Remodelling Jewellery Terms and Conditions

Remodelling Terms and Conditions

Remodelling old jewellery is a lovely way to turn something sentimental into something you'll wear, but taking old pieces apart carries some risks that making from new materials doesn't. Please read these terms before we go ahead. If anything is unclear, just ask me.

These terms apply to all remodelling work carried out by Joanne Tinley Jewellery ("I", "me") for you ("the customer"). They should be read alongside the information on my Remodelling Your Old Jewellery page.

1. The service

My remodelling service involves transforming your existing jewellery into a new piece. Depending on the project, this can include removing stones from their settings, testing melting and reforming metal, making a new design, setting stones, and hallmarking. If you don't have enough metal for the new piece, I can top it up with new metal.

2. Quotes

I'll give you a personal quote once I've seen photos of your pieces and we've talked through the design. Ideally I would like to meet you and see your pieces in person as this always gives a clearer idea. I won't touch your jewellery until you've agreed the quote.

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, extra metal and hallmarking will increase the price.

Quotes are valid for two weeks, because metal costs can change quickly. If you'd like to go ahead after that, I may need to update the quote.

3. Deposit and payment

A deposit of 50% of the agreed price is due before any work is carried out.
The remaining balance is due before your new piece is collected or delivered.
I accept payment by bank transfer, PayPal or card.

4. Your materials

Please give me accurate information about the metal and stones you're sending, as far as you know it.
I'll look carefully at the metal and the condition of any stones and check for hallmarks.
Where metal has no hallmark, or the hallmark has worn away, I can't assume what the metal is. It will need to be tested by an expert company before I can use it. The testing fee is £35.
Not all jewellery is suitable for remodelling. Solder is an impurity and can't be used in a remodel, so fine chains, which contain a lot of solder, are often unsuitable. I'll tell you if I can't use something you've sent and return it to you.
Impurities burn off and old solder is removed when metal is melted, so the finished piece may need more metal than you expect. If more metal is needed, I'll discuss it with you and include it in the quote before work begins. Any metal left over will be returned to you, usually melted together as a small "blob".

5. White gold

The properties of white gold can change when it is remelted. For this reason I prefer to make white gold pieces from new metal. Your original piece can still be the inspiration for the new one, and any stones can usually be reused.

6. Reusing stones

Older stones can have chips, cracks or internal flaws that only show up when they're removed from their settings or set again. Stones can also crumble during removal or turn out to be a different stone to the one you were told.
I take great care with sentimental stones, but I can't take responsibility for damage to stones that weren't supplied by me.
If I find that a stone we planned to use is damaged, I'll tell you as soon as I can and we can talk through the options. The price may increase if, for example, a damaged stone needs to be replaced. I'll agree any extra cost with you before going ahead.

7. The point of no return

Once stones have been removed or metal has been melted, your original piece can't be put back together. I'll make sure you're completely happy with the plan before I start taking anything apart.

8. Design and size

Once you've approved the design, any changes may affect the price and timescale.
Please give me an accurate ring size if you have commissioned a ring, as stone set rings cannot easily be resized.
If your piece is going to be made in gold, I can first make it in silver, without stones, so you can check the size and fit before I make the gold version. Please confirm the size, or any changes, before I make the final piece.
If your finished ring can be resized without any stones being removed, an increase of up to one full UK size can be done free of charge.
Any decrease in size, any increase of more than one full UK size, or any ring that can't be resized because of its design (for example stone settings or patterned textures), will be charged for, either as a resize or as a remake of the ring.

9. Timescales

My usual timescale for remodels is 3 to 4 months. At my busiest times of year this can increase to 4 to 6 months. These timescales are estimates, and I'll keep you updated if anything changes.

10. Hallmarking

Items containing 7.78g or more of silver, or 1g or more of gold, must be hallmarked by law. Where hallmarking is needed, it costs between £30 and £50 depending on the metal, the weight and the type of jewellery. The hallmarking fee is included in your quote, but isn't part of the starting prices given above.

11. Collection and delivery

I recommend collection from my studio. Delivery by Royal Mail’s Special Delivery can be arranged if you prefer.
Your finished piece will be released once the balance has been paid in full.
I'll hold finished pieces that haven't been collected for 6 months from the date I tell you the piece is ready. After that, I'll write to you using the contact details you've given me, and if the piece still isn't collected it may be sold to recover my costs, as permitted by the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977.
Your pieces are insured while they are in my care.
If you are posting your jewellery to me, you must use Royal Mail's Special Delivery service and make sure the level of insurance covers the full value of your items. Please check with me before posting to ensure that I will be in the studio to receive your jewellery.

12. Cancellation

Every remodel is made to order to your specification, so the usual 14-day right to cancel does not apply once I've begun work. If you need to cancel, this is how it works:

After paying the deposit but before work has begun: 80% of your deposit will be returned. The remaining 20% covers my time spent on design and quoting.
After your metal has been assessed: if I've carried out any assessment or testing of your metal, you'll still be charged for that work, and the cost will be deducted from any refund due.
Once stones have been removed or metal has been melted: the piece can't be put back together, so your deposit is non-refundable from that point.

13. Photographs and designs

I'll photograph your piece during the making process and once it's finished. I'll share these photos with you to keep as a record of the commission.
I may share the work on my website and social media. I'll check with you whether there's a date before which it can't be made public (before an engagement, for example). If you'd like me to keep the work private, please let me know in writing before the work is started.
You're welcome to share the photos on your own social media, but please include a link to my social media and website (@joannetinleyjewellery o Instagram and Facebook, www.joannetinleyjewellery.com).
The design remains my own work, and I may make similar work for others. For this reason I don't make work that is a copy of, or strongly influenced by, the work of other jewellery designers.

14. Your agreement

By accepting my quote and paying the deposit, you confirm that you've read and understood these terms, including the risks involved in remodelling old jewellery, and that you're happy to go ahead.

Questions? Email me at studio@joannetinleyjewellery.com