SPECIAL NOTE: WE CAN REDESIGN OR RESEST YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING USING YOUR GOLD AND DIAMONDS TO CREATE ANYTHING YOU WISH, from pavé to halo to a low bezel setting perfect for your active lifestlye.
Looking to work with an awesome small artisan studio with excellent cred? Call us at 888-733-5238 or email info (at) reflectivejewelry.com for a FREE, no-pressure consultation. —Marc Choyt, co-owner
Updated 5/23/2022
If you have an old ring or jewelry that no longer appeals to your personal style, and you’re looking for a jeweler, you’ve found the right website!
For the past twenty-six years, resetting custom engagement rings has been our specialty.
Because of our expertise, you can choose any redesigned engagement ring style. French pavé, prongs, cluster, channel flush, or bezel setting — we can make it all.
But it gets even better:
We can also reuse your old gold, whether that be a wedding ring passed down through the family, or transforming an old gold bracelet and ring into something that you really love. Just take a look at this before and after photo:
Or this one:
Using your material means you pay only for our shop time.
If you have extra gold, we’ll even purchase it at 93% of its spot value to apply to your project. If you don’t have enough gold, we can provide the most ethically sourced gold in the world: Fairtrade Gold. We’re the only certified Fairtrade Gold jeweler in the USA.
As artisan makers, we’re always willing to help you figure out what’s best for your engagement ring redesign.
Below are some images of projects that we’ve chosen to illustrate the range of what’s possible, followed by a description of our artisan techniques and next steps for moving forward.
Part 1: Resetting Engagement Rings Before And After Photos
Let’s dive right in with a few photos of upgraded engagement rings before and after.
First, a modification of one of our in-house designs:
We made this unique bezel-set engagement ring by melting down the metal before forming and shaping the design. It was made entirely by hand.
The customer provided us with this stunning diamond to reset. We love how it turned out!
This next project is a somewhat simpler design. But again, it began with melting down the rings on the left to create the piece on the right. We provided the diamond from a carbon neutral lab grown source, though we can also provide mined Canadian diamonds.
This engagement ring was made by hand in our studio. We added a hammered texture, per our customer’s request.
The two designs above were all made by hand in our Santa Fe, NM studio. But this next design, which involved resetting three diamonds passed down through the family, was made using CAD/CAM computer rendering.
Here’s the initial rendering:
We show the final product in this one minute video below of our customers receiving the ring:
One big reason we were chosen for this reset diamond project was that the client wanted Fairtrade Gold. We’re the only certified Fairtrade Gold jeweler in the entire USA:
You can learn all about Fairtrade Gold, the most precious gold in the world, here.
[ If you're feeling inspired, why wait?? I'm here to answer your questions, with no obligation! Call me at 888-733-5238 or email info (at) reflectivejewelry.com ]
Best Engagement Rings for Your Active Lifestyle
If you are someone who wants to lower the setting of their diamond, we generally recommend a bezel setting, which can be placed down in the shank (band) of the ring.
Our open mount setting — which we can use with any of our rings — is one of our most popular low profile bezel set engagement ring styles for those seeking engagement rings for an active lifestyle.
With our low set open rope engagement ring, we can make the border ridges equal to the sides, make it two tone, modify the shank to any design — basically, whatever custom change you’d like. See more variations here.
Here’s what’s important:
If you are specifically looking at engagement rings for active lifestyles, a bezel set engagement ring is definitely a great option. A bezel setting is more sturdy than prongs — which can sometimes be damaged by rough activities.
Plus: with a low setting (such as in our open mount design), you can be sure your ring won’t snag on clothing or impede you on your next hike!
Here’s another example of our open mount:
This custom designer engagement ring features our signature two tone coloration, here combining white and rose gold. The stunning (and ethically-sourced!) Aquamarine at center simply glows in this mount.
Of course: bezel settings also work well in more “traditional” designs. Check out this reset diamond ring redesign:
The center stone diamond in the “After” photo is set down into the band, making it “low profile.”
Unique Bezel Set Engagement Rings
These photos will give you an idea of our creativity — starting with some off-beat and quirky designs which were made entirely by hand in our studio.
This first client requested a free-flowing, organic design. She also wanted a low profile bezel set engagement ring.
So, for this remounting diamonds job, we first removed the gemstones from the rings on the left. Then we melted the gold, rolled it out, and fabricated the design on the right:
You might be wondering:
What if I have an old silver spoon, gold baby bracelet, and other odds and ends?
We can work with that!
Just check out this next example of another unique bezel set engagement ring…in which we started with (you guessed it!) a silver spoon and a gold baby bracelet. Her diamond ring redesign is truly distinct:
Here’s the video of our customer receiving her new ring!
I picked these two atypical reset diamond projects just to demonstrate that our jewelers can work with unconventional ideas to create your unique bezel set engagement ring.
[ Deciding on the best engagement ring setting for you can be tricky — but you don't have to do it alone! Give me a call at 888-733-5238 or email info (at) reflectivejewelry.com ]
Redesigning Engagement Rings and Resetting Diamonds
Now, check out these next photos — which continue the theme of remounting diamonds in low profile engagement rings.
We removed the diamonds in the rings to the left when redesigning this engagement ring bridal set. We reset the square diamond and added additional diamonds, flush setting them as accents.
Below is a good example of how we can turn something ugly into something beautiful when we reset gemstones! This customer sent us their gold and gems, and together we worked out this design:
This redesigned engagement ring features diamonds from several generations of women, all set in gold that had been in the family for decades.
This next redesigned engagement ring before and after photo involved another custom engagement ring design. It’s another example of a low profile bezel set engagement ring for active lifestyles, and a variation of one of our own designs: our Aria ring.
As in the reset engagement rings shown above, we first removed the gemstones. Then, we melted the gold, rolled it out, cut out the metal and reset the sapphire and two diamonds in the new ring.
Redesigned Engagement Rings After Loss
While many of our redesigned engagement ring projects mark happy occasions, sometimes we create pieces to symbolize difficult transitions.
In the next two projects below, we designed rings for women who had lost their beloved husbands. Both are also good examples of photos of how we can reset engagement rings.
Above, we combined the wedding ring of a customer’s late husband with her engagement ring, melting all the gold together to create another low profile bezel set engagement ring.
Here’s an insider tip:
Designs made entirely by hand, such as many of those above, have a certain energy to them — they’re infused with an artisan’s deep love of craft, a rare thing in today’s high-tech world.
Still, you might have a specific vision for your engagement ring redesign that really would be best accomplished using computer modeling. You’re in luck, because we're also experts with CAD/CAM software!
CAD/CAM ring design has the advantage of being able to see exactly what your ring will look like before it’s fabricated. For this project below, we went back and forth through many iterations. Here are a few of the early mock-ups:
Eventually, we ended up with the ring below:
This unique setting symbolizes a simultaneous wholeness within a brokenness — honoring and celebrating the couple’s many happy years together.
There are definite advantages to going the CAD/CAM route in redesigning engagement rings — as mentioned, we always first show you the photo-realistic renderings, from which we can make modifications.
However, as makers and artisans, the tried and true sketch often suffices when resetting diamonds. We don’t have the before photo for the ring below, but this illustration below shows yet another redesigned engagement ring project:
Here’s a 23 second video of the customers' response upon receiving the ring above.
If you’re interested in custom jewelry, here’s an overview of our custom jewelry design process.
Here’s the bottom line:
Whatever redesign engagement project you have in mind, we can do it!
Accessorize your current ring with gemstone accents? Replacing stones in a ring? Remounting diamonds, or using old diamonds in a new ring? We can do it all, even reusing the actual gold from the ring or rings that you want to keep in your family for generations.
[ If you’ve gotten this far into our article, why not just contact us about your project? There’s no charge for consultation, and I’ll give you a price quote. Call me at 888-733-5238, or email info (at) reflectivejewelry.com ]
Part 2: Redesigning Engagement Ring Fabrication Methodologies
How are we able to accomplish what we do?
Our methods for resetting engagement rings with your own gold all begin with fire! (And a yawn from Delta, our Master Goldsmith Michelle’s dog. 🐾)
Once we have melted your gold into an ingot, we then begin the old engagement ring redesign project.
I’ll help determine if your redesigning engagement ring project should be done with CAD/CAM or fabricated by hand. It really depends on the exact style you prefer and how we're resetting your diamonds.
This section explores both options.
Our four jewelers have over NINETY combined years of experience working on redesigned engagement ring projects.
If we are making your reset engagement ring project by hand, we create our own sheet and wire from your gold, working with hand-forged anvils, rolling mills, and banging out forms on domed steel cow horn mallets. Our specialty maker tools are used to cut metal by hand, forge designs, and stamp out motifs.
We take the melted ingot, roll it out into wire and then shape it into a ring:
From there, we can make a flat topped or domed ring of any size or width. Here’s an example of each, shown in 6mm wide:
Explore our Classic Comfort Fit Wedding Bands here.
How Much Does it Cost to Remake a Ring?
This process above can take a lot of time depending on alloy issues that come up. We charge as little as $495 for a yellow gold ring, and your new ring can be any width or size. The charge for remaking an old ring with your gold is the same regardless of your redesigned engagement ring project.
After this comes choosing a mount and resetting diamonds, which we do by hand:
The cost for resetting diamonds really depends on the setting and complexity. It can be as low as $39 each for 2mm melee (small accent stones) — but costs for resetting larger diamonds in bezel or prong settings depend on the style and size of the stone.
Our open mount style, one of many of our unique bezel set engagement rings, takes a lot of time and expertise. We charge $450.
Our Open Engagement Ring is shown here with a Sapphire and Diamond accents. View more Open Mount designs here.
Resetting Diamond Rings Using CAD/CAM
If your reset diamond project involves pavé setting, channel setting, or an eternity band style, we will create photo realistic renderings for you, as shown earlier.
Sometimes we do carve waxes by hand, but often the most cost-effective way to go is to carve them mechanically.
For this reset diamond project, we carved the mount and ring separately. Then, we brought them together:
Diamond resetting cost for this type of project varies, from $650 up — depending on the nature of the engagement ring redesign.
Part 3: Our Reputation And Your Reset Diamond Project
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This is our gallery in Santa Fe, NM. We’ve been in business since 1995, and regularly perform engagement ring resetting for Albuquerque, Santa Fe — and indeed, for people all over the country.
There’s nothing more important when working with a jeweler than reputation and trust — particularly when resetting diamonds in a ring. Check out our 165+ Five-Star Google reviews.
Our workshop and gallery are located in the same building in Santa Fe, NM. As the only certified Fairtrade Gold jeweler in the USA, we were named Santa Fe’s Green Business of the Year. A top trade national trade magazine called us “The Best of the Best.”
Check out this 90-second video — or visit us in person and we’ll give you your own guided tour:
With us, you’ll get to work with a small studio of just six people. You’ll never be greeted by “this call is being recorded for quality assurance…” Unless I’m on vacation, I, Marc, co-owner of the company, am generally your contact point.
Next Steps For Your Resetting Engagement Ring Project:
If you have any questions or would like to get started, email me at info (at) ReflectiveJewelry.com, or call me on my cell at 888-733-5238.
Though we are based in Santa Fe, NM; we work with long-distance customers across the entire US and even Canada.
Another option is to fill out our Custom design form.
When you do send in old jewelry for repurposing, I recommend using the US Postal Service. They deliver directly to our store every day, and we sign for packages. If you have a question on how much to insure for, I am happy to help.
Send your material to:
Marc Choyt
Reflective Jewelry
912 Baca St.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Marc Choyt is president of Reflective Jewelry, a designer jewelry company founded in 1995. He pioneered the ethical sourcing movement in North America and is also the only certified Fairtrade Gold jeweler in the United States. Choyt’s company was named Santa Fe New Mexico’s Green Business of the Year in 2019, and he has been honored with several awards for his efforts to support ethical jewelry. His ebook, Ethical Jewelry Exposé: Lies, Damn Lies and Conflict Free Diamonds, is available online. Choyt can be reached on Twitter at @Circlemanifesto or by email at marc(at)reflectivejewelry.com.