Diamond upgrade · Trade-in & re-mount
Diamond upgrade. Keep the story, lift the stone.
A diamond upgrade lets you trade in a diamond ring you bought five, ten, twenty years ago toward something larger or rarer, when the setting is dated, the centre stone is smaller than it would be today, or the eye has simply changed. Upgrade an engagement ring or trade up a single stone at the bench. Trade your existing piece in. Pay only the difference. Walk out with the upgrade in the box.
How a diamond trade-in works
How a diamond trade-in works in South Africa, in four moves.
- 01
Submit the existing piece
Use the form below or bring the piece into the Bedfordview viewing room. We assess the centre stone and side-stones under loupe and microscope, confirm any certificates, and issue a firm trade-in value, benchmarked to Rapaport on the day.
- 02
Choose the upgrade target
Pick a stone from our loose-diamond register, a finished piece from the ProJewel range, or commission a bespoke piece. We match centre stones, halo configurations, and metal weight to your taste.
- 03
Pay the difference
Settle the gap between trade-in value and upgrade price, EFT, secure card via Yoco / PayFast, or in-person at the viewing room. Full Rapaport-benchmarked breakdown on the invoice. Settlement options →
- 04
Wear the upgrade home
Walk out with the new piece in the box. Your traded piece becomes part of our re-supply or commission inventory, with the centre stone re-cut or re-set into something new. The story continues.
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Twenty-five years on the desk
Director-led from 2001. Co-director Letsiki, chairman of the SA bourse, on the manufacturing entity since 2019.
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Same-address GIA verify
GIA South Africa office is in our building. On-the-spot re-grading on request before settlement.
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Insured delivery, SA & worldwide
Overnight across South Africa via Brink’s, G4S or our nominated jewellery courier. Insured worldwide dispatch via Ferrari Group and FedEx Custom Critical.
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14-day in-person exchange
In-person sales at the viewing room come with a 14-day exchange courtesy on stock pieces. Distance-sale CPA cooling-off applies.
Common reasons people upgrade
Five briefs we see most.
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Anniversary upgrade
The original 0.50 to a 1.50. The Round Brilliant to a Cushion. Same finger, much bigger statement. We re-mount, you pay the spread.
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Setting refresh
Stone’s perfect, setting is dated. Trade the setting, keep the centre stone, commission a new mount in white, yellow, rose gold or platinum.
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Inheritance reset
Inherited a piece you’ll never wear as-is? Re-cut the centre stone, set it in a piece you actually want, and bank the difference if there’s side-stone weight to spare.
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Cut upgrade
An older stone with a soft cut grade can be re-cut at our bench to a tighter GIA Excellent cut spec. You lose a touch of weight, gain a notable lift in light return and re-sale value.
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Couple-piece upgrade
Trade an engagement ring & band toward a redesigned, paired set. We match shapes, side-stones and metal across both pieces in a single brief.
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Top-spec pivot
Trade a sentimental piece for a top-spec D-IF round above 2 carats with full GIA documentation. The choice to wear it or hold it long-term is yours; we do not provide financial advice or market diamonds as a regulated investment product.
Diamond upgrades & trade-ins in South Africa
Frequently asked questions.
How does a diamond trade-in work in South Africa?
You submit your existing piece through the form or bring it to the Bedfordview viewing room. We assess the centre stone and side-stones under loupe and microscope, confirm any certificates, and issue a firm trade-in value benchmarked to Rapaport on the day. You then choose an upgrade, a loose stone, a finished piece, or a bespoke commission, and pay only the difference between the trade-in value and the upgrade price.
Can I trade in a diamond ring bought from a chain store?
Yes. We trade in GIA- or EGL-graded natural diamonds regardless of where they were bought, including chain-store engagement rings. If the stone is not currently certified we can re-grade it through GIA South Africa in the same building before settling the value. The trade-in credit is then applied toward a larger or rarer stone at the bench. We are a natural-only house, so lab-grown stones are excluded.
How much credit do I get when I upgrade an engagement ring?
The trade-in value is benchmarked transparently to the Rapaport price list on the day, with documented adjustments for cut, certification and condition, and the setting valued separately at scrap-metal weight. We show you the per-carat reference and the adjustments rather than quoting an opaque margin. The exact figure depends on the stone and grade; values are on application, and you only pay the difference up to the new piece.
Do I have to pay the full price to trade up to a bigger diamond?
No. The point of a diamond upgrade is that your existing piece carries credit. We value it, apply that credit against the upgrade target, and you settle only the gap, by EFT, secure card via Yoco or PayFast, or in person at the viewing room. There is no consignment lock-in and no fee to receive an indicative trade-in value.
Can I keep my original centre stone and just upgrade the setting?
Yes. If the stone is right but the setting is dated, we trade only the setting and re-mount your existing centre stone in a new design, white, yellow or rose gold, or platinum. If you would rather lift the stone itself, an older soft-cut diamond can be re-cut at our bench toward a tighter GIA Excellent spec; you lose a little weight but gain light return and re-sale value. We explain the weight trade-off honestly first.
Start an upgrade