A Generational Gem: Preserving the Sentiment
Someone I know for years reached out to share that her daughter got engaged. The ring they used was an inherited ring from her fiance’s grandmother. It needed to be sized, as it was too big. Also the ring needed to be appraised for insurance purposes.
Her daughter met me at my jeweler to have her finger sized. While the jeweler was working on her ring, we realized the metal was not 14 karat gold. I immediately went to my refiner to test the metal. It turned out to be lower than 14 karat gold, and we couldn’t work on it. That meant we had to pivot.
This has happened in the past. Sometimes you’ll test something you think is gold and is not. When an item is an estate piece, sometimes metals were scarce and they used a lot more silver than gold. So we opted to recreate the ring in 14K yellow gold.
The next step was to remove the diamond, grade it for the appraisal, and reset it into the newly crafted setting. Now, she has a ring that looks just like the original, but in 14K yellow gold. And more importantly, it’s a piece she can wear with confidence and pride for many years to come.
TIP: If you’re looking to make the most out of your inherited jewelry, it’s best if you know the history of your collection. Understanding the karat, type of gemstones, or any other specific details associated with your jewelry, grants both you and your jeweler a greater sense of provenance.
Contact me with any questions.
~ Jane
(212) 923-3328 | jane@jbjewels.com
JB Jewels | Fine Jewelry Redefined
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