What is an Heirloom Jewelry Makeover? Guide to Redesigning Family Treasures

What is an Heirloom Makeover?

An heirloom jewelry makeover is the process of taking older, inherited, or sentimental jewelry and reimagining it into a new design that fits your current style. Rather than letting a cherished piece sit in a jewelry box or safety deposit box because the setting is outdated or damaged, a makeover allows you to preserve the emotional history while creating something you’ll actually love to wear every day.

Common reasons for a makeover include:

Modernizing Outdated Styles: Converting a vintage brooch into a contemporary pendant or a heavy 1980s cocktail ring into a sleek, minimalist band.

Commemorating New Chapters: Using diamonds from a family ring to create a custom engagement ring for a new proposal.

Structural Integrity: Many older pieces have worn prongs or thinned bands or cracks in the metal that make them no longer safe for daily wear.

Honoring Special People: Combining the diamonds from the engagement rings of your grandmother and your special aunt into one pendant that holds their memory close.

 

Why Repurpose Your Jewelry? 

Choosing an heirloom makeover isn't just sentimental; it’s a smart and sustainable choice for custom jewelry.

Sustainable Luxury 

By recycling your own gold and gemstones, you participate in circular fashion. This reduces the environmental impact associated with new mining while giving new life to existing materials.

Significant Cost Savings 

The most expensive components of any jewelry piece are the center stones and the precious metals. By providing your own metal and/or gems, you can often save significantly. If you have gold, silver and platinum to trade toward your project, you may be able to pay some or even all the costs!

Preserving Family Legacy 

Every diamond and gemstone carries a story. A makeover ensures that your grandmother’s sparkle or your mother’s gold remains part of your daily life, acting as a bridge between generations.

 

The Jewelsmith Makeover Process 

At Jewelsmith, we specialize in the delicate art of transformation. Our process is designed to be transparent and collaborative:

Initial Consultation: We examine your heirloom pieces to assess the quality of the stones and the purity of the metal.

Design & Sketching: Our designers will listen and work with you to sketch a new vision that reflects your personal aesthetic.

Stone Removal & Protection: Our expert goldsmiths carefully remove your gemstones from their old settings, ensuring they are handled with the highest level of care. 

The Transformation: Whether we are recycling your gold or providing a metal credit toward a new casting, our experienced jewelers handcraft your new piece right here in our on-site workshop.

 

Heirloom Makeover FAQ 

Can any jewelry be redesigned? Most fine jewelry containing gold, platinum, silver and natural gemstones can be redesigned. Both our gemologists have attained dual credentials of GG (GIA) and CGA (AGS). During your appointment they will assess the durability of your stones in our AGS accredited gem laboratory.

Is it disrespectful to change an heirloom? On the contrary, most families find it more respectful to wear and enjoy a piece than to let it sit unused. It keeps the memory alive.

Can I use multiple pieces for one new design? Absolutely. We often combine small diamonds from several family pieces into one "cluster" or "halo" design.

Ready to breathe new life into your family treasures? Book an Heirloom Consultation with our expert designers today or explore our Before & After Gallery for inspiration. Also check out our blog article New Life for Old Jewels: How to Reset and Repurpose Your Jewelry.