Another Wedding Ring Question?

I worked at a fine jewelry store and women replaced their rings all the time. Women also replaced old/fake/lost stones from their original wedding rings all the time. Any jeweler should be able to do this no problem.

You can either replace the diamonds, which could be cheaper than buying a whole new ring. Or you can get a new setting, a new center stone and use the original stones in something else.

If you love the ring, I would just replace the stones. You can use a cubic zirconia which will save money, but the brilliance of the stone may look a little off when compared to the actual diamonds around the setting since they won't be as flawless and bright as the cz.

There are conflict free diamonds available if that is important to you. Also, Herkimer diamonds (quartz crystals) are mined in the us and are a little less expensive. You can always order loose stones and take the stone and the ring setting to the jeweler to have them put together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herkimer_diamond

Keep the ring and get the missing stone replaced with a CZ. They look the same, don't cost as much, and don't put money into the DeBeers family's bloody pockets.

Talk to your husband about it. Men actually put more sentiment into these decisions than you might think! If you are attached to the rings, take them to a reputable jeweler and have the stones replaced. The cost will vary depending on the quality of the stones.

You could also have the stones removed from your current ring and have them re-designed with a new center stone into a new ring. For their 25th anniversary, my father bought my mother a new diamond and she didn't know what to do with it b/c she really wanted to keep her original ring. It wasn't fancy, but she wasn't going to turn away the 2-carat stone either! They took her rings to a trusted jeweler who incorporated ALL of the stones (including the original center stone) into a beautiful, very "artistic" ring that intertwines with her wedding band.

Make the decision together and get creative!

Go to a reputable jeweler and find out how much it would cost to replace the diamonds in your current ring. If it is going to cost a lot more than the entire set is worth then you might want to consider get a new set. It is really more an economical issue than anything else.

Do you have any other jewelry that maybe a stone (s) can be taken out of and replaced in your ring? That would save you some $ and maybe still have some sentimental value in the new stones. (or maybe your mom has something she is going to pass down anyway - my mom always says that she is going to divide the diamonds up from her first wedding set - between my sister, brother and me) Failing those ideas - maybe it would be a nice anniversary gift......lucky 13, maybe even renew your vows etc.. If you plan something for lucky 13 - maybe just pop some CZs into the holes (or at least the main one) for now so it doesn't look empty. Good luck!

If you do want to keep the ring you have, you could take it to a jeweler to see about getting new stones put in. Depending on your taste, it may or may not be more expensive than getting a new ring. I've had good experiences with Helzberg Diamonds, if you have those near you. You could also see if Sears has a way to look up your ring with a last name and approximate date of purchase, although even then there might not be much they can do as far as a warranty but it doesn't hurt to ask!
Anyway, I know a ring is just an object and doesn't really say anything about the actual marriage, but I still want mine to look nice and I think unless we were totally hurting for money, I'd want to either refurbish my ring or get a new one too!

If the ring has sentimental value to you, which I'm sure it would - Fix the ring. My now husband gave me a ring after a year of dating and I swear it has the smallest little chip of a diamond in it, but it meant the world to me at the time - and I will never get rid of it. I would suggest that maybe you mention to your hubby how much this ring means to you, but would like, maybe for your anniversary, a newer up to date ring to replace the one that's breaking.

If you want to keep it, replace it. If you want something bigger but still want to keep your ring, wear it on your right hand and go with your husband to pick out a new one. He does not have to pick it out himself. Or, just go with a larger diamond and replace the other missing diamonds.

Did you insure the ring? You may want to look into your homeowner's insurance for this. Do you want to keep the ring? You can either use CZ's or another small diamond in that and maybe add another ring to the set? Or modify that one to accept a bigger diamond? You should definitely talk to your husband and get his opinion too. You don't want to hurt his feelings by asking for a NEW ring if this is very special to him.

Talk with him, suggest maybe a new one for your anniversary or the like. You can still save this one. Put it somewhere it is safe, or in your wedding album or on a string around your wedding photo.

If I were you I would take it to a good jewlery store and have them melt it down and turn it into something new...then you still have it and something new!

To answer your question, yes as your hubby for a new ring...

Your jeweler can show you individual stones and you can select the ones that are closet to yours. Stones have different colors, quality, shine, cut, etc...only trust a professional that does this with a reputable jeweler.

I'd go for a plain band at this point but you need to sit down and discuss this with him. I'm sure Sears cannot do anything about the older ring.

I'm very sentimental as well. My engagement ring and my wedding band are sautered together. The center of my engagement ring was actually 3 pieces of diamond put together to look like a larger marquis cut diamond. It was two flat bottomed triangles and then a baguette horizontally thru the center. Then, there are 3 small circle diamonds in a verticle line on each side of the marquis and then 3 baguettes horizontally next to that. It's unique and gorgeous and I loved it! We celebrated our 10yr wedding anniversary this year and my husband took me to a jewelry store and he had picked out a gorgeous certified next to flawless 1 carat marquis diamond. He told me that when he was 23yrs old, all he could afford was the 3 "pieces" of diamond to make a whole and that he's always wanted me to have a "real" diamond. He told me that after 2 kids and 10yrs of marriage, he was ready for me to have the ring he thought I deserved. I was shocked because I have always adored my ring and the thought of anything else never crossed my mind. The jewler took my ring and literally lifted out the center piece and inserted a new setting with that gorgeous diamond and it was like my ring had an extreme makeover. I was extremely emotional and overwhelmed by the sight of it. The best part is that it is still MY ring....just with a major face lift. I have my original setting in a safe place for my daughter. I picture making the two triangles into a set of earrings for a 13th bday gift or even a little diamond ring. You should talk to your husband about giving your ring a makeover. That way, you still have your same band, but a good jewler can put a brand new middle into it that you and your husband pick out. =0)

Well does he know about it? If so, i'm surprised that he hasn't offered yet. I say after 12 years its definitely time for a nice upgrade :)

ok first the wedding ring is suppose to be a couple thousand because if you get a good one the stones seldom or ever fall out and secondly you have it till you die. So you should always get an expensive piece to last forever. So now your having him rebuy another one which will represent the love you to have. In which the original one should do that and last forever. what I would do since you already have this situation go to ahee jewelers thers one in grosse pointe and another in rochester. Show them your ring so they know what they have to fix and see what they say. They're also a jeweler that can re make jewelry. Good Luck!

AWW, how sad! You could keep the setting and replace the stones. You could even replace them with faux stones...they make them look so real these days...who would know! Even with a receipt from the purchase, unless you bought an insurance policy for stone loss, it doesn't matter if you have the receipt.

I understand the sentimental value, (I'm the same way), but I think it is so chic when I see just a plain wide band on a woman's finger. That says to me that "I don't need a diamond to prove my husband loves me" (even though we all love diamonds). Plus the replacement of your current ring would be a lot cheaper. You could always have the new ring, whatever you choose, blessed by the church you were married in and/or renew your vows with it.

What about taking your existing ring into a jewler and having your ring turned into somrthing else, that way you can still have the sentimental value and a new ring.
A.

I think you should talk to him about it. I'll be married for 10 years in Feb and we are upgrading my diamond this month (there's a special on diamonds on the 29th), and because the other diamond has sentimental value, we're going to make it into a right hand mother's ring with my 4 kids' birthstones included.

If I were in this situation, I would have the stones replaced. Depending on the cost and the funds I had available, I would consider putting in a different type of stone.

To me getting a new ring wouldn't be important. It's the original that has the sentimental value.

I think you should get a new ring if that's what you want to do. You can get a larger ring and just find a great sale. That's what we did for my rings. They total over 3 carats but we got them at 75% off because the store was going out of business. So I have a beautiful set and probably paid less than most other people did for theirs! Keep the original ring because that is irreplacable. Also, insurance probably won't replace it unless you pay your deductible first and depending on the cost it may not be worth it. Good luck!

I would mention to your husband that some of your stones are missing and show it to him and see what he says. Depending on your and his attachment to the ring and your finances you could replace the stones in your current ring or get a new ring made with some of the old stones in it. Either way you should go to a jeweler. Also, many jewlery stores will clean your ring and check the settings whenever you ask, even if you didn't buy it there. It's a good idea to get it checked every year. If your new ring has a value over $5,000 you should get a jewelry rider on your home insurance. It should cover loss or damage to your ring in the future.