You want to upgrade your current engagement ring, but you’re not quite sure how to go about it?
We’re here to help!
Your engagement ring says it all. It’s the statement of your lifelong commitment to the person you love. And as relationships grow and blossom, your engagement ring should also get that much-needed upgrade!
Here’s a quick expert’s guide on how to upgrade your current engagement ring; what to do, how to do it, and ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Your Questions:
- What are the different ways I can upgrade my engagement ring?
- How do I get started?
- Will it be expensive to upgrade my ring?
- Can I use the same ring but change the design entirely?
- Can I Upgrade the Diamond on my Ring?
This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. To finally get the perfect ring you’ve always wanted to have. This is exactly what you need to know to not only save money when you upgrade your current engagement ring but also complete a successful upgrade.
What are the Different Ways I Can Upgrade My Current Engagement Ring?
If your goal is to take your current ring and change its design or upgrade its style, here are the different ways you can do just that.
Make it Bigger! Upgrade the Center Diamond
Want a bigger diamond? There are a few options here:
- You can replace it with a bigger one or a diamond with a different cut. Some cuts like Oval and Marquise look bigger than others since the face of the diamond is more spread out.
- Consider a Lab Grown Diamond if you’re hoping to upgrade to a bigger diamond, but don’t want to add a lot of money.
- In some cases after a few years, your financial situation improves and now your budget allows for a high quality and bigger natural diamond. In that case, start by considering how much you actually want to spend on the upgrade.
Here are a few tips on how to upgrade your diamond:
- Start by checking if the jeweler you originally purchase from has an upgrade program (thats pretty much the only way for you to get a good value on your current diamond).
Hint. Hint. At Brillianteers we have a lifetime upgrade policy.
- Decide on a budget.
- Consult with a jeweler on whether or not your ring can accommodate an upgrade or a new ring has to be made.
Upgrade to a Gemstone for a touch of color
If you want to break out of the traditional diamond engagement ring look, a great and unique way to do so is to upgrade to a different gemstone. It’s common for brides to choose gemstones that have a specific meaning for them. For example, birthstones are a big hit for shoppers who value the meaning behind their own.
You may also prefer a certain colored stone over others and want to have this specific color on your engagement ring upgrade.
By the way, a gemstone ring is so unique and normally not as expensive as a diamond, you can perhaps consider getting one and wearing it on your other hand.
Have a look at these engagement ring ideas with different gemstones!
The best part about choosing a gemstone as an upgrade is that you have so many possible options for design and overall look. Diamonds demand a more classic look where as gemstones allow you to get crazy with your design and still make sense.
Add a Wow Factor: More Accent Diamonds
If you have a simple solitaire design for your current ring, you can always add more accent diamonds for that wow factor to your ring. The intricate details of accent diamonds on a ring band not only adds a little more glitz and glamour to the overall look of your ring but will also help accentuate the size of the center diamond.
Did you know that its possible to just drill holes in the gold and set additional diamonds? Trained jewelers can do that and its actually not a very expensive process and will serve as a serious upgrade to your ring. Not all rings allow it, they have to be thick enough.
Have a look at the difference between our Solitaire Venetian Ring and our Bellagio Ring with accent diamonds.
The addition of smaller diamonds makes the biggest difference! Small diamonds are inexpensive and this is an affordable approach to upgrading your current engagement ring.
Check out our collection of Diamond Engagement Rings with Accent Diamonds!
Change the Look: Choose a New Ring Setting
Do you have a specific ring setting that you’ve always wanted to have for your engagement ring? If you’re looking to change the entire look of your ring, or you’re eyeing a specific design that you’ve always wanted, this is a perfect way to upgrade your current engagement ring.
Popular ring settings such as a Halo Ring or a 3-stone Ring, are perfect as an upgrade if you currently have a simple solitaire diamond ring. Learn more about engagement ring settings in this article: A Guide on Engagement Ring Styles and Designs.
The process of changing your ring and keeping your diamond basically means getting credit for the gold of your existing ring and purchasing a setting only while using that credit. Most jewelers will set your diamond free of charge (we do!) and also if you had small accent diamonds on your previous ring, most jewelers will just give you credit for these and set new ones on your new ring. When doing that with an honest jeweler, you will only lose about 10% of the value on the gold and diamonds and then of course you have to pay for the work.
Add a Contrast of Color! Change your Metal Type
Most diamond engagement rings are set with White Gold. Maybe the upgrade you need is a change in metal type. You can choose between a Yellow Gold or Rose Gold Metal for an entirely new look to your diamond ring. These two metal types are particularly great at highlighting the diamond.
Have a look at the contrast in the color of the metal and diamond, and how this makes the center stone stand out more, and even look bigger in size.
Here’s a tip: If you want to change the color of the metal, you would need to melt down the gold of your ring, get credit for it and order a new ring. A far more economical way to do it is simply gold plating it. White gold is Rhodioum plated anyway so if you have a yellow or rose ring and want white, you can just have it Rhodioum plated (avg price is about $50 to do that). If you have a white ring and want it yellow or rose, you can just plate it with real gold (usually costs about $50 as well).
Go All Out: Upgrade to a Bridal Set
A great way to upgrade your current engagement ring is to make it two rings! We’re talking about finally having your very own bridal set.
You have two options to upgrade to a bridal set. You can either buy a complete bridal set (a diamond engagement ring and wedding band) or you can add a wedding ring to pair with your engagement ring.
Have a look at our bridal sets and see for yourself what design you’d love to own. 
If you love your current engagement ring, but still want that new and upgraded look, you can add a wedding ring band. A new layer of diamonds is always a GREAT idea! It creates an entirely new look for your engagement ring, and it’s also relatively inexpensive as a ring band can only be set with smaller diamonds. Have a look at our beautiful diamond ring bands.
Not only that, you can buy two wedding bands and put them on each side of the ring so they sort of wrap around your engagement ring and make it far more impressive.
At Brillianteers we have matching bands for almost every one of our rings
Here are a few of our favorite Ring Bands that you can pair with your current engagement ring
How Do I Get Started with Upgrading My Current Engagement Ring?
This is where the fun begins. You’re ready to take the next step and either buy a beautiful engagement ring or have your old ring re-purposed into a new design. This is how you can go about the process.
Plan a Budget
Before you can do anything, you first need to confirm how much you are willing to spend on an upgrade. This doesn’t have to be absolute. But an estimate will make things a lot easier for you.
For example, if you are planning to re-purpose an old ring, you can give your ring designer a set budget to work with, and they can provide all of the possible options you have that work within that amount. If your plan is to buy a new ring, or even just a ring band to build a bridal set, then the search will be a lot easier if you have a specific spending limit in mind.
Explore Your Options
Before you can do anything to upgrade your current engagement ring, you first need to do your fair share of research on what you want. If this means going to a mall and trying on different ring designs to see what design looks and feels most comfortable, go ahead and do it. Don’t rely entirely on the way a ring looks in a photo. A design might look beautiful, but might not be something you’re comfortable wearing once you have it.
A big factor in finding the perfect ring design upgrade is to explore what options you have. You wouldn’t want to spend all this time and money on a ring that, once you have it, you’re not entirely pleased with.
Get an Expert’s Advice
The final step is talking to a designer or a jewelry brand about your budget and your desired upgrade. An expert will give you a better idea of what can be done for your new ring.
What to discuss with an expert:
- The ring designs you are looking to upgrade to
- The lifestyle you live – What environment and hard labor your ring will be exposed to on a daily basis
- The budget you have planned
- What options do you have to save money on a ring – For example, upgrading to a Lab Grown Diamond
Pro Tip: Identify your budget early on in the conversation. This will guarantee that you will not be lured into spending more than you can afford.
Is it Expensive to Re-Design My Old Engagement Ring?
You’ll be surprised just how affordable having a customized engagement ring is. If you have a different ring setting in mind, you’ll need to talk directly to a ring designer. Make it a point to do a little extra research when it comes to the company that will handle your ring. You should be looking for the following:
- Multiple Examples of old rings customized and made into a new design
- Expertise in the field of ring design
- Ask for the Design & Labor Fees Upfront
- Lifetime Warranty Included
The research you do before upgrading your engagement ring is important as you want to know exactly what you are paying for, and ultimately avoid being over-charged for a ring that’s customized.
It’s always recommended to go directly to a jewelry brand or someone who can provide multiple examples of re-designing old rings. Doing the extra research will guarantee that the end result is something you are most definitely happy with.
The specific skill and craftsmanship needed to create a beautiful yet durable ring is something you need to consider if you’re looking to have your ring customized. It’s important to work with experienced engagement ring designers who can guarantee that your ring and diamonds are safe and secure
The Brillianteers Team
Chat with our team of experts to learn more about what you can do with your current ring, and how you can customize this into an entirely new setting.
All of our rings at Brillianteers, including our custom designs, come with a lifetime warranty. This includes:
- Free Annual Servicing includes prong-tightening, cleaning, and polishing. We urge you to send your ring to us every year so we can make sure it’s in tip-top shape. This service is offered at no charge but a small shipping fee to get it back in your hands quickly and safely.
- 3 month’s warranty on the side stones of the ring and jewelry craftsmanship. This means that even if a small diamond is lost we will replace it at no charge within this period.
Diamond Rings are hand-crafted pieces that need annual maintenance to maintain both the diamond’s and the metal’s brilliance. It’s also recommended to check and ensure that the prongs are securely tightened on the diamonds.
What if I Want a Bigger Diamond But at an Affordable Price?
It’s most likely that the reason why you want to upgrade your current engagement ring is that you want a bigger diamond. The problem with a bigger diamond is that it can get quite expensive. There are a few ways that you can get that bigger diamond without actually having to spend thousands of dollars on a new ring. You have two options:
Option 1: Choose a Lab-grown diamond
Lab-grown diamonds get a bad reputation for not being ‘real’ diamonds. But this simply isn’t true. These are diamonds that have formed in a laboratory that re-creates the same conditions an earth-mined diamond forms in. It is made up of the same material as naturally forming diamonds, and therefore, is as good as real diamonds.
The great thing about lab-grown diamonds is that they are up to 95% cheaper than earth-mined diamonds (the bigger they are, the bigger the difference is). These make the perfect choice if you want that bigger diamond without the added expense.
Option 2: Choose a Moissanite Stone
Moissanite stones have been growing in popularity for one reason. They look similar to diamonds but are significantly more affordable than actual diamonds. Moissanite stones look slightly different in their color and the way the stone has formed, but other than that, unless you’re an expert, it’s hard to tell the difference between a moissanite and a diamond. Plus … They are almost as strong as diamonds and will last a lifetime.
Should I Buy an Entirely New Ring?
Well, if you want something completely different than yes! If you want to upgrade your current engagement ring, why not get an entirely new ring? A new ring means you don’t have to spend your time worrying about a new design or how to re-purpose your old ring. You’ll have the freedom to choose the exact ring design you want and have the perfect upgrade. You can then ask your jeweler to set your diamond in the new ring.
Here are some of our popular designs.
Bottom line: If you’ve been dreaming about it. Go for it!
There’s no need to be too overwhelmed about how to upgrade your current engagement ring. It’s a fun and exciting process, and you need to enjoy every moment of the search. Have your partner involved in the shopping or customization process. It’s all about having fun with it and making beautiful memories along the way. It’s not so complicated and your jeweler can walk you through it. There are many options, not all of them have to be very expensive and maybe now after a few years of marriage you can actually make that dream ring you had a reality.
