Upgrade Your Wedding Ring: Where To Start?

where to upgrade wedding ring

Wedding rings are often upgraded to adapt to life changes, celebrate milestones, or simply because of a change in taste or budget. Upgrades can be simple alterations, such as resizing or engraving, or more significant changes like upgrading the centre stone or altering the setting. Many couples choose to upgrade their rings on milestone anniversaries, birthdays, or special occasions like the birth of a child or vow renewal ceremonies. Upgrading a wedding ring can be a way to celebrate one's relationship and the milestones achieved together.

Characteristics Values
Reasons Change of personal style, celebrating a life milestone or anniversary, adapting to life changes, celebrating how far a couple has come together, celebrating a new job, celebrating the birth of a child, celebrating a vow renewal ceremony, celebrating a new home, celebrating a new family, celebrating a new career, celebrating a special occasion, celebrating a marriage that started with a small budget, celebrating an increase in financial flexibility, accommodating a slight nickel allergy, accommodating a job that requires regular ring removal, adapting an heirloom to personal style, adapting to a change in finger size, accommodating a change in taste
Who to contact The Wedding Ring Shop, Modern Gents, Frank Jewelers, James Allen, Valerie Madison, CD Peacock
Considerations Discuss with your partner, retain the sentimental value of the original ring, consider the cost of the upgrade

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Adding a second diamond

There are many ways to add a second diamond to a wedding ring. One option is to include two additional, slightly smaller diamonds on either side of the first diamond. This keeps the focus on the first and largest diamond, while bringing balance and elegance to the ring. Another option is to vault the centre diamond by hiding an extra stone underneath. This stone will not be visible from a top view, but will add depth to the ring and become visible from an angle. Adding a raised bezel can also increase the size of a diamond or gemstone.

The cost of adding a second diamond will depend on the number and size of stones added, as well as the quality of the diamond. It is important to note that the depth of a wedding ring limits the size of the stone, and larger gems require a deeper band and greater setting depth.

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Upgrading to a larger stone

When considering a larger stone, it is important to assess whether your ring's design can accommodate a bigger stone. Most settings have a bit of "wiggle room" for diamonds that are .1-.7 mm larger than the original stone. However, if you are looking to upgrade to a significantly bigger stone or one of a different shape, you might need to change the setting of your ring. This can be done through a head replacement, which involves cutting off the existing setting and replacing it with a larger one designed for a bigger stone. Alternatively, you can opt for ring replication, where the jeweller creates a 3D computer design with adjusted dimensions for a bigger stone and then casts it using 3D printing.

Once you have determined the size of the new stone, you can consider the diamond's clarity and colour. The clarity refers to how clear the diamond is, with fewer imperfections indicating a higher quality and more expensive stone. As for colour, diamonds can range from darker grey to bright white, with fancy-coloured diamonds on a separate grading scale. If you are open to coloured gemstones, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are beautiful options that will add a unique touch to your ring.

When upgrading to a larger stone, you can either match the quality of your current diamond, upgrade to a nicer stone, or downgrade the quality to get a bigger stone that may be less clear or less white. The price of the stone will depend on its size, quality, and availability. Rare gemstones, such as sphene or padaparadscha sapphire, may be subject to market changes and may not be readily available.

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Resetting the ring in a different metal

Resetting a wedding ring in a different metal is a great way to upgrade your ring. It is a personal and symbolic choice that can reflect your current life circumstances, changes in your personal style, or relationship milestones.

There are many reasons why someone would want to reset their wedding ring. Firstly, it can be a way to modernise an heirloom diamond or enhance the ring's aesthetic with additional stones. Secondly, resetting your ring in a different metal can be a way to commemorate a significant event, such as an anniversary or vow renewal. Additionally, as a marriage progresses, some women may gain the ability to afford a larger diamond, and resetting the ring can be a way to accommodate this. Resetting your ring can also address issues of wear and tear, repairing damage or reinforcing the ring to prevent future issues.

The process of resetting a wedding ring involves changing the design of the ring or altering the setting of the diamond. This can include switching the metal from, for example, yellow gold to white gold, platinum, or rose gold. Resetting your ring in a different metal can also be an opportunity to add personal engravings or designs to the band for a unique touch.

The cost of resetting a wedding ring can vary depending on several factors, including the choice of jeweller, the size of the diamonds, and any additional changes the buyer wants. Resetting a wedding ring can cost anywhere from $80 to $250, but more complex pieces of jewellery will likely cost more. It is recommended that buyers seek out multiple jewellers before resetting to ensure they are getting the best price.

Resetting your wedding ring in a different metal is a great way to give your ring a fresh look and ensure it continues to resonate with you for years to come.

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Replacing due to allergies

If you are experiencing allergies due to your wedding ring, you are not alone. It is estimated that 10% to 15% of the population has some form of metal hypersensitivity. The most common metal allergy is to nickel, but other metals that can cause allergies include cobalt, copper, chromium, and silver.

If you suspect that your wedding ring is causing an allergic reaction, it is recommended that you consult a doctor, particularly a dermatologist or one who specializes in allergies. A doctor will be able to diagnose your allergy and recommend appropriate next steps.

Once you have confirmed the specific metal that is causing your allergy, you can explore options for replacing your wedding ring with a hypoallergenic alternative. Hypoallergenic metals that are less likely to cause skin irritations include pure gold, platinum, palladium, and hypoallergenic alloys. If you wish to continue wearing your original ring, you can consider having its inner surface sealed with a clear protective coating, such as clear nail polish, to prevent the metal from touching your skin. However, this coating will eventually wear off and will need to be reapplied. Another option is to take your ring to a jeweler and have it plated with another type of metal.

Upgrading your wedding ring due to allergies can be an opportunity to not only address the allergy issue but also to adapt to any changes in your life, celebrate milestones, or simply refresh your style. There are countless reasons why people opt for a wedding ring upgrade, and it is a very personal decision that should be made together with your spouse.

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Adding an engraving

When deciding on an engraving, it is important to take your time and not rush the process. You want to pick something that both you and your partner will cherish for years to come. It is also good to remember that you can always engrave your ring later, so you don't have to feel pressured to come up with something right away. If you're feeling stuck, you can seek inspiration from the many online lists of wedding ring engraving ideas.

When it comes to the actual engraving, it is best to choose a reputable jeweler with experience in engraving fine jewelry. The cost of engraving can vary depending on the jeweler, but it typically ranges from $50 to $100. You may find more competitive prices if you opt for a company that also offers ring purchases. It is also important to consider the size and style of your ring, as some rings may not have enough space for a lengthy message or may be too intricate for engraving.

There are many different types of engravings you can choose from. Some popular options include engraving your proposal or wedding date, a meaningful phrase or quote, song lyrics, religious excerpts, or even something humorous like playful care instructions. You can also include non-alphabetic symbols such as coordinates or mathematical references like the infinity symbol. Ultimately, the decision to engrave your wedding ring should be based on your personal preferences and the style of the ring itself.

Frequently asked questions

You can upgrade your wedding ring at any jeweller, but it is beneficial to work with the jeweller who originally created the ring, or find a jeweller who specialises in customisation.

There is no wrong time to upgrade your wedding ring. However, some popular times to upgrade include milestone anniversaries, birthdays, the birth of a child, or vow renewal ceremonies.

Some popular ways to upgrade a wedding ring include resetting the original gemstone in a lower profile setting, adding more stones, or changing the metal type.

The cost of upgrading a wedding ring depends on the changes you want to make. Simple alterations like resizing or adding an engraving are relatively inexpensive, while more significant changes like upgrading the centre stone or altering the setting can be more costly.

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