hi everyone, i've just started hanging around in the jewelry subforum for a few days now. i went thru all 171 pages of 'engagement rings-what do yours look like?' thread! i really want to change my e-ring at some point, and I was wondering how does upgrades work? I can't upload pics of my ring bc my dh is still trying to fix the pc (i'm on my laptop), but i have a 1.01 ct round solitaire. Do you trade in your current ring for something bigger? What about the setting? Do you trade that in to? Do you have to go back to the same jeweler? How much approximately does it cost to go .25 carat or .5 carat? would there be a noticeable difference? i also was thinking about maybe just changing the setting (if upgrade is not affordable) to a halo setting. Would you recommend that on a 1ct round? Thanks! Any help or advice would be awesome!
What to do with orig. e-ring after you've upgraded?
- Thread starter Lola
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Hi BabyK, I don't think there are any "rules" on upgrades. You can go to a different jeweler, trade in your diamond or buy a brand new one and change your setting as often as you want! My ring was upgraded a few months ago and at the time our jeweler told my DH that you need to size up at least .5 carat to notice a real difference, but I know girls who upgraded less and still saw a difference. I had a 1 carat princess and went up to 1.7 round with a halo and the difference is HUGE.
I would recommend you visit a few other places to get more information. pricescope is a great online resource and you will be able to find out a ton there. I don't know where you live, but if you live near a jewelry mart that's also a great place to start.
I would recommend you visit a few other places to get more information. pricescope is a great online resource and you will be able to find out a ton there. I don't know where you live, but if you live near a jewelry mart that's also a great place to start.
I agree that there are no rules. Some people buy new settings for their existing diamonds. Some people buy a new, larger stone and setting. Some people buy a new stone and find a way to incorporate parts of their previous setting into the new ring/s. It really is up to you. An affordable upgrade is generally to get a new setting for your current stone, either halo or another style you like.
Look around, price settings and stones and talk with a jeweler you trust. If you don't see a setting that is just right for you, you can almost always have it made for you.
Look around, price settings and stones and talk with a jeweler you trust. If you don't see a setting that is just right for you, you can almost always have it made for you.
I agree, there are no rules. I didn't so much "upgrade" on a bigger more elaborate scale but I did change it up a bit to something nicer. I did what HauteMama suggested,
I went to the same jewel and got to take my original solitaire out and exchange it (I got 80% of what I paid for the solitaire) for my new one. I bought a new setting and had the new diamond put into that ring. I kept my old ring (which has no diamond in it now) and will keep it for sentimental reasons. I may put a gemstone in it later. I love my "upgrade" its everything I've ever wanted. And although we did only get to put 80% of the diamond (so we lost 20%) and even though we paid a bit more for some surrounding diamonds and a new band etc, I love my ring!! It's the most amazing ring I've ever laid my eyes on in my eyes. My ring does not only speak to me now, it's yelling at me. Hehee!!
Here is my old setting:
And here is my new one:
HauteMama said:
I went to the same jewel and got to take my original solitaire out and exchange it (I got 80% of what I paid for the solitaire) for my new one. I bought a new setting and had the new diamond put into that ring. I kept my old ring (which has no diamond in it now) and will keep it for sentimental reasons. I may put a gemstone in it later. I love my "upgrade" its everything I've ever wanted. And although we did only get to put 80% of the diamond (so we lost 20%) and even though we paid a bit more for some surrounding diamonds and a new band etc, I love my ring!! It's the most amazing ring I've ever laid my eyes on in my eyes. My ring does not only speak to me now, it's yelling at me. Hehee!!
Here is my old setting:
And here is my new one:
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Wow Missy - you have such a patient hubby to be! 
If i ever dreamed of suggesting changing my stone before we are even married i think id quickly find myself 'un-engaged'! 
What are the specs on your new baby? Is it princess? Mine is a princess ... luckily it suits me cause i can imagine if i had told my boy that i wanted it and then got it (he proposed with the stone and we set it together) and didnt like it he'd be upset.
If i ever dreamed of suggesting changing my stone before we are even married i think id quickly find myself 'un-engaged'! What are the specs on your new baby? Is it princess? Mine is a princess ... luckily it suits me cause i can imagine if i had told my boy that i wanted it and then got it (he proposed with the stone and we set it together) and didnt like it he'd be upset.
If you are going to upgrade your stone, I would suggest getting a round shape. Top down, it will look larger than princess, emerald, asscher, or cushion cuts. There is a comparison sheet comparing how big a diamond will look by different diamond shape--it's in the reference section.
I agree that a stone needs to be about a half carat larger to really see a size difference. I've upgraded twice, and each time sold my old ring back and had the credit applied to the new ring (at the same jeweler). The first time, they took the whole ring as it had 2 teardrop diamonds beside the solitaire, kind of embedded in the band. The second time, the jeweler took only the diamond and left me with the setting. Each time I got approximately what I'd paid for the 'old' diamond, but enough years had passed that the value of a dollar had decreased to mean that I didn't REALLY get what I paid for the diamonds.
I'm up to a 3.5 carat diamond now, so the next time I'll go for a new setting, but stick with my diamond. A new setting can really refresh a diamond, I don't think it's necessary to go for a bigger diamond with each upgrade.
I'm up to a 3.5 carat diamond now, so the next time I'll go for a new setting, but stick with my diamond. A new setting can really refresh a diamond, I don't think it's necessary to go for a bigger diamond with each upgrade.
Thanks for all your responses! I really appreciate it since I don't really know much about this kind of stuff. Originally I was just looking for a cocktail ring and the next thing I know I'm on the e-ring thread and got hooked looking at everyone's lovely rings. Now I want to change the way my e-ring looks. My dh picked it out himself. We had never talked about rings. I mean I wouldn't even know what I would've liked back then, but I really did like what he picked out a lot. Now fast foward 7 yrs, I kind of what something different. I really need to do some research. I'm in NY and if anyone has any suggestions to jewelers or places to go, I would love that! Last question, for those whose traded in their diamond, do you usually get back the original amount that was spent on it?
Yeah that's what I would do! I'd either give it to them when they turned 18 or 21 or save it to give it to them in my will as a family heirloom... I would have a hard time parting with the actual diamond my DH gave me, even if I started wearing a bigger one one day!
I asked him if I could have it reset (not traded up) and he got all funny about even that! Said he spent a lot of time picking it out etc.... I may never get my upgrade so I might have to pour all my lovin' into my VCA collection!
