The Repair Ring
15th July 2026
Specs: 18ct yellow gold, 5 x princess cut diamonds.
Project: The ring originally cost £160, which I initially thought was a bargain price. Then when it arrived I discovered that 4 out of the 5 stones needed resetting. They were loose and could move out of their setting. I was able to recycle £375 in scrap gold to put towards this project, so total I paid was £25 for the repair to be done. This was a piece I kept for myself as it compliments my engagement ring.
The learning: When speaking to AI I started to learn about stone values and certifications. My question was after it was repaired how much could this potentially be worth. It began to explain a little about the 4C’s from the GIA:
Colour, Cut, Clarity, Carat.
The ring alone is hard to determine as the value on the stones alone because with this being ungraded means that we couldn’t determine any of these whilst the stone is in the setting. I did ask the jeweller who reset the ring an estimate on the carats of each stone which is potentially 0.10ct each giving a total of 0.50ct.
Learning: What is the GIA?
The GIA are regarded as the ‘gold standard’ for diamond certification. They can scrutinise a gemstone and give a report on certain examined aspects: The 4C’s. Generally, diamonds will have certain criteria which can not only affect the value or a stone but also help be an identifier as to if the stone matches what it says it is, namely using an inscription. This can then ‘guarantee’ that the stone which has been bought does match what it says it is.
