QuestionHey there,
I was wondering, I have inherited 3 generations of wedding ring sets,from my grandmothers, I think 2 of them are white gold, the other is yellow gold with white gold accents, I also have a broach(pin)that is all white gold with diamonds, my question is , would it be possible to melt them all together and make one wedding band with diamonds and engagement ring with diamonds? Also, is it possible to reshape a diamond, or is it not really worth is because to much of the stone would be lost? Please let me know what you think, I haven't taken them to any jewelers yet, I am just pondering over the idea?
AnswerGreetings,
Yes it would be possible to melt them all down together to make a new ring.
The problem with melting old gold, is that sometimes you don't know what you're going to end up with, so it's best just to use it for the shank which isn't usually required to be manipulated once made. However, all parts like settings etc should be made with new gold ensuring that you get no problems or surprises.
The melt may create fab gold, but it's just as likely to end up brittle or super hard or lower melting point.....it's really hard to say, but this is due to contamination by solder, plating and numerous other things.
Also you'd probably want to melt all the yellow in one lot and all the white as another. Problem also with white gold is that it is notorious for cracking when re-melted, mainly due to the element which makes it white usually being nickel or palladium.
Yes a diamond can also be reshaped. and depending upon the shape you mightn't lose much of the stone.
Problem with this is that, unlike people who can cut sapphire and ruby, diamond is quite a bit less commonplace and usually costly......For instance, I know of only one place in Australia that can re-cut a diamond.
Saying all this, what you are asking has been happening since the metals started be used, and I've always remembered being told that the silver that I use may contain some of the silver that Judas was bribed with all those years ago.
Hope this helps. Good Luck, P
