I wish more divorced women knew that redesigning and reconstructing their original wedding bands would make them feel like a powerhouse.

Lorie is one of my clients who already knows the power of reclaiming her story through jewelry, and this is her reconstruction story!

Lorie lives in the Pacific Northwest and happened to catch an Instagram post I made while I was traveling through San Francisco. I shared that I was not only booking in person but also virtual appointments.

Lorie pronounced that she was a happily divorced woman and had her original wedding set was sitting in a safety deposit box for the last 16 years. It was too meaningful to throw away but was never her taste AT ALL. When we met virtually, she told me she was about to turn 60 and wanted something “juicy.” She was in a powerful place, doing work she loves and feeling on fire, and she wanted her jewelry to reflect that.

The pieces that carry our histories are rarely one-note. Lorie’s ring held two beautiful children and a chapter of life she honors. But it didn’t reflect who she is now. During a virtual appointment, we talked through style, scale, and comfort, and the story she wanted her ring to tell. After we had the concept, she shipped the original ring to our Upstate New York production studio and we began deconstructing.

 
Lorie wanted something architectural and unapologetic. We decided on a chunky square band with presence and a warm gold halo for her tourmaline. The new ring sits like a handmade piece of armor: bold, quiet, and totally Lorie. Her renewed design is a 9mm wide matte sterling silver square band featuring her original green tourmaline bezel-set in 14k yellow gold to warm and highlight the stone. The result is a modern, wearable statement that balances heft and polish while honoring the stone’s past.
 

 
She also picked up a couple of pieces from our collection to wear alongside her beautiful new heirloom piece. She was inspired by a stack I had been wearing when we met, and opted for a gold Column Ring sandwiched between two 3mm Wide Silver Rings on either side. Lorie wore a size 10.5 in the square tourmaline statement ring and a size 10.0 in the Column Ring set. Those are pretty average sizes, believe it or not! I find most women are between a 9.0 - 10.0 for statement rings worn on a middle or pointer finger.
 

Why Sterling Silver + 14k Gold?

We don’t set precious stones in sterling alone as it’s too soft for long-term setting. However, mixing sterling band work with a solid 14k bezel is a beautiful compromise! It keeps cost a little more accessible while ensuring the stone sits in gold where it matters. For people who want a strong aesthetic without the full gold budget, this mixed-metal approach opens doors.

For reference: The same design in full 14k (9 mm solid 14k square band with a 14k bezel and tourmaline) would be about $6,498. Lorie’s sterling with a 14k bezel landed at $1,898 — a meaningful difference that still results in a piece made to last.

For transparency’s sake, here’s the cost breakdown for this project:

Final price for ring 1: $1,898
Deposit paid: $250
Recycling credit from her original gold: -$592
Recycling vendor fee: $50
Stone removal labor: $50

We applied her recycling credit and deposit toward the project. Because we itemize everything, Lorie could see exactly how her old pieces became credit toward new metal, and how crafting and setting costs factor in.

Part II to follow!

Lorie already has a second project in mind, and I can’t wait to work with her on it.

She asked us to hold the rest of her stones from the original piece because this second project is the next chapter she’s saving toward. Our policy is that we’ll hold onto stones for up to three months, so we’re keeping her unused diamonds safe and sound in our studio while she waits for the right timing and budget.

Her next piece is planned to be an adjoining 14k yellow gold band, 4–5 mm wide, set with approximately 12 diamonds for some upcoming springtime sparkle. Project #2 will be closer to $3,000. This is one of the beautiful parts of reconstruction: you can phase it, keep what matters, and build a set over time.
 

The process, in case you’re wondering…

We begin with a virtual (or in person) design session. After we discuss your goals, vision, and budget, I’ll ask you to send your pieces to our Upstate NY production studio so my team can begin deconstruction. With your consent, we remove stones and take a full inventory of what will be recycled and what you want reused in your new piece. I’ll estimate the credit you’ll receive toward the project, and with your permission we send the original metal to our vendor for recycling.

Next we move into design and provide a final quote for your approval. Of course, we can edit as we go! Once you are happy with the estimate, you’ll pay the total (less all the credits) and then we’ll get the new materials ordered. Production follows (wax, cast, hand‑finish) with periodic check‑ins throughout.

Finally, we arrange delivery via FedEx so you can patiently wait for your treasure. I always do a little happy dance when I get those “I’m in love!” notes. I also love seeing photos and videos of you wearing your CMD out in the wild.

We always pause at the recycling step until you sign off. Keep in mind, once metal is sent to the vendor it’s irretrievable. We’ll walk you through sizing and send you a custom sizing kit to ensure the perfect fit before we put your new piece into production. For Custom and Special Occasion pieces, we always prefer to confirm size before any 14k work begins!

Find more details, check out my Stages of a CMD Reconstruction Projectblog post.
 

This is what Reconstruction is all about…

Reconstruction is about translating memory into something you’ll choose every day. Lorie’s ring no longer collects dust; it collects moments… and compliments. She kept what mattered (the stones, the history), we honored it with a new design that feels like her, and she now wears a piece that reflects who she is right now.
 

Want to explore a rebuild of your own?

If you have a piece with complicated history and a beautiful future, let’s talk! We offer virtual and in-person appointments, transparent recycling credits, and the option to phase projects over time so your story unfolds on your terms. Book a 15-minute consult if you want to see if reconstruction at CMD is the right fit.
 

Happy 60th, Lorie. You deserve every bit of this and more! Thank you for being such a dream of a client.
 

Colleen