Granny’s diamond ring to necklace redesign
Phoebe inherited some jewellery including her grandmother’s stunning engagement ring. She wanted to wear the diamond in a different way and the family asked me to transform it into a necklace.
At such a significant carat size, we decided to have the diamond tested whilst it was loose, so the finished jewellery could be accompanied by a diamond report. With so many lab created diamonds on the market nowadays, it is worth the investment to commission an globally trusted Gem Report to accompany any valuable natural gemstone or piece of jewellery.
The necklace design honoured the original ring, with a 6-claw setting in 18ct yellow gold, but the diamond revealed an interesting mystery under testing …
The impressive 2.5ct diamond had been clarity enhanced - a process where a laser drills into a stone to blast away any impurities - such as bits of carbon which would show up as visible dark specks within such a sizeable diamond.
You can see the drill marks under the microscope in the images below. Thing is, this laser technique only became a readily available process in the ‘90s, and Granny probably got engaged in the ‘60s; so we can conclude that she did what I did, and went for a serious diamond upgrade, maybe to celebrate a landmark anniversary, or just because she could! - an ‘engagement ring 2.0’ as it were.
It’s a very popular way for your engagement ring to better represent you as a couple now. See my blog post about engagement ring upgrades here
Yellow gold diamond solitaire ring
The diamond is dismounted before it went for testing
Diamond under microscope
Diamond under microscope
The finished gold necklace
The yellow gold solitaire diamond necklace
The necklace with the diamond report
Things to consider when you want to commission bespoke piece of jewellery:
Budget
What would you like to spend? Once you know what you would like to spend, we can discuss possible options. My designs are adaptable to fit a budget, but it is important to remember that many pieces of off-the-shelf jewellery are made in set designs and to make them quickly they are made from pre-cast metal components and uniform calibrated gems. Bear in mind that bespoke pieces are hand-made to suit the individual gemstones and diamonds, which takes considerable craftsmanship and time, and is priced accordingly.
For bespoke commissions I charge a design fee of £250+VAT up-front and when the design and quote of the piece is agreed, I ask for the balance before it goes into production.
Family jewellery
If sentimental gemstones or jewellery are languishing in your safe (or sock drawer!), perhaps it is time to think about redesigning them into something you’ll love to wear.
Timeline
Bespoke jewellery takes time and sometimes there are many steps involved in the creation process: Briefing, design, sourcing gemstones, making, setting, hallmarking and polishing the finished piece. Communication is key, and if decisions are made quickly, the process will be much faster. If you're not sure what you are looking for, we can discuss your ideas and help you on your way. Get in touch and we will start the process of making something beautiful that can be cherished and worn forever.
Design process
Once we have decided on a budget and an estimated delivery date, we can plan in the designs. The more information you can give me, the better. But we can discuss the recipient and their loves, interests and life, that was I can help design the perfect piece!
Vouchers
You can also purchase a gift voucher in my shop that can be used in full or part payment for a bespoke design.