Melting down gold for rings

lebowski1980

Hi all

Not sure if this is the right place for this question.

Myself and my partner are due to get married next year. We are not having a huge do as we are relocating as well so are trying to save money where we can although we don't mind spending a bit on the rings if we need to.

I bought a 1oz gold sovereign coin a couple of years ago as an investment but I'm thinking we could use this to melt down to make both our rings but i'm not sure if the purity is too high or would end more expensive than just buying some rings?

My partner does like a design that is a bit more bespoke and we don't mind budgeting for this so it will probably need to be made either way.

Has anyone had experience of doing anything like this before?

Thanks

Mojisola

I know a couple who made their own wedding rings - see if anyone near you does this and ask if you could use your own gold.

It wasn't this place - just an example - http://www.thejewellerycottage.co.uk/make-your-own-wedding-rings/

Soundgirlrocks

My dad kept his wedding band from his marriage to my mum after they divorced for me. I was never sure quite what to do with it and it sat in a box with a bunch of childhood mementos. When he died I decided to get it melted down and made into a charm for my charm bracelet (also a family heirloom) jeweller charged me £90, he said the gold would have cost another £150 if it had been made from scratch.

lebowski1980

Mojisola wrote: »

I know a couple who made their own wedding rings - see if anyone near you does this and ask if you could use your own gold.

It wasn't this place - just an example - http://www.thejewellerycottage.co.uk/make-your-own-wedding-rings/

Thanks Mojisola - that is such a nice idea Not sure if my partner's design will be possible but I think she would absolutely love this idea

lebowski1980

Soundgirlrocks wrote: »

My dad kept his wedding band from his marriage to my mum after they divorced for me. I was never sure quite what to do with it and it sat in a box with a bunch of childhood mementos. When he died I decided to get it melted down and made into a charm for my charm bracelet (also a family heirloom) jeweller charged me £90, he said the gold would have cost another £150 if it had been made from scratch.

Thanks Soundgirlrocks - this is the kind of thing we would like to do. I guess it is moneysaving to use what you already have if you can and it's good to know it could save us some money

Voyager2002

Do check the value of your gold sovereign (which varies according to year and condition) and compare it with the value of the gold.


My experience: I took a gold sovereign to a local jeweller to be valued and used that valuation, which was based on the gold, for probate. Later on I looked on Ebay and found that the price for that particular sovereign seemed to be very much more.

sheramber

The gold sovereign is still legal tender and therefore it is illegal to melt it.

gingercordial

As you say the purity might be too high - sovereigns are 22 carat which might be too soft and easily damaged for a wedding ring that will be worn all the time. Something lower would be more hard-wearing.

SandraX

22ct is fine for a ring. I had gold melted, almost all Indian jewlers do this. My best mate is an Indian lady and she had this down they also buy/sell gold and often cheaper than town jeweleers as they have middle men. Enure it is hallmarked though.

gingercordial

SandraX wrote: »

22ct is fine for a ring. I had gold melted, almost all Indian jewlers do this. My best mate is an Indian lady and she had this down they also buy/sell gold and often cheaper than town jeweleers as they have middle men. Enure it is hallmarked though.

I would be (very) happy with 22 carat for a ring for occasional/semi-regular wear, but not for a wedding ring *if* the intention is to keep it on constantly. Too likely to get bashed around doing the cleaning/washing up/gardening. But then I'm the kind of person who'd rather not take the wedding ring off and risk losing it - perhaps OP and fiance(e) would both do that? - so mine is titanium :cool:

Slinky

My neighbour had a 22ct wedding ring, it wore thin and got misshapen over the years.