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There is one question I completely understand people wanting answered before they ever book a Reconstruction appointment with me: How much is this actually going to cost?
It's a fair question, especially because Reconstruction isn't the kind of thing you can add to an online cart with one universal price attached to it. Every project begins with different materials, different stones, different amounts of usable metal and, most importantly, a completely different idea of what we're making.
Still, I don't want cost to feel mysterious. So let's talk about it.
Most CMD Reconstruction projects fall somewhere between $2,500 and $15,000+, with the final investment depending entirely on what we're starting with and what we're creating. On average, most projects land somewhere between $5,000 and $7,000.
That's obviously a very wide range. A relatively straightforward ring using stones and materials you already own is a very different project from creating an intricate five-ring stack, adding diamonds, sourcing a center stone or building an entirely new piece from the ground up.
The good news is that you don't need to know exactly what you want before you talk to me. That's part of what the Reconstruction process is for.
The biggest factors are the complexity of the design, how much labor is involved, the amount and type of metal needed, whether we're incorporating your existing stones, and whether we need to source anything new. Also, if the design requires Research and Development (i.e., we've never made anything like this before), that can also increase the price.
Sometimes a client comes to me with nearly everything we need. Other times, the jewelry they bring becomes only the starting point.
You may have one diamond you want to preserve but need additional stones to complete the design. You may have plenty of gold, but the new piece requires more. You might come in thinking you want one ring and leave our design conversation dreaming about an entire stack.
That's why I can't responsibly give someone a meaningful Reconstruction price based on a photograph and three sentences in an email. I need to understand what you have and where you want to go with it first. For example, the dimensions of a recycled diamond are an essential detail for me to give an accurate price point. Half a millimeter of stone can shift the price significantly.
Yes, and this is one of the things I love most about Reconstruction. If you have precious metal that we can recycle, the value of that metal can be applied as a credit toward the new materials needed for your project. We currently accept 10k–24k gold, palladium and platinum for recycling. We no longer accept sterling silver for metal credit.
That means the broken chain, old setting, mismatched earring or ring you've had tucked away may have value beyond the fact that you're no longer wearing it. We evaluate everything as part of the process so you understand what can potentially be reused, recycled or credited before moving forward.
Often, yes. Diamonds and other stones can sometimes be removed from existing jewelry and incorporated directly into your new design, but we evaluate every stone individually. Age, condition, durability, shape, size and the new design all matter.
And you don't need to arrive with enough stones to complete the project. If the design calls for something you don't already own, we can source additional diamonds or gemstones that work with the piece we're creating. Your jewelry box is our starting material, not a set of rules we have to stay inside.
I totally get that and let's discuss what you are comfy with. I would much rather know what feels comfortable for you from the beginning than design something you fall in love with only to discover it isn't financially realistic. I've had clients say "Colleen, I cannot spend over $4,000" and that is so helpful. It lets me guide you toward the right design from the very beginning. Budget is information. It gives me clear parameters to design within.
That might mean simplifying a design, making one ring instead of three, using only the stones you already own without adding anything new, or exploring 10k solid gold as a more approachable option. And more often than not, what felt out of reach at first starts to feel very possible once we talk through it.
There isn't anything uncomfortable or embarrassing about telling me what you want to spend. I want every dollar spent to feel intentional.
Once you're ready to move forward and begin a full Reconstruction project with me, the next step is a $250 Reconstruction Appointment Deposit.
That deposit allows us to dig into your materials, ideas and design direction more seriously and begin the process of figuring out what your jewelry could become.
If you're still at the “I have this jewelry and absolutely no idea what to do with it stage”, that's okay too. You can start with a complimentary 15-minute consultation with me before committing to anything further.
Some of the Reconstruction projects I'm most proud of have started with someone placing a little bag of jewelry in front of me and saying, "I don't know what I want. I just know I don't want this anymore." That's enough.
It might be inherited jewelry that doesn't feel like you, a wedding set from a chapter of your life that's over, gold you've accumulated over decades, or a diamond you've never known what to do with. It might even be several pieces that each hold part of a story you want to carry forward in one new piece. Bring your stash and we can figure out the rest together.
If you've been wondering whether Reconstruction is financially realistic for you, book a complimentary 15-minute consultation and let's talk about what you have, what you want and what kind of investment feels right.
With possibilities in mind,
Colleen
© Colleen Mauer Designs. All rights reserved.
Published: October 1, 2026
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