Why And When To Upgrade Your Engagement Ring
The truth is that not all couples keep the same ring throughout their marriage. Reasons for upgrading the engagement ring vary from person to person. But some of the most common reasons include:
- Special occasions: Some couples choose special occasions to upgrade their engagement ring such a milestone anniversary or when renewing vows.
- Financial reasons: Upgrading the ring can also reflect positive change and progression in your life and relationship as a couple. As many people get married in their 20s, they likely have greater financial power later in life and potentially very different taste in jewellery. Some people chose to upgrade their engagement ring once they have hit a specific income or after a promotion or pay rise. Others choose to do so after they have hit certain financial targets such as paying off their mortgage. Either way, when a couple has more earning power than when the ring was purchased, this can be a catalyst for buying the ring that they could perhaps not afford back in the day.
How To Upgrade Your Engagement Ring
You may just be interested in upgrading a part of your ring such as its centre store or maybe want to completely upgrade your engagement ring. The upgrade process does not need to be stressful or extremely costly. Our engagement ring experts are here to guide you through how to upgrade your engagement ring so you can soon have a timeless ring that you'll always love.
How to upgrade your engagement ring in 3 steps:
1. Decide Which Elements To Upgrade
To upgrade your engagement ring, you must first decide what elements of your ring you want to change. There are various elements of the engagement ring to take into consideration including its centre stone, side stones and setting. You may want to alter just one of these elements or purchase an entirely new ring, tailored to your exact tastes. Repurposing pieces of your ring, such as its diamonds, are a great way to cut upgrade costs while being able to retain sentimental value.
The centre stone is typically the most prominent element of the engagement ring. If you plan to upgrade your engagement ring with a new centre stone, you will need to familiarize yourself with diamond grading terms so as to ensure that you get your perfect diamond.
Below are the 4Cs of diamond grading:
- Colour Grade: This refers to the amount of colour a diamond has. The less colour a white diamond has, the greater its value. White diamonds are graded from D-Z, with D as colourless and Z a faint yellow. Fancy coloured diamonds on the other hand, such as fancy blue or fancy pink diamonds, do not have a letter grade. Fancy coloured diamonds are graded from a scale of Fancy Vivid to Fancy Light, depending on how much colour the diamond displays. Conversely, the more colour a coloured diamond has, the more valuable it is.
- Cut Grade: This denotes the cut quality and proportions of a diamond from a scale of Excellent to Poor. With Excellent cuts, the diamond will best be able to reflect light, creating diamonds signature sparkling appearance. Cut grades only apply to round diamonds, while fancy cut diamonds, such as hearts and pears, do not have official cut grades.
- Clarity Grade: This indicates the quantity of internal and external marks a diamond has, known as inclusions and blemishes respectfully. These grades range from FL to I3, with FL denoting a flawless diamond and I3 denoting a visibly flawed diamond.
- Carat Weight: This refers to how much a diamond weighs in carats, abbreviated to ct.
Take some time to consider which of these grades are the most important to you. Buying any diamond will require some element of compromise. For example, if getting a diamond with a high colour grade is very important to you, you may be willing to compromise on a lower carat weight or clarity grade in order to stay within your budget.
2. Decide What Style
Now its time to pick the style of your ring. Below is a comprehensive list of the components of engagement rings:
- Centre Stone: What kind of gemstone will you have at the centre of your engagement ring? You might choose a colourful gemstone such as an emerald or maybe a classic white diamond. If you select a diamond, be sure that you choose one with your ideal grades.
- Gemstone Shape: Gemstones come in a wide array of shapes, such as the timeless round brilliant cut to fancy shapes like ovals, cushions and radiant. Read more about diamond shapes here.
- Side Stones: These are the gemstones that sit beside the engagement rings centre stone. You may choose to have two side stones that mirror the centre stones design, side stones of different cuts, or a different type of gemstone for a pop of colour.
- Setting: This is metal that the gemstones are mounted in. Settings come in various styles and complexities including the classic solitaire, three stone, pave, and halo to name a few. Pave and halo are popular options for making the centre stone look bigger. Read more about ring settings here.
- Setting Material: The rings setting can come in various materials, with the most popular being platinum, white gold, yellow gold and rose gold. Gold purity is important to consider. Gold in jewellery typically ranges from 9k to 22k, with 22kt being the purest gold used in jewellery but also the most soft. 24k gold is too soft to use in jewellery.
- Ring Enhancers: Also known as ring guards, ring wraps and curved rings, these are perhaps the fast and easiest upgrades you can get for your engagement ring. These are separate bands that are adorned with gemstones whose purpose is to sit beside and enhance the appearance of the engagement ring.
3. Trade In The Old Ring
With myGemma, affording your dream engagement ring is now easier than ever. We provide a quick and easy way to sell your old engagement ring for cash and put the funds towards your new ring.
We are experienced engagement ring buyers with an expert team of gemmologists. Thanks to our international presence and connections, we are able to offer you the most competitive offers for your engagement ring on the second-hand market. Our service is entirely free, secure and at no risk to you. After you complete our simple online form, we will be in touch shortly with a price quote and the entire process of selling can take as little as 48 hours. We offer the option of selling via appointment (available in London, Birmingham, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong) or online. You can feel confident working with us because of our 100% trust guarantee and hundreds of positive customer reviews.
Sell your engagement ring for cash or opt to trade in for a new engagement ring. When you trade in we offer you 10% more on your offer, in the form of store credit.
