I inherited a wedding set from my great aunt and would like to have it reset as a pendant. How do I go about finding a jeweler that does this type of work? Do I just look someone up in the yellow pages?
I don't know where you live but I know a great independent jewelery store in east Dallas and an individual that makes incredible rings etc....happy to give you their info if you are in the area....
I'd love to send you to my brother but...his jewelry business is in NC!
He would tell you: Check carefully that your chosen business has an on-site jeweler on its own staff who does this kind of work frequently. You do not want to go with any firm that sends work away to some other location.
Also you want someone who is experienced in jewelry design. Even if you are not going for something very new or radical, you still need someone who has done this before.
Be aware that you're not really asking for a "reset." That would mean simply taking a stone from one ring and putting it into another setting (as a ring). You're asking them to take stones from rings and use them in a brand new piece of custom jewelry--a necklace. That is why the cost may be more than you anticipate; they'll probably have to custom-make the setting for the pendant to fit the exact stones and that is costly labor. It's worth it, but be aware of what you're really asking.
I would not go with a mall jewelry chain but with a reputable local jeweler who has been around a long time. That's me, though and I admit some prejudice about the topic!
There is a jewler in Mansfield that has been in business for years. It is a family owned business and they are really really good. It's Mansfield Fine Jewelry. They should be able to help you.
I would like to recommend Roc Rawlings jewelers, at the south west corner of Midway and Trinity Mills in Carrollton.
I have a friend that is a jeweler. If you want his # let me know and I'll get it from my husband. He's in Ft. Worth and is reasonable.
First people's or Nasr in Denton ate good choices. Any locally owned jeweler will be able to help.
If you are in or near Richardson, Julie at Custom Jewelers will do that kind of work. For my tenth anniversary, I wanted to melt and combine my engagement and wedding rings so I would only have one ring, with a flush setting, but wanted to keep the same gold because a friend had made our wedding rings, and my husband had bought that first engagement ring. None of the big chain jewelers would do this for me, but Julie was happy to do it, and did a beautiful job. And she is super nice! I do not have her number handy, but if you want it, message me and I'll get it for you (or just look up Custom Jewelers on Collins Blvd. (unless it has the old address on Campbell Rd., before they got burned out)
Golden Carats in Irving is great. It is a family owned store, they might still have 2 stores - I know there is one in Las Colinas, not sure if they kept the one at MacArthur and 183 open or not. Jim made my wedding band to fit flush against my engagement ring and also made an anniversary band for the other side. Jim will also design pieces for you using the stones you have or adding to it with loose stones they have to sell.
Sans mall jewelers any of them will do it. Just find a few, look at their work and see which one you like best.
Just thought I would warn you in case you were unaware, don't think this is going to be cheap. I had a coworker who though since she was making a ring into a pendant it would cost her nothing because the jeweler would do it for the little bit of extra gold. She never really told me how much it cost but it was enough that she complained about it for weeks.
