[uvware]

I'm have this fake diamond ring that I want to recreate with the real diamonds and white gold. I have no clue on how to approach this or what type of questions to ask the jeweler. If you have any recommendations on what types of questions I should ask, guarantees on quality, refunds, stories, etc. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you!

[JudyKayTee]

I'm have this fake diamond ring that I want to recreate with the real diamonds and white gold. I have no clue on how to approach this or what type of questions to ask the jeweler. If you have any recommendations on what types of questions I should ask, guarantees on quality, refunds, stories, etc. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you!

My husband never purchased "ready made," always designed. You have the advantage of having existig costume jewelry. He would sketch out what he wanted and then take it to the jeweler for a price. They would discuss and write out exactly what was involved. If he was talking about diamonds they covered the 4 c's you hear about - clarity, color, cut, and carats. For gold they covered karat weight, white gold, platinum. I have never had anything silver so that I don't know about.

The jeweler then made a "paste" ring - exactly what the ring would look like but without the stones, to size. Then after that was approved the jeweler would make the ring out of gold, platinum, and then when it was finished my husband would go back and select the stones (if there were stones) from the selection the jeweler had or could get.

Then the jeweler would set the stones and my husband would pay for the ring - or at least the balance of the ring. I think most jewelers charge by the 1/3 - 1/3 when you order, 1/3 when the rough ring is approved, 1/3 upon completion.

It was a fairly long process and you have to be certain you and the jeweler are in agreement every step of the way and you have to be prepared for the time and effort it takes to create the ring once, twice, three times, until it is exactly what you want.

You have to also make sure the jewelry appraisal for insurance purposes specifies it is a one of a kind ring, as well as the value.

[uvware]

My husband never purchased "ready made," always designed. You have the advantage of having existig costume jewelry. He would sketch out what he wanted and then take it to the jeweler for a price. They would discuss and write out exactly what was involved. If he was talking about diamonds they covered the 4 c's you hear about - clarity, color, cut, and carats. For gold they covered karat weight, white gold, platinum. I have never had anything silver so that I don't know about.

The jeweler then made a "paste" ring - exactly what the ring would look like but without the stones, to size. Then after that was approved the jeweler would make the ring out of gold, platinum, and then when it was finished my husband would go back and select the stones (if there were stones) from the selection the jeweler had or could get.

Then the jeweler would set the stones and my husband would pay for the ring - or at least the balance of the ring. I think most jewelers charge by the 1/3 - 1/3 when you order, 1/3 when the rough ring is approved, 1/3 upon completion.

It was a fairly long process and you have to be certain you and the jeweler are in agreement every step of the way and you have to be prepared for the time and effort it takes to create the ring once, twice, three times, until it is exactly what you want.

You have to also make sure the jewelry appraisal for insurance purposes specifies it is a one of a kind ring, as well as the value.

Thank you so much for your insight, this is very helpful

[JudyKayTee]

Thank you so much for your insight, this is very helpful

You have to be really careful or your "vision" can turn out to be a real nightmare! Make sure the jeweler is reputable and does his/her own work, isn't farming the piece out. If he/she is you end up using the jeweler as a go between and don't deal with the artist.

Let us know how the piece turns out - okay?