There are two common scenarios under which we hear from women who do not like their engagement ring. The first involves someone who had an amazing proposal and is excited to get married within the next year or so. There’s no question that their spouse-to-be is the right person to spend the rest of their life with, but there is one problem: They’re not absolutely crazy about their engagement ring. The other scenario involves someone who has been married to the love of their life for many years and has never liked their engagement ring.

There’s an emotional side to these dilemmas, to which many bridal blogs, wedding publications, and relationship advice columns can provide counsel. Many women have found themselves in these situations, and there is a wealth of information and advice already available on the emotional side of the topic. Most important, there are ways to approach this topic sensitively with your fiancé or husband.

Your hope, of course, is that your engagement ring is a piece of jewelry that you’ll be wearing for the rest of your life. So, it only makes sense that it fits your personality and sense of style and makes you happy every day when you see it glittering on your finger. After all, your engagement ring should be something that you happily show off to everyone you meet.

As custom jewelers, we here at Shmukler Design know there’s a way to get what you want from the ring that was given to you. That’s because the best custom jewelers are problem solvers: we listen to your concerns and ultimately deliver on your vision. The ring you received may not be the ring of your dreams, but it can be.

What Don’t Like About the Ring?

Before approaching a jeweler for help with an engagement ring you’re not happy with, narrow your problems down with the ring itself. Define exactly what you do and don’t like about it, then find photos of rings you do like to serve as inspiration for the new iteration for your ring.

Maybe your ring simply doesn’t fit correctly, and that’s an easy fix. For some women, the problem is that the stone is actually too large — meaning, it gets in the way of performing everyday tasks. Another issue: The ring could be stunningly beautiful, yet not fit your personal style.

When you are seeking an update or change to your engagement ring, also make sure to set a budget prior to the ring renovation consultation. Changing the band or removing a few stones will cost a lot less than adding more. A great option for you may be to add a bit more sparkle with a new design element or two and, in doing so, transform the ring into a piece that is truly your style. Or perhaps adding a few stones that are less expensive than diamonds and complement the center stone well.

If your engagement ring is a family heirloom — which is more common than you may think — there are ways to make it your own while at the same time starting a new chapter in the life of the ring. You may feel that while the heritage and sentiment are quite meaningful, it’s just not you (maybe it’s not modern or contemporary enough for your style or taste). Take it to a custom jeweler to find out if you can have the heirloom ring reset. This could mean designing a new and more contemporary ring to hold the stone, resetting the stone, or using the band from the original ring to create a wedding band.

This often creates a delicate situation and you certainly want to show respect to the ring’s original owner, but that shouldn’t mean you have to sacrifice what you want. The right custom jeweler — one who places assistance above sales — can help make everyone happy.

Keeping It All in The Family

If you and your fiancé or husband are intent on using (or have already used) a family heirloom, it might be possible to find a set of earrings that have been in the family and repurpose those as part of your approach to enhancing the ring you already have. And if you’re not satisfied with the size of the ring, you might find a larger stone in a pair of earrings or other sentimental family item that can be used to create a new ring or add to the existing one. Then you have your something old and something new in one beautiful ring.

For those couples who have been married for a long time, there is an emerging trend where the original engagement ring and bridal band are combined into one new wedding ring. This is a beautiful way to craft something new, and it creates the opportunity to add a bit more sparkle to your existing pieces. It is also a chance to make your rings more modern, if that is something you desire. Many married couples also like to upgrade their rings as anniversary gifts.

No matter what your engagement and wedding ring needs are, here at Shmukler Design, we have worked with many couples to create the perfect engagement ring, and we would love to help you through the process. If you believe we are the right custom jeweler for you, please give us a call.