Many of us have inherited jewelry from a loved one. It is common — and natural! — to attach a great deal of sentiment to this kind of inheritance. These pieces were part of the life story of someone important to you; now, they’re passing it down to make it a part of your story!
Of course, it’s also common for that jewelry to not be a good fit for its recipient. Maybe it’s not the right size, or the right style; maybe it causes an allergic reaction. Whatever the case, and no matter how much sentimental value is attached, you know that wearing this piece as-is simply isn’t going to work.
So what to do? It wouldn’t feel right to sell it, and it would be a shame to have it languish in a jewelry box somewhere. Luckily, there is a solution: you can work with a jeweler (like us!) to turn an heirloom into something that you’ll love wearing!
There are lots of ways to approach heirloom jewelry modification without diminishing an original piece’s emotional weight. At our shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, we love redesigning jewelry to make it wearable for its current owner while still honoring its past.
Below, we outline a couple heirloom modification possibilities. Every piece of heirloom jewelry is different, so it’s possible that none of these options apply to your situation. Hopefully, though, this will help spark some initial ideas. If you have an heirloom piece that you’d like customized, don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss options!
1. Just a slight modification. Sometimes, you’ll inherit a piece that you like, but you can’t wear it as-is. If you don’t have pierced ears, for example, what are you going to do with an earring? In cases like these, it’s relatively simple and inexpensive to add or subtract parts to make a new piece of jewelry that maintains the original piece’s basic design. Adding a bail to an earring to make it a pendant is a popular modification, especially in cases where only one earring was inherited or one has gone missing over time.
2. Resize it! In the case of rings in particular, sometimes you just need to add or subtract a little metal to make it right for you! This is especially true of rings that are just simple precious metal pieces. Rings with engraving can be more challenging to resize without impacting the design; rings with side stones can be difficult due to the reshaping that comes along with resizing. In the latter case, there is a risk of damage due to the pressure on the stones during the resizing process. It is highly recommended to consult with a jeweler in person to explore your options!
3. Resetting Gemstones. In heirloom pieces with gemstones, especially precious stones like diamonds and sapphires, it is very common to extract gems from an original piece and set them in a new one. One can add the stones to a new piece that is more suited to their style, or perhaps a design containing some symbolism about the original owner. This can be a great way to get the best of both worlds!
This is not a path without risk. Some stones can be subtly or invisibly damaged in ways that will be worsened by moving it to a new piece. A reputable jeweler will carefully inspect the stones before removal and warn you of any possible hazards that might arise from making a switch.
4. Melt it Down and Start Again. Many people with inherited jewelry want to keep the metal from the original piece and have it reshaped into something new. Shops that offer this service are on the rarer side, and the process can be costly, but it is possible!
There are a couple ways to approach including heirloom metal in a new piece. This can involve melting the metal and reforming it in a new cast, cold forging (that is, shaping the metal at room temperature with a hammer and a steel block, forming the piece by driving it into a shaped cavity under extreme pressure), or incorporating a snip of the old metal into a casting along with other metal.
Another alternative is to sell the metal for its scrap value, save the stones, and use the money from the scrap value to pay for metal for the new piece! For many, this option can be just as emotionally resonant, since it was the value of that inherited piece which allowed you to make the new one.
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to save heirloom jewelry from a sad fate at the bottom of a box. Jewelry likes to be seen, shared, and talked about! When you modify an heirloom piece into something you’ll wear often, it affords you the opportunity to share stories and memories about those you’ve loved and lost. It’s a beautiful way to carry on their legacy.