Key Takeaways
- Couples may choose to upgrade their wedding ring for both practical and aesthetic reasons.
- Your trusted jeweller should be able to advise you on the best choices for a new design.
- The new design may involve incorporating materials from your previous wedding ring.
- The new wedding ring should suit both your fashion preferences and lifestyle.
What Does It Mean To Upgrade A Wedding Ring?
Although wedding rings are often thought of as being pieces of jewellery meant to be worn for life, there may be times when you wish to modify or upgrade your design. This can be for several reasons. Your current design may no longer fit your lifestyle. For example, for couples who are highly active, designs that are larger or more bulky may no longer be practical. In other cases, some people may wish for a style upgrade to something more in vogue.
The project of upgrading your wedding ring, engagement ring, or any other piece of custom jewellery often involves a meeting with your jeweller to discuss various options, such as whether to replace stones or redo the entire design.
Why Do Couples Choose To Upgrade?
Milestone Anniversaries & Life Events
One of the most popular times to upgrade an engagement ring or wedding ring is during certain milestone anniversaries, such as the 10th, 20th, or 30th anniversary. This can be an exceptional opportunity to reflect on your journey together and create something new and meaningful. This often involves using the diamonds or stones from your original wedding ring or engagement ring and incorporating them into a brand-new design.
Evolving Style & Personal Taste
Just like with fashion in general, styles change. If you got your wedding ring many years ago, chances are your tastes have evolved, and you may be looking to create something more modern. In this case, it is helpful to bring your new ideas to your jeweller to discuss ways of using your existing wedding ring in a new design. This could involve melting down the gold and casting a new ring or using your stones. Another option, of course, is to create a completely new wedding ring and simply hang onto your previous one, or use its stones and metal to create a completely new piece.
Financial Growth & Opportunity
Another popular reason that couples may choose to upgrade their engagement ring is due to increased financial opportunities that often come over time. This can involve upgrading your diamond to a larger or higher-quality stone.
When Is The Right Time To Upgrade Your Wedding Ring?
Sentimental Vs. Practical Timing
As mentioned, upgrading your wedding ring for an upcoming anniversary can be a meaningful option. In this case, it’s always important to allow time for the ring’s creation. We often recommend 6 to 8 weeks for most designs. At other times, you may wish to upgrade your jewellery spontaneously, based on changes in your style preferences.
Special Occasions That Inspire Upgrades
Aside from anniversaries, other special occasions may warrant an upgrade to your engagement ring or wedding ring. This could involve events such as the birth of a child or another significant family milestone. In this case, some couples may choose to acquire a new ring, such as a family heirloom, to be worn alongside their engagement and wedding rings. Family rings often feature a variety of birthstones to represent the different family members.
Options For Upgrading Your Engagement Or Wedding Ring
Upgrading The Centre Stone
When it comes to an engagement ring upgrade, the most popular modification is an upgrade to a larger or differently shaped centre stone. This can also involve replacing the centre diamond with a different type of precious gem, such as a ruby or sapphire. This can often be done with minimal modification to the existing design and may require a new setting to accommodate the larger stone.
With the advent of lab-created diamonds, this option is becoming increasingly common due to the cost-effectiveness of lab diamonds. In this case, couples may switch out stones of 0.50–1 ct to larger stones of 2–4 cts.
Redesigning The Ring Setting
Another option for upgrading your engagement or wedding ring is to redesign the whole setting. As mentioned previously, your jeweller can incorporate the gold or gems from your previous ring. In this case, consider the stone shapes and sizes of your current ring when planning your new design.
Often, engagement rings and wedding rings are designed to complement each other. You may want to redesign both rings so that they fit together properly once again. In other cases, you may simply redesign one of the rings in a manner that allows it to match with the previous ring.
Creating A Ring Stack
In some instances, you may want to simply add to your collection rather than totally change your engagement or wedding rings. In this case, you can create a second band to fit on the other side of your engagement ring. This has been a very popular option when it comes to anniversaries and other special events. Often, the new ring resembles the wedding ring quite closely.
What Should You Do With The Original Ring?
One of the common questions that comes up when couples wish to upgrade their wedding rings is what to do with the original ring. As previously discussed, one option may be to incorporate the original rings into the new design by utilizing the gold and diamonds. However, in other cases, the previous materials may not be usable. In this case, you can either hang onto your previous ring and wear it as part of a stack, or you may use the materials from this ring as part of an entirely new piece of custom jewellery.
How To Decide If An Upgrade Is Right For You
Engagement rings and wedding bands are generally designed to be worn for life. For that reason, an upgrade should be done with consideration. Are you wanting to simply change to a more trending style? In this case, you need to balance the sentimental importance of keeping the original design with the excitement of having something fresh and new. If you find that your original ring is no longer practical due to lifestyle changes, then this is something to discuss with your jeweller.
Like with any custom jewellery project, it’s always essential to have a clear vision for what you would like to accomplish, as this will ensure that you have a finished product you’ll love.
Why Omori Diamonds Is The Jeweller For Your Upgrade
As a premier designer and creator of fine engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewellery in Winnipeg, we specialize in working with clients to create something special. We also have access to an excellent selection of diamonds and precious gems that can be used in your ring upgrade.
Contact Us
If you would like to upgrade your engagement ring or wedding ring or begin a brand-new design, contact Omori Diamonds today! For custom wedding rings and wedding bands in Winnipeg, we’re the specialists!