Getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime event and after it comes the time-honored tradition of commemorating the union on anniversaries. On the big day, friends and family gather, and rings and vows are exchanged. The wedding officiant urges the couple to enjoy the moment, but stresses that what matters most is their future. Another key ingredient of weddings is the past and one way of honoring this is using heirloom diamonds in wedding rings.

An heirloom is an object of special value that has belonged to a family for several generations. In addition to the personal value an heirloom has for a bride, some choose a handed-down ring for its considerable cost savings. Heirloom gemstones have another role—they can be reconfigured and added to a new setting that puts a modern-day spin on the past. Refashioning heirloom jewelry isn’t restricted to couples and even single women and men choose to reimagine these keepsakes and make them their own.

Anniversaries

Anniversaries are prime occasions for heirloom stones to be re-introduced into wedding bands or antique diamonds to be refashioned into new rings. “I’ve seen couples who had a solitaire diamond when they got married and now they want to add to it for an anniversary,” says Jewelry Consultant Kathryn Luco. She has helped clients repurpose rings and stack them into new settings with recut and added stones.

The first step is to select the heirloom stones you want to repurpose. If they are coming from an existing relative, be sure to secure that person’s blessing to alter them. After deciding on the heirloom stones you want to repurpose, ensure they’re clean and repair any damage they may have incurred over the years. Meet with a trusted consultant to explore various possibilities and personal touches you want to add to the new setting. Discuss ongoing maintenance of the ring to keep it in good condition and adding protection if the new ring style calls for it.

Carolyn Bozek’s original wedding ring combined a diamond with rubies, but after 30 years of wear and tear it was falling apart. “My husband had the setting altered with diamonds added from a necklace and gave it to me as a surprise gift for our 30th anniversary,” says Carolyn. A little imagination and ingenuity go a long way toward reinventing jewelry into something both stylish and distinguished. “After knowing what it was before, I really love what it was turned into,” she says.

Honoring Memories

When family members pass on, creating heirloom rings to honor their memory can add a profoundly personal touch. Recutting diamonds or other stones into something contemporary can be tricky when there are strong memories attached. There are certain pieces that you know a loved one who has passed on would want you to wear. You can also take an aspirational approach and ask yourself if the person had big dreams for a setting that were never realized.

Another occasion that honors the past is when couples renew their wedding vows with a ceremony. Some choose to incorporate heirloom rings into existing ones, while others select entirely new ones to underscore the sense of renewal. In addition to wedding and engagement rings, antique promise rings and stones from necklaces, earrings or bracelets can be reconfigured into new settings.

Practical Occasions

Occasionally, creating a setting using heirloom stones is inspired by more practical needs. “There are people who work with their hands who have an existing prong setting that can get banged up,” says Luco. “Adding a bezel to surround the entire stone protects it and although it doesn’t let as much light in, it’s more practical for their lifestyle.”

The choice to recut and reimagine heirloom stones and add them to updated settings or to leave them largely intact is yours. People with children can choose to rearrange gems to symbolize their family members. Others commemorate achievements like graduations and awards. The only limits on personalizing heirlooms are your own imagination. Your options fairly glitter.

When it comes to shopping for engagement rings online, it can be difficult to know where to begin. At Adiamor, we wanted to ease the pain of deciding on the perfect engagement ring. To help our customers make the best decisions about diamond rings, we started this blog series called The Perfect Ring. In today’s edition, we’ll be taking a look at pave engagement rings. Our founder is especially skilled with pave settings, so these rings have a unique history within Adiamor.

What Are Pave Engagement Rings?

The first question to answer, of course, is what are pave engagement rings?  Pave rings are not limited to specific designs, which makes this ring style different from other settings. Nearly any engagement ring settings ranging from solitaire engagement rings to split shank engagement rings can be adorned with pave set diamonds. The name pave engagement rings comes from the French word for paved because these rings look as if they have been paved in diamonds. In most cases, pave engagement rings feature brilliant cut round diamonds carefully set into the band. However, some pave settings include additional diamonds as a halo design or even adoring the prongs or basket setting.

The Right Pave Ring

Pave set rings are one of the best selling styles, and that’s because these settings work in many different combinations. Pave settings pair well with every ring metal ranging from traditional yellow gold to rose gold rings and even white gold and platinum engagement rings. The small pave set diamonds enhance the sparkle of smaller center stones in halo settings as well as provide additional sparkle to the bands of solitaire rings. Essentially, there’s no wrong way to customize a pave set engagement ring, and that’s a primary reason they are so popular. Another rather obvious reason is that additional diamonds always add more sparkle and shine!

Our Favorite Pave Settings

The French Cut Cushion Halo Setting is the perfect example of a pave engagement ring. Shown here in 14k yellow gold, this setting perfectly displays the balance of white diamonds and yellow gold and features brilliant cut round diamonds totaling approximately 0.35cttw. Another option with this diamond ring is to swap the cushion cut center stone for a round diamond. The pave set stones provide beautiful compliments to the center diamond which makes this an ideal setting when choosing a smaller center stone. Click here to view more of the French Cut Cushion Halo Setting.

Another popular pave setting is the French Cut Basket Setting with Diamonds 1/2 Way. This gorgeous ring shines with pave set diamonds halfway around the band. One key difference is that the center stone is a solitaire setting. Because of this, shoppers will want to select a larger center diamond to be the focal point of the ring. Additionally, the rose gold provides pinkish hues that are the perfect backdrop for the pave set diamonds on the band and basket. Click here to view more of the French Cut Basket Setting with Diamonds 1/2 Way.

Finally, our third and final current favorite pave engagement ring is the Split Shank Halo Setting for Cushion Cut Diamond. Shown here in platinum, this stunning setting compliments either a cushion or round center diamond. The split shank band includes approximately 100 diamonds totaling at least 0.72ct which means incredible sparkle and shine. When shopping for pave set engagement rings, it’s hard to find a setting with more pave set diamonds than this! Click here to view more of the Split Shank Halo Setting.