When my mum passed away 12 years ago, I was given her illusion set diamond ring as a keepsake. I had always loved it and wore it regularly as a reminder of my dear mum. Some years later, I also inherited my grandmother’s engagement ring – a very simple design but featuring a beautiful (and sparkly!) old cut diamond. For quite some time I’d been considering getting my grandmother’s diamond set into my mum’s ring …

Combining the memory of two very special women in one ring

I made several approaches to goldsmiths to get quotes as, at that stage, I had not really worked in gold before and was anxious to tackle such an important remodel on my own. Eventually, I was encouraged by a local jeweller to do it with her support.

The remodel involved cutting out the old claw setting and making a new bezel collet. This is basically a small tube into which the diamond will be housed sitting on a smaller, lower tube which holds it level and in place. I re-used 18 carat gold from a ring that had belonged to my great grandmother for this! After soldering the collet to the existing ring shank, the very top edge was filed down so that just a small amount showed over the girdle which is the widest part of the cut stone. The edge was then bevelled, the stone set, and the top edge of the setting was pushed over to hold it in place.

Working alongside another jeweller was a real joy!

I won’t deny, it was nerve wracking at times working on something with such sentimental value to me personally but, resetting my Grandma’s diamond into a new setting (made using my great grandmother’s gold) in my mum’s ring has brought not three generations together but four! How is that for an heirloom piece?

Working alongside another jeweller with more varied experience was a real joy. Mel gave me enough support to allow me to carry out the job but certainly didn’t do it for me. Her patience and tutoring were pitched perfectly to encourage me to be brave, bold and to ‘go for it’ whilst still leaving me feeling supported and safe. I gained valuable experience and knowledge which I have since used in other work and I am now regularly using gold in my bespoke designs.

“I wear the ring all the time which I know my mum, grandma and great grandma would all be delighted about but most importantly, I absolutely love wearing it knowing that in doing so, I keep them and my memories of them together and closely connected to me..”

〜 Me