Following on - Antique Bands set with Diamonds!



Antique Diamond Set Wedding Bands at Bonner's Jewellers



So, we all might have different views on whether to buy a new or pre-loved wedding ring but what about inherited wedding bands? It's not the nicest subject to think about, but inevitably bands get passed down through families and usually end up stuck in a jewellery box for sentiment's sake.

When my great-gran passed away and my mom inherited her wedding ring she was so young she thought it was creepy so it languished in a box for 40 years. Recently, my mom's own wedding ring had worn so thin it was beginning to cut her finger - it's 22ct (the same as great-gran's) but it was never as heavy. She decided to have them merged into one. I say merged - not melted; there's a big question mark over whether or not you actually get your original gold back when jewellers say they "melt them down to make something new." It's a nice thought but the reality is that 90% of the time they will just weigh your gold and give you something new back of the same weight. It's not cheating you out of anything financially - just cutting corners - but it does misplace the sentimentality. Mom wanted to be certain she was getting her original rings back so they were laid one on top of the other (retaining great-gran's original 1919 hallmark with her own ring fitting over the top.) You can't see the solder join - now they look like one ring - and to set them off she used some diamonds from another inherited ring which was badly worn and had them reset into the band.

It worked so well we've used the same procedure for several customers now - merging two rings into one and sometimes setting stones into the finished item. As long as the gold carats are the same it's usually no problem and it means that inherited bands can be used to give more life to existing wedding rings. No more languishing in a jewellery box!

We've done the same with bands customers have decided to sell and now have a small collection of beautifully preserved pre-1930's wedding rings which have been converted (using small diamonds) to very wearable line or eternity rings! It's a lovely way of owning an antique which can be worn everyday and even personalised if you prefer.

I even have one myself.... ;)

TTFN!