Swapping the Rock: Is It Okay to Change or Upgrade Your Engagement Diamond?

 

Taylor Swift appears to have traded her old mine-cut for an emerald-cut, and it’s reigniting one of jewellery’s most personal debates.

When Taylor Swift unveiled the artwork for her new single “Patient Zero” this week, fans went hunting for clues as usual. What they found was a different diamond on her left hand. Swift announced the single on September 22, with a release date of September 25. In the promotional images, she appeared to wear an emerald-cut diamond on a silver, platinum or white gold band, rather than the yellow gold setting of her engagement ring.

That original ring is hard to miss. Travis Kelce’s ring was designed by Kindred Lubeck, a New York goldsmith who runs Artifex Fine Jewelry and specialises in hand engraving, and Swift’s publicist confirmed the stone is an old mine brilliant cut. Jewellery expert Brad Mucklow told Marie Claire Australia the original diamond is estimated at 10 to 12 carats, and that the new stone appears to be an emerald cut of more than 10 carats on a white gold band with diamond detailing. He estimated it could be worth over A$1 million if it’s a natural diamond.

It may turn out to be a prop, a costume piece, or a clue to a character she’s playing in the song. But it raises a question jewellers hear all the time: is it acceptable to change your engagement ring?

The short answer: yes, and plenty of people do

An engagement ring is chosen at one moment in a relationship, often on a tighter budget and sometimes without the wearer’s input. Years later, circumstances change. Couples upgrade for milestone anniversaries, after a career win, or simply because they can now afford the stone they always wanted. Tastes change too. A cut that felt right at 25 might not suit someone at 40, and a yellow gold setting might clash with a wardrobe of white metals.

There are also practical reasons. Prong settings wear down, stones get chipped, and a ring that catches on everything might be swapped for something lower-profile for everyday wear.

The sentimental side

The case for keeping the original is emotional, and it’s a strong one. For many people the ring represents the proposal itself, not the carat weight. Replacing it can feel, to one partner, like a verdict on the other’s choice. That’s why the most important step in any upgrade isn’t at the jeweller’s counter. It’s the conversation at home. An upgrade that both partners decide on together tends to feel like a celebration. One that happens quietly can feel like a rejection.

Ways to upgrade without losing the original

The good news is that it rarely has to be all or nothing. Couples commonly choose one of these routes:

Reset the original stone. Keep the diamond, change the setting. A new band or halo can transform a ring’s look while the heart of it stays the same.

Move the original to another finger. The first ring becomes a right-hand ring or part of a stack, and the new ring takes the left hand.

Add rather than replace. Eternity bands, anniversary bands and stacking rings build on the original. Swift herself seems to be doing this: since marrying Kelce, she has added a diamond-encrusted eternity band worth around US$16,000 to her stack, which she showed off at his first game of the season on September 14.

Trade in. Many jewellers offer trade-in or upgrade policies, usually requiring the new purchase to be of higher value. Terms vary widely, so read the fine print and keep your grading certificate handy.

Before you swap, check these

Get a current independent valuation of the original stone, since trade-in offers can differ from market value. Update your insurance as soon as the new ring is on your finger. If you’re moving to an emerald cut like Swift’s, be aware that its long, open step facets show inclusions more readily than brilliant cuts, so clarity matters more. And consider whether a lab-grown diamond suits your budget for a larger stone.

So, is it okay?

A ring is a symbol of a relationship, and relationships grow. If both partners are on board, upgrading your diamond is no more a betrayal than moving to a bigger home. Whether Swift’s new emerald-cut is a permanent change or a clever piece of storytelling, it’s a reminder that the “forever” in a forever ring is about the commitment, not the stone.

Source: DCLA

US Jewelry Sector Shrinks Again in Q1

The decline in the US jewelry sector continues, with yet another drop in the number of retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses.

The total number fell by 3.4 per cent – just under 800 businesses – to 22,330 year-on-year, according to the latest update from the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), which provides commercial credit information. The figures take account of both closures and new business openings.

The figure for the previous quarter, Q4 2024, was -3.2 per cent, and for Q3 2024 it was -3.3 per cent, indicating a steady rate of decline.

The biggest fall in Q1 2025 was among jewelry manufacturers, down 4.6 per cent to 2,119. The number of retailers fell 3.5 per cent, down to 16,959 and the number of wholesalers fell 2.5 per cent to 3,252.

JBT reported the opening of 68 new retail jewelers in the US during Q1.

Source: DCLA

LVMH Watch and Jewelry Revenue Down 5%

LVMH saw revenue from its watch and jewelry division slip by 5 per cent during the first nine months of 2024 to $8.2bn.

Across all its 75 maisons the French luxury conglomerate reported a 2 per cent dip for the same period, to $66.1bn.

LVMH said it had shown “good resilience” and that it remained confident in an uncertain economic and geopolitical environment

It said it would “maintain a strategy focused on continuously enhancing the desirability of its brands, drawing on the authenticity and quality of its products, excellence in distribution and agile organization.”

LVMH’s eight watch and jewlery brands – Bvlgari, Chaumet, Fred, Hublot, Repossi, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co and Zenith – generated a total of $11.8bn in 2023. The company does not provide a brand-by-brand earnings breakdown.

It said the third quarter decline in revenue across all LVMH brands was largely due to a stronger yen and lower growth in Japan.

Source: DCLA

US Retail Sales Slow Slightly in March

March US retail sales increased at a slower pace than the previous month’s as inflation eased and the job market improved.

Revenue grew 0.7% from the month before to $709.6 billion — adjusted for seasonal variation — compared to an increase of 0.9% in February, according to data the US Census Bureau released Monday.

“As inflation for goods levels off, March’s data demonstrates steady spending by value-focused consumers who continue to benefit from a strong labor market and real wage gains,” said National Retail Federation (NRF) CEO Matthew Shay. “In this highly competitive market, retailers are having to keep prices as low as possible to meet the demand of consumers looking to stretch their family budgets.”

Sales climbed 2.7% from a year earlier, on par with February’s year-on-year results, the NRF added.

March sales were up year on year in six of the nine retail categories the NRF monitors, compared to eight last month. Sales in the clothing and accessories segment — which includes jewelry — were flat compared to February, but advanced 2.1% versus the same period a year ago. Online sales saw the largest year-on-year gain, rising 15%, while electronics, furniture, and building and garden supply products fell.

Source: DCLA

WIN ! A PERTH MINT GOLD COIN WORTH OVER $300!

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The Perth Mint Gold Coin is one of Australia's iconic coins, worth over $300. With Gold prices at an ALL TIME HIGH, hold onto this piece and watch your Kangaroo jump up in value over the years.

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Guess the Gold price of this 18 karat, Men's gold bracelet that is 9 years old. Like our page https://lnkd.in/dHTTTEi and comment below your answer to enter!

Date & time:

Competition will close on the 4th of November at 11.59pm.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, associated, endorsed or administered with Facebook/Instagram.
See full terms and conditions here: https://lnkd.in/deEnaBk 

WIN ! A PERTH MINT GOLD COIN WORTH OVER $300!

Prize:

The Perth Mint Gold Coin is one of Australia's iconic coins, worth over $300. With Gold prices at an ALL TIME HIGH, hold onto this piece and watch your Kangaroo jump up in value over the years.

How to enter:

Guess the Gold price of this 18 karat, Men's gold bracelet that is 9 years old. Like our page https://lnkd.in/dHTTTEi and comment below your answer to enter!

Date & time:

Competition will close on the 4th of November at 11.59pm.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, associated, endorsed or administered with Facebook/Instagram.
See full terms and conditions here: https://lnkd.in/deEnaBk 

Kate Moss launches her debut jewellery collection with Messika

 

Despite being the face of many a jewellery campaign over the years, you wouldn’t expect Kate Moss the ultimate poster child for 90s insouciance to care much about high jewellery.

Yet the British supermodel clearly does, as her new jewellery line shows us. It was made in collaboration with French haute joaillerie house Messika, whose casual, contemporary diamond designs have won over the likes of Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé and Rihanna. Moss was the face of Messika’s campaign last year, but this year she takes a much larger role as designer.

It was Moss, as well as Marilyn Monroe, whom founder Valérie Messika first pegged as her muses when she launched her jewellery label in 2005. Through her new collaboration with the fashion icon, things have come full circle.

The ‘Messika by Kate Moss’ line is inspired by pieces in Moss’ own jewellery box. The model’s taste for jewels is actually pretty eclectic, encompassing designs from different eras. In the mix are elaborate Victorian baubles, geometric Art Deco styles and even Indian jewellery, collected from Moss’ travels to India as a teenager.

These influences shine through in the new, 70 piece high jewellery collection, which include sets of earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, headpieces and nose jewellery. Some highlights include a tasseled sautoir, sunburst hoops, a three finger ring, and dangling earrings set with pear shaped malachite crystals, after all, are having a moment in jewellery.

These are all enhanced with Messika’s careful selection of diamonds, which are of the highest quality and certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Messika herself has an intimate understanding of the gems, being the daughter of French diamond dealer André Messika.

Yet none of that steers the Messika by Kate Moss collection away from the modern ethos at the heart of the jewellery brand. As luxuriously as they are crafted, the designs are meant to be effortlessly worn to everyday affairs, not tucked away preciously in a jewellery box. That design approach is shared with other diamond jewellery designers such as Hong Kong based Nicholas Lieou and British designer Monica Vinader, reflecting the tastes of women today.

The entire Messika by Kate Moss collection is slated to launch in November.

Source: DCLA

Kate Moss launches her debut jewellery collection with Messika

 

Despite being the face of many a jewellery campaign over the years, you wouldn’t expect Kate Moss the ultimate poster child for 90s insouciance to care much about high jewellery.

Yet the British supermodel clearly does, as her new jewellery line shows us. It was made in collaboration with French haute joaillerie house Messika, whose casual, contemporary diamond designs have won over the likes of Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé and Rihanna. Moss was the face of Messika’s campaign last year, but this year she takes a much larger role as designer.

It was Moss, as well as Marilyn Monroe, whom founder Valérie Messika first pegged as her muses when she launched her jewellery label in 2005. Through her new collaboration with the fashion icon, things have come full circle.

The ‘Messika by Kate Moss’ line is inspired by pieces in Moss’ own jewellery box. The model’s taste for jewels is actually pretty eclectic, encompassing designs from different eras. In the mix are elaborate Victorian baubles, geometric Art Deco styles and even Indian jewellery, collected from Moss’ travels to India as a teenager.

These influences shine through in the new, 70 piece high jewellery collection, which include sets of earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, headpieces and nose jewellery. Some highlights include a tasseled sautoir, sunburst hoops, a three finger ring, and dangling earrings set with pear shaped malachite crystals, after all, are having a moment in jewellery.

These are all enhanced with Messika’s careful selection of diamonds, which are of the highest quality and certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Messika herself has an intimate understanding of the gems, being the daughter of French diamond dealer André Messika.

Yet none of that steers the Messika by Kate Moss collection away from the modern ethos at the heart of the jewellery brand. As luxuriously as they are crafted, the designs are meant to be effortlessly worn to everyday affairs, not tucked away preciously in a jewellery box. That design approach is shared with other diamond jewellery designers such as Hong Kong based Nicholas Lieou and British designer Monica Vinader, reflecting the tastes of women today.

The entire Messika by Kate Moss collection is slated to launch in November.

Source: DCLA

Certified Diamond Insurance

Before you take out insurance on certified diamond jewellery, compare you household policy to CDI stand alone cover.

No excess, No set up costs and replacement by your original jeweler.

These are a few features of the insurance policy underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. Lloyd’s is the world’s specialist insurance and reinsurance market.

CDI 

Certified Diamond Insurance

Before you take out insurance on certified diamond jewellery, compare you household policy to CDI stand alone cover.

No excess, No set up costs and replacement by your original jeweler.

These are a few features of the insurance policy underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. Lloyd’s is the world’s specialist insurance and reinsurance market.

CDI