If you want to upgrade your engagement ring, you’re not alone. Many people choose to upgrade after they’ve had their ring for some time. People often upgrade because their style has evolved, so their original ring just no longer fits in with their wardrobe. Another common reason for upgrading is an increase in disposable income. If a person has a bigger budget than they did when they got engaged, they may want to invest in an upgrade that offers more glamour.
Ultimately, many people decide to upgrade their bridal jewelry— but what should you do once you know you want to upgrade? Find out below as we go over the six steps you should take to upgrade your engagement ring.
First things first, you need to narrow in on exactly why you want to upgrade your engagement ring. Are you unhappy with your ring’s center stone? Or is there something you don’t love about its precious metal, side stones, proportions, design details, or comfort? Do you want to change certain aspects of your ring or would you want to get an entirely new ring? Are there any sentimental elements of your original ring that you want to preserve?
It’s important to ask yourself these types of questions because knowing the answers will make the upgrade process much easier. If you’re sure about what you do and do not like about your current ring, you’ll be much more confident as you pick out what you want for your new upgrade. Knowing exactly why you want to upgrade will also prepare you for the next step in the process: having a conversation about upgrading with your partner.
Before you start seriously moving forward with upgrading your ring, make sure you communicate your thoughts with your partner. Your original ring was picked out with love and care, and it may have sentimental value to your partner as well. Deciding to change it without having a conversation with your partner first could be hurtful, so make sure to include them in the process.
When you talk to your partner about wanting to upgrade your ring, explain why you want to upgrade. When you communicate this, it’s a good idea to make sure your partner understands how much you appreciate and love the ring they proposed with. You can love and appreciate your original ring, but simultaneously feel ready for a change. Let your partner know this and be open to any ideas they may have about your ring upgrade.
Step 3, deciding what you want for your new ring, is arguably the most fun part of the upgrade process. Now’s the time to daydream about what your perfect ring will look like, look at plenty of beautiful inspiration images, and pick out the exact details you want for your ring. What’s not to love?
For most people, this step takes the longest, but remember not to rush the process. Just like with your original ring, you’ll be wearing your new ring for many years to come. So, take your time when deciding how you want to upgrade.
If you need ideas engagement ring upgrade ideas, here are five of the most common ways to upgrade:
One of the most popular ways to upgrade an engagement ring is to upgrade the carat weight and/or quality of your center stone. This is an excellent option for people who love their engagement ring’s style but find themselves wanting more impact or shimmer. By swapping out your center diamond or gemstone, you can keep everything you adore about your ring while making it even more eye-catching.
If you want to upgrade your center stone, know that you don’t have to stick with the same gemstone shape when you upgrade. For example, if you have a round brilliant cut diamond engagement ring, but you’ve decided that cushion cut diamonds are more your style, you can certainly choose that new diamond shape when you upgrade. You also don’t have to stick with the same type of gemstone when you pick out your new stone. Perhaps you have a diamond ring right now, but you’ve been dreaming of having a more colorful center stone, like a blue sapphire, a ruby, or a colored diamond. You shouldn’t feel limited to just selecting a larger version of your original diamond or gemstone when you upgrade. Budget permitting, your upgrade can feature any gemstone you want, so feel free to explore new center stone possibilities.
Another very popular engagement ring upgrade option is placing your original center stone in an entirely new setting. This is a fantastic option for anyone who wants to update the style of their ring. Putting your center stone into a new setting is like changing its clothing. A new outfit can make it look completely different. Selecting a new setting also tends to be more affordable when compared to upgrading your center stone. Usually, an engagement ring’s center stone is much more expensive than its setting. So, changing your setting can be a budget-friendly way to feel like you have an entirely new ring.
If you’re choosing a new setting for your original stone, the sky’s the limit in terms of the design details you can choose for your upgrade. You could go from a simple solitaire to a glamorous halo, a modern white gold split shank to a traditional yellow gold three-stone engagement ring, and so on. Spend some time browsing all the different ring styles and let your heart guide you toward your perfect new ring setting.
If you want to keep your center stone and change your setting, another upgrade option is to add to your existing ring setting. There’s more than one way to do this. One option is to purchase wedding ring enhancers, also known as ring guards. These are stackable rings that are designed to look like an extension of your current ring. Another option is to have accents added to your current ring. These could be extra diamonds on your ring’s band, hidden diamonds on your center stone’s setting, or birthstone accents that can add a pop of color. Depending on the design of your setting, you may also be able to make significant changes to your original ring’s design. For example, a jeweler would generally be able to add side stones to a solitaire engagement ring if you wanted to create a three-stone style.
Sometimes, you may not be able to use any part of your original engagement ring for your ring upgrade. Say you want a white gold blue sapphire ring with a pavé diamond band. If your original ring is a rose gold diamond solitaire, you won’t be able to use any of those materials in your new ring. In that case, you’ll need to choose an entirely new engagement ring setting and center stone.
If you’ll be shopping for an entirely new ring, you have a decision to make about your original ring. Do you want to sell or trade in your old ring and put its value toward your upgrade, or do you want to keep your ring and also get a second ring? This can be a difficult choice to make, but know that there’s nothing wrong with either option. Simply weigh your options with care and focus on what’s right for you as a couple at this time.
If you’re going to be swapping out your center stone, your setting, or your entire original ring, you’ll probably want to sell all or part of your old ring in order to put its value toward your upgrade. Unless the ring is a family heirloom (or has some other type of strong sentimental value), most couples will sell their old ring before purchasing their new one.
If you’ll be selling all or part of your ring, you should have what you’ll be selling appraised. This will help you understand the value of what you’ll be selling, which you can factor into your upgrade budget.
Now it’s time to start thinking about your timeline. There’s no right or wrong time to upgrade an engagement ring, but there may be a better time for you. You could choose to have your upgrade ready in time to celebrate a special occasion, like an anniversary, a birthday, a birth, or a vow renewal. You could also decide to upgrade when you’ve reached a certain upgrade savings goal. Then, of course, you can always decide to upgrade on any ordinary day, “just because.” Every relationship is unique and how you want to time your upgrade is very personal.
The last step in the engagement ring upgrade process is to meet with your jeweler and finalize all your upgrade details. If you have a jeweler with a trade-in program, you may be upgrading with them in order to take advantage of whatever perks they offer. For example, couples who purchased their ring’s center diamond or gemstone from 1-800-LooseDiamonds can take advantage of our generous diamond and gem upgrade program. In most cases, we can offer 100% of the value of your diamond or gemstone purchase in credit towards your new diamond or gem.
Regardless of whether you bought your original engagement ring from us or not, we’d love for you to consider 1-800-LooseDiamonds when you’re ready to upgrade your ring. Whether you want to upgrade your center stone, your setting, or your entire ring, our expert jewelers are ready to help you create your dream upgrade. You can start browsing our exceptional selection of diamonds, gemstones, engagement rings, and wedding bands here in our online store. You can get in touch with us through our website or by visiting our showroom in the heart of the world-famous Los Angeles Jewelry District.