Remodelling Your Old Jewellery

Do you have a piece of jewellery tucked away in a drawer? Perhaps it was your grandmother's, or it's from a chapter of life that's long behind you, or it just isn't quite you any more. You can't bear to part with it, but you're not wearing it either.

I'd love to help you turn it into something new that you'll actually wear, while keeping the story that makes it special.

What can be remodelled?

Lots of things! Here are some ideas:

• Gold or silver from rings, earrings, chains or brooches, melted down and made into a new piece
• Sentimental gemstones removed from an old setting and reset into a new design
• A mix of several old pieces combined into one
• Old metal topped up with new if you don't quite have enough

Every remodel starts with what you have and what you'd like it to become, so there's no one-size-fits-all. If you're not sure whether something can be used, send me a photo and ask.

How it works

1. Get in touch Email me at studio@joannetinleyjewellery.com with a few photos of your pieces and some ideas of what you'd like to make. It helps to know what the pieces are, any hallmarks you can see, details of any stones, and your ring size if it's a ring that you'd like me to make.
2. Design and quote We'll chat through ideas and what's possible, and I'll give you a quote before anything is touched. Our discussions can be via email, video call or in person. Discussing ideas in person, with the jewellery present, is always best. Quotes are given in writing via email.
3. Assessing your pieces I'll look carefully at the metal and the condition of any stones, and check for hallmarks. Your jewellery can be brought to the studio or delivered by Royal Mail's Special Delivery to make sure that it is insured.
4. The point of no return Once stones are removed or metal is melted, your original piece can't be put back together. I'll make sure you're completely happy with the plan before I start.
5. Making I carefully remove any stones, check everything over, and melt and reform the metal into the shape needed for your new piece.
6. Checking the size (gold pieces) If your piece is going to be made in gold, I can make it in silver first, without the stones, so we can double-check the size and fit before the gold version is made.
7. Finishing and hallmarking. The piece is finished, any stones are set, and it's hallmarked if required. Hallmarking costs between £30 and £50 depending on the metal, the weight and the type of jewellery, and this fee is separate to the cost of making your jewellery.

Things to be aware of

Metal without a hallmark Older pieces often aren't hallmarked, or the marks have worn away. I can't assume what the metal is, so unmarked pieces will need testing before I can use them. This is done by an expert company and costs £40. This can be carried out before we start the design process and a deposit is paid if you wish.

White gold Metal can change when white gold is remelted, so for white gold pieces I prefer to use new metal. Your original piece can still be the inspiration, and any stones can be reused.

Some metal is lost Impurities burn off and old solder has to be removed, so the finished piece may need more metal than you'd expect. Any left over metal will be returned to you, usually melted together as a "blob". If more metal is needed this will be discussed and included in the quote before the work begins.

Not all jewellery is suitable for use in remodelling Fine chains contain a lot of solder, so they're often less suitable than chunkier pieces. Solder is an impurity and cannot be used in a remodel.

Reusing stones I take great care with sentimental stones, but older stones can have chips, cracks or internal flaws that only show up when they're removed or set. That means I can’t take responsibility for damage to stones that weren’t supplied by me. If a stone turns out to have damage, we can talk through the options. 

What will it cost?

Remodelling will always cost more than making a piece from brand new materials. That might sound odd when you're providing the metal and stones, but a lot of careful work goes in before the new piece can even begin: removing the stones safely, checking everything for imperfections, and melting and reforming the metal. That time is what you're paying for.

This is especially true when remodelling silver. The value of silver is much lower than that of gold, but the time needed to remodel silver is still the same. I would only recommend remodeling silver jewellery if the metal has a high sentimental value.

Because every project is different, I'll give you a personal quote after I've seen what jewellery you have and we have discussed what you would like be to make. Quotes are valid for two weeks, as metal costs can change quickly.

As a guide, the starting price for a simple ring with one bezel stone setting is £250 in silver and £600 in gold. Extra stone settings, a more complex piece of jewellery, extra metal and hallmarking will increase the price.

A 50% deposit is required before any work is carried out, and the final balance is due before your new piece of jewellery is collected or delivered. I always recommend collection, but delivery by Special Delivery can be arranged.

How long will it take?

My usual timescale for remodels is 3-4 months. At my busiest times of year (November, December, March and April) this can increase to 4-6 months.

Frequently asked questions

Can you reuse the metal from my old jewellery?

Yes, in most cases. I'll assess it first to check what it is and what condition it's in. For white gold I prefer to use new metal, because it can change when it's remelted.

What metal do you work with?

I work in silver and most karats of gold, and in particular love designing pieces that combine the two. As explained above, white gold is not suitable for remodelling.

I don't know what my jewellery is made of. Does that matter?

Not at all. Send me photos, including any marks you can see, and I'll tell you what I can. If there's no hallmark, the metal will need to be tested before I can use it.

Why does remodelling cost more than a brand new piece?

Because of the extra time. Stones have to be removed carefully, the materials checked for imperfections, and the metal melted and reformed before the new piece can even be started, and this usually takes over a day to complete. Making from new materials skips all of that.

Can I use my own stones?

Yes, that's one of the loveliest reasons to remodel. I'll check each stone and how it's set before we go ahead. Older stones can have hidden flaws that only show up when they're removed or set, so I can’t take responsibility for damage to stones that weren’t supplied by me. If a stone turns out to have damage, we can talk through the options. 

Why do you make gold pieces in silver first?

So we can double-check the size and fit before committing to gold. I make the piece in silver, without the stones, and you can try it on. It's much easier to adjust a silver version than a finished gold one.

Can I combine several pieces into one?

Absolutely. Metal and stones from different pieces can be brought together into a single new design.

Can I get a quote before I commit?

Yes. I'll quote before anything is touched, and nothing is dismantled until you're happy to go ahead. A 50% deposit is required before any work is carried out, and the final balance is due before your new piece of jewellery is collected or delivered.

Ready to start?

Send me a few photos and a quick note on what you're thinking at studio@joannetinleyjewellery.com, and we'll take it from there. I'm looking forward to hearing the story behind your piece.

Jo

Remodelling old jewellery is a lovely way to give a treasured piece new life, but taking it apart isn't without risks. Please read my Terms & Conditions before we start so you know what to expect.