Patience Leads to Better Decisions — A Remodelling Story

About a year ago, a lovely customer popped into Gillian’s Jewellery with a pouch of pieces and a spark of an idea. Inside were a larger diamond in an old setting, a pendant with a pair of medium-sized diamonds carrying a gentle brown tint, and a pair of small, whiter diamond studs.  We chatted through remodelling options, sketched a few layouts, and talked about what could be reused. No decisions were made on the day, and we figured she might have gone elsewhere — and that was perfectly fine. We always say: take your time.

Fast forward a year: a few weeks ago she booked in again—a lovely surprise. It was clear she was in the final stages of deciding, so we revisited the options in more detail and picked up the conversation right where we left off, ready to help her land on what felt right.

We laid out two simple paths.

• Option 1: Use the larger diamond as the centre stone, complement it with the smaller set of diamonds from the studs for the shoulders

   

• Option 2: Use the larger diamond as the centre, use 2 of the medium size diamonds on the shoulders, and keep the smallest pair of diamond studs in its original form for her daughter.

We talked again about colour coordination and reminded her about the pros and cons of the 2 options. The medium-sized diamonds had a slight tint of brown in colour compared with the big stone—but still perfectly fine. In fact, if the large diamond were used in the middle with the medium pair on the sides, that subtle difference would create a gentle colour contrast that actually makes the centre look more prominent. If we’d used the smaller, whiter diamonds on the shoulders, the ring would have a more uniform, classic feel. We walked her through how each option would look and left the choice with her—both paths create a beautiful result in their own way.

As our standard practice, we also talked through the number of claws she should consider having for each setting. While three-claw settings look delicate and let in plenty of light, they secure the stone at fewer points. For everyday wear, four claws are the safer choice—if a ring catches on clothing without you noticing, a three-claw can loosen more easily, whereas four claws offer extra security.

At that time, she was a bit worried about how each combo would look. So we compared proportions on a ring sizer, looked at finger coverage, and showed how metal choice influences the overall look. After weighing up the pros and cons—style, sentiment, and future plans—she eventually decided to use the medium-sized diamond as the shoulder complementing the large one, while keeping the stud earrings with the small diamond for her daughter.

We set the ring in rose gold to give the centre stone a gentle warmth and extra definition, and selected side stones that frame it without overpowering the look. When she came to collect, the first thing she noticed was the contrast—the rose gold made the centre diamond glow and the sides gave it a graceful lift. She loved it. Even better, she told us how much she appreciated that we weren’t pushy at any point—just patient, practical, and happy to help her make the decision in her own time. She left us a lovely Google review to top it off.

Take all the time you need. Whether your decision takes a week or a year, there’s always something meaningful to consider. We’d rather you make the right choice than a rushed one, and we’ll be here—listening, guiding, and ready when you are.

Thinking about remodelling, but want genuine advice and better results?

Come by Gillian’s Jewellery in Forest Hill for a relaxed chat with San. Bring your pieces and your questions—we’ll take it at your pace.