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Upcycling older jewelery

Carla

Veteran

Mother wants to have a loose diamond set in a ring for me. When I tried to decline (I'm not a jewelery girl) she insisted. That got me thinking about some rings I don't wear because they are too small for my fingers and too dainty for my style. I could add a sapphire, a ruby, and 6-12 tiny diamonds to the diamond my mother wants me to have and perhaps get a custom piece made? I believe I would find opportunities to wear a large art-piece ring.

Have any fabbers had any experience with having older jewelery remade?

Below are pics of the kind of thing I have in mind.

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32 replies

Latest reply was from Carla

Anonymous

I started down this path several years ago with a bunch of jewellery from my mother , but the cost of reconfiguring and setting stones was prohibitive for me . It didn’t make any sense unless one had the view that sentimentality had no price attached I absolutely LOVE the first ring you show , and agree that a bigger , arty piece would be your best bet .

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Carla, those look amazing -- I'd love to have #3 or #4 -- and what a fab idea. I've never looked into it but you are making me think. I have an amethyst and a few other items in setting that do not work for me.

Carla

Veteran

Lisap - I'm wondering if an artist would work with old gold, and I'm prepared to sell some things I do not like in order to defray some cost. I did once sell some gold (single earings, broken chains) and made a tidy sum.

Suz - I bet Vancouver has cool artisans for you to collaborate with!

Brooklyn

Veteran

My mother gave me my grandmother’s engagement ring. My grandmother meant a lot to me and was a big influence in my life, so I wanted to wear it. But the setting was a fragile, wiry “spray” of diamonds. It had lost a stone already. And it was not my style. I took it to a jeweller and had it remade into a simple, but wide, 18k gold band with the original diamonds set around it. I had the names of my grandmother and grandfather engraved on the inside. The original gold setting was not re-used (I got it back).
My mother was initially appalled but has since changed her mind because I wear it so much. I still think of it as her ring even though it’s really only the stones from her ring. And I always wear it when I need courage and I want to feel her presence. It is still something that she wore. Knowing my grandmother, I absolutely sure she would have approved.
So, in short, I think it’s a great thing to do with a sentimental piece.

Style Fan

Veteran

I had several pieces of gold jewellery that I never wore. I took them to an artisan type jeweller and he made the pieces into a ring that I wore all the time. It was not all that expensive.
I have also sold gold jewellery when gold is at a high and made some money.
I think it is a great idea for you, Carla. One statement piece of jewellery would work really well with your style.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I was recently looking at the pin we had made for my grandmother, with the birth stones of all 5 grandchildren. There's no way I can think of to wear it. Wonder what my sisters and cousins would think if I had it remade...

The Cat

Veteran

Great idea, Carla! I like all the four rings you are showing.

I also enjoyed reading Brooklyn's story about her grandmother's engagement ring.

I guess many families have some unworn, often inherited, jewellery. I support the idea of remake it to pieces that you would actually like to wear.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love the idea. I have a huge clunky men’s ring that belonged to my great uncle that I would like to have remade into two separate pieces for my sister and me, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. I would look for a good local artisan to work with.

Kathie

Veteran

Go for it! I’ve heard many wonderful stories like Brooklyn’s over the years, and every person seemed happy that they made the effort to blend the old memories into a new piece that they’d wear.

Bijou

Veteran

I had a gold cuff made from some old gold necklaces by a local jeweller whose style I admire. Whilst it was expensive to pay for his work, the result is a piece that I love and wear every day.

Anonymous

Aren’t these lovely! I really like the chunky jewelry. It would suit you.
I always tell my mother that I lose jewelry very easily (which is true!) so it is not worth it to give any to me. That usually works!

always trying

Veteran

DIsplay them-this apples to all old jewelry. I will try to post photos, but am having trouble saving the photos now. but you can buy padded photo backs or make your own then add a frame. You can hang them or display them like a framed photo -they are like shadow boxes or such. Display them in a pwoder room, hang on wall, guest room, bedroom,entry , etc. will try to post on another post if I can get the photos to work, or take a photo of mine.Your reply

nemosmom

Veteran

What a lovely idea - combining stones from your unworn pieces and adding from your mom. You could make all kinds of things, an artsy ring or even a brooch/scarf pin if those are your thing.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

A jeweler I know is having an event for just this purpose.

On the other hand, I balked at the price I was quoted. And told that some of the stones I had weren’t worth resetting.

A cousin had a fabulous bracelet made out of inherited stones. My SIL had a diamond ring remade into a statement piece.

I think it is something to look into. Maybe have a price you are willing to pay and see what you are quoted. Also consider getting more than one quote, and not necessarily deciding while with the artist. And if the cost is more than you want to spend ask if there is a way to bring it down. Not necessarily asking an artist to take less but maybe an almost unnoticeable change in the design world make a difference.

If it matters to you I would ask how much you would make at resale, which is quite different than the insurance value. A friend did not agree with what she was offered for her custom made ring. It was 25% of either what she paid or what she expected.

Sparks joy and use and cost. The decision is personal.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Fashintern, an idea might be to have something made for each grandchild with their stone. A simple drop or?

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Lucky you !I m sure that with some research you ll be able too find someone who could do something interesting with this.My brother in law had 2small diamonds made into a ring for his wife.As they were keen on climbing he had 2eidelweiss with the diamonds at the centre.It was a very lovely romantic gesture and I don’t think that it cost him a fortune either.

em

I haven't done it yet but it's on my to do list.

This ring is by Alexis Bittar. I am looking for someone who has the talent to design a piece that can be worn multiple ways, not unlike this. https://www.alexisbittar.com/l.....ed-rg.html

Mainelady

Veteran

Runcarla, I love this idea! The pictures you show are beautiful. Customizing a piece you love is a wonderful way to create a very special Happiness Factor. I have had a few pieces reworked. Some were expensive, some not. Please consider having the new piece appraised. The stones can be best appraised before becoming part of a new piece. Then please consider having your jewelry insured.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Em, that's a cool pair of interlocking rings!

BD, that's a good thought. We "grandkids" are all parents ourselves now. Half of our kids are through college--mine's the youngest.

Anonymous

Ooh! Yes, I've had stones reset and recommend it. It didn't cost that much, especially considering cost per wear, but I'm sure area/artist makes a difference.

Hadilly

The blogger at Passage des Perles has some wonderful posts on remaking/refashioning old jewelry. Well worth checking out if you move forward with such a fun project.

Jane

Veteran

This sounds like a super idea. Those rings are gorgeous.

If it were me, I think my only problem might be that having it remade might make it very ‘heavy’ emotionally and so not quite sit right in my heart.

lyn67

Veteran

This would be my own way, too-wow! Love the inspiration picties, please show us the end design, too!:-)

Staysfit

Veteran

I have done this. I had a long necklace of my mother’s cut down into two shorter collar length necklaces and two bangle length wristlets. After my parents divorce I took my mothers wedding band and had it made into earrings and the engagement ring diamond was made into a necklace. I wear them all the time. It was fairly expensive at the time, but given the use i have had from each recycled piece, the money was well spent.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

It does tend to be expensive- somehow this is surprising as we expect “but the materials are there already!” But I have loved most pieces I have had remade and it feels good to support a jewelry artist.

Carla

Veteran

Popping back in to thank everyone for their comments and suggestions. I checked with Mom first, because she is more invested than I am. She had intended one of her diamond rings for me, but lost the diamond recently. She bought a new diamond (from a woman who lost one of a pair of solitaire stud earings) but the new diamond was too large to fit the original Art Deco setting, which is also fragile and worn. Mom is going to abandon the salvage of the older ring. I sent her an e-mail with the pics above, and she loves the idea.

I would add the sapphire and diamonds from my too small wedding set (we got new bands on our 25th) and a ruby from a piece from MIL. I have 2 sons and no daughter, and actually passed some very delicate family stuff (with mom's blessing) to my SIL who is dainty and has 3 daughters.

I'm in a mood to 'Kondo' my jewelery - and this is an opportunity to colaborate with my mother and create something that WILL have meaning for me. I also have a pot of $ for a personal use that I have been sitting on. So, I will be proceeding with the project!

bj1111

Veteran

congrats on the decision. i love these kind of re-dos that make the stones "live" again. what a great way to honor your mom's gift.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Wendy Brandes does some amazing jewelry redesigns. I contacted her about one of my inherited pieces. We both decided it wasn’t worth it. I love that she was honest.

https://www.wendybrandes.com/b.....th-rubies/

I’ve always loved this engagement ring.

https://www.wendybrandes.com/b.....ment-ring/

And here’s an old post about the costs of custom work
http://www.wendybrandes.com/bl.....stom-work/

ETA more examples
https://www.wendybrandes.com/b.....d-jewelry/

Anonymous

Also "not a jewelry girl" so not really helpful in a practical way but It's incredibly sweet of your mother, and thoughtful too, and I hope you'll figure out something that will make you really happy.

Coincidentally my mother wants to buy myself and my two daughters a piece of jewelry. She already gave me a ring, but I never wear it and I think she'd like to give me something I picked myself, for myself.

I love your idea!

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