Jewelry Makeover Ideas | Heirloom Redesign Inspiration

Not sure what to do with old, inherited, or unworn jewelry? Here are some of the most meaningful ways our clients have put their pieces back to work, all handcrafted on-site at Jewelsmith in Durham, NC. 

Reset heirloom diamonds and gemstones Your grandmother's diamond doesn't have to stay in a setting that isn't you. We can reset it into a ring, pendant, earrings, or bracelet, keeping the stone and the story while creating something you'll actually wear.

Recycle family diamonds into a new engagement ring Using a family diamond in a custom engagement ring is one of the most meaningful things we do. There's no corking fee for using your own stone, and your designer will help you choose a setting that shows it at its best.

Restyle outdated jewelry Tastes change. A piece you loved in 1995 might feel dated today, but the materials are still valuable and the memories still matter. Bring it in and let's talk about what it could become.

Repurpose jewelry after divorce or the end of a relationship Transform a ring or band you no longer want to wear into something entirely your own, a pendant, a new ring, earrings, or anything else. Many clients tell us this is one of the most freeing things they've ever done.

Reuse old wedding bands directly in the design Wedding bands can be incorporated into new pieces in beautiful ways, melted into a new design, used as a structural element, or kept intact inside a pendant so the original engraving lives on. Each approach carries the original piece forward in a different way.

Same Molecule Refining With our Same Molecule Refining service, your sentimental gold is refined separately from everyone else's, so the pure 24K gold you get back is yours alone. It can then be made into any karat or color for your new custom piece.

Combine pieces from multiple sources Have diamonds or gems scattered across several old pieces? We can bring them together into a single new design, one piece that honors multiple people or multiple chapters of your life at once.

Contact a designer to get your custom jewelry project started. Find more inspiration in our Before and After Gallery.