and modern style or go for a more intricate design that showcases your personality. Additionally, you can choose from various finishes, such as shiny or matte, to create a unique look that suits your taste.

Adding more diamonds

Multiple Diamonds

If your wedding ring has multiple diamonds, consider adding more diamonds to create a unique design. You can space out the diamonds at intervals, creating a beautiful contrast between the shiny surface of the band and the sparkle of the stones. Alternatively, you can opt for a channel setting, where the diamonds are laid edge-to-edge, creating a continuous flow of sparkle. Princess cuts are ideal for this setting as they leave no gaps between the stones.

Flush Set Diamonds

Flush set diamonds are a great way to progressively add stones to your wedding ring. Each diamond can mark a special occasion, such as an anniversary. This setting works best with slim bands and smaller diamonds.

Diamond Accents

Accentuate the centre stone of your wedding ring with diamond accents on the band. This will add more sparkle to your ring and draw attention to the centre stone.

Diamond Halo

For a subtle yet stunning addition, consider adding a halo of diamonds around your centre stone. A diamond halo will make the centre stone appear larger and more brilliant. For an extra touch of colour, you can make the inner halo out of coloured diamonds or gemstones.

Birthstones

Add a unique touch of colour to your wedding ring by incorporating your birthstone or the birthstones of your children. This is a meaningful way to personalise your ring and make it more colourful.

When adding more diamonds to your wedding ring, it is important to consider the depth of the band. Lighter bands may only accommodate tiny diamonds, while larger diamonds require a deeper band and greater setting depth. Additionally, the cost of customisation will depend on the number, size, and quality of the diamonds added.

Frequently asked questions