How to Reset a Diamond Ring: The Complete Guide

A diamond ring is forever—for the most part, that is. Wear and tear happens, and you might find yourself wondering if you should get your ring reset at some point in your life. Resetting is a relatively inexpensive way to upgrade your engagement ring (compared to purchasing a new one), and it allows you to hold on to the sentimental value of your original piece.

Still, as painless as the process may be, there are a few things you should know before getting it done. We spoke with jewelers Ryan Gozlan and Eric Razon to find out everything you need to know about resetting your diamond ring.

Reasons to Reset a Ring

There are several reasons you might decide to get your diamond reset, and most are due to aesthetics. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate reasons as well: “Throughout time, there’s wear and tear,” Razon says, pointing out that resetting can occur if someone loses their center stone or the diamonds on the side, or if the prongs wear away.

Many people opt to reset their rings because they want to go for something more modern. “Most of the rings 20, 30 years ago were done in standard yellow gold, usually one center stone with maybe a few diamonds on the side in a channel setting of some sort,” says Razon. “And now that’s known as an outdated style. A lot of people want to upgrade it to something newer.”

Even if a ring isn’t quite outdated just yet, some people simply get bored of the one they’ve been wearing every single day and want a change. “Some people want something new and fresh,” says Gozlan. “As people’s sense of style changes, so does their taste in rings, and in turn, they want a change so it matches their other jewelry.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. As Gozlan points out, you wear this ring every day, and you might as well love it.

Cost of Resetting a Ring

Resetting a ring is significantly less expensive than buying a new ring, but the price will vary depending on exactly what you want done. “It could go from $1,000 up to $4,000 or $5,000,” says Razon. “It really depends on what kind of setting and change you [make] from the original setting.” Obviously, adding more diamonds is going to be more expensive, while simply moving the stone from one setting to another will be more affordable.

How to Reset a Ring

One of the reasons resetting is inexpensive is because it’s a relatively simple process. What you need to do is figure out exactly what you want your new ring to look like. From there, consult the jeweler of your choice so that you can both design what you’re looking for. According to Gozlan, jewelers design either by using CAD (computer-aided design) or by making a handcrafted model from a skilled artisan.

Once that’s done, you bring your old ring to the jeweler. Razon explains that the jeweler measures the stone and takes out any side diamonds. They then either cast the ring from scratch, or they take the prongs and replace them to fit your diamond.

If your changes are minimal, it’s pretty fast and inexpensive work. “If you want to change the setting from yellow gold to white gold and you only have one stone, it could be very simple,” says Razon. Ultimately, you wouldn't even need to get a new setting—instead, a jeweler could simply replate the ring in the new color of your choosing, which generally costs just a few hundred dollars. If your setting is damaged or you want to change the look entirely, you should plan to pay a bit more for a new setting.

Popular Resetting Options

Choosing how you want your ring reset is obviously a personal decision, but some options are more popular than others. Razon says that many people choose to go from a six-point prong to a four-point prong—six-point prongs are a bit more old-fashioned, while four-point prongs may be more trendy at the moment.

While some people are intent on going for a more modern look, others want something more unique. “I would say the most popular change or ring setting these days is people putting their diamonds in chunky gold settings,” says Gozlan. “This was a practice used and done in the ‘60s and ‘70s that has really made a comeback recently. We really find with about 90% of our online customers that yellow gold is king these days.”

Tips for Resetting a Ring

Find a reputable jeweler you trust.

Resetting might be a straightforward process, but you still want to make sure you explain exactly what you want before they get to work so there are no misunderstandings. What's more, it's important to work with a jeweler you trust to care for your precious stone; ultimately, it's not practical for you to watch your ring being reset—while you might be able to be there while your diamond is moved into a new setting, the ring will still need to go through polishing and plating, which can take a few days. If you're uncomfortable leaving your diamond with the jeweler in question for this amount of time, it's best to find someone else to complete the job.

Protect your jewelry by staying informed.

“You should always know and have your GIA or diamond certificate so you know all details about your diamonds,” says Gozlan. “A diamond is a very valuable stone and you don’t want any issues with the stone being damaged or, in some cases, replaced or swapped.”