At Olertis, many clients ask: “Can I repurpose my old jewelry and if so, how does the process work?” The answer depends on the results of an evaluation of your jewelry. This includes projects where clients want to repurpose their heirloom jewelry or turn old jewelry into new jewelry. Every custom heirloom jewelry redesign project at Olertis starts with a detailed technical analysis to ensure your materials are suitable for a new design.
Most forms of jewelry may be repurposed — rings, necklaces, bracelets, and unmounted stones. Often, when designing a custom piece from old heirloom jewelry, we can reuse your original gold, platinum, and gems. Legacy metals are generally melted and refined to restore structural integrity; however, each stone undergoes inspection to verify it is capable of enduring modern production conditions (i.e., heat and pressure).
The entire process is highly structured and transparent:
The evaluation stage is very straightforward, and usually takes a few days to up to two weeks to assess the stones, the weight of the metal and overall value of your jewelry. Throughout the design and CAD development stages, designers model stone placement, wall thickness and potential stresses to assure a lasting product. This approach enables you to turn your old jewelry into a new piece without compromising structural integrity or comfort.
Your emotional attachment to your items remains at the heart of our process. Your original stones, meaningful components, and metal fragments may be preserved. Further, you retain creative freedom throughout the process. That includes the ability to combine various pieces of jewelry — i.e., separate broken chains or individual earrings — into one cohesive custom jewelry design. Prior to the start of production, stones are photographed and treated with great care, giving you full transparency, control, and peace of mind.
Heirloom Jewelry Redesign: What Can Be Changed in Old Jewelry
Another common inquiry is: “What exactly can be changed during an heirloom jewelry redesign?”
In practice, heirloom jewelry redesign projects allow for significant transformations of the piece while retaining the essence of what is important to you.
Changes to settings, proportion, shape, form, and style are all possible to make to old jewelry. Earrings, pendants, and bracelets may be reworked into modern pieces that better match the lifestyle of the wearer. Many clients opt to redesign old jewelry due to being out-of-date, damaged, or no longer wearable.
One of the greatest improvements made to an heirloom piece is transforming heavy or formal heirloom designs into minimalist versions that are both comfortable and durable for every day wear. This conversion makes heirloom jewelry wearable again, not just symbolic.
It’s also common to transform one type of jewelry into another. An heirloom brooch can be converted into a pendant; similarly, earrings can be used to create a ring — thereby giving old materials a brand-new purpose. Also, meaningful aspects of the original piece (e.g. engravings or unique features) can usually be maintained and incorporated into the new piece. Ultimately, this maintains a strong link to the historical context of the original piece.
Wedding Ring Redesign & Engagement Ring Redesign Options
Among the most frequent requests we receive at Olertis are wedding ring, engagement ring, and heirloom ring redesigns. Many clients wish to incorporate heirloom jewelry in order to create a meaningful engagement ring or to enhance an existing wedding band while still honoring the family’s heritage.
Typically, heirloom ring redesign involves resetting a family stone into a newly designed setting that optimizes structural integrity. Solitaire and halo settings are popular modern alternatives as they highlight the center stone while enhancing durability and wearability. This alternative balances tradition with an updated look.
Family diamonds are often utilized as the focal points of these designs. One popular method of upgrading these designs is through incorporating small accent stones. Accent stones add modern brilliance to the design and provide a higher-end appearance. By reusing existing materials instead of buying new ones, there is less waste generated. The owners of heirloom pieces focus on producing a high-quality and long-lasting design.
Heirloom Diamond Reset & Redesign Near Me
Understanding how to reset an heirloom diamond ring is crucial prior to starting a redesign project. When resetting an heirloom diamond, including a full heirloom diamond reset process, the stone is removed from its original setting and placed into a newly designed setting that provides greater security and longevity for the stone.
Original settings are rarely reusable because they may not withstand removal. As opposed to utilizing the original setting, our focus remains on preserving the stone and developing a new framework surrounding it. Using state-of-the-art CAD Modeling Technology guarantees that every aspect of the design — including how stones are secured, wall thickness — is optimized prior to beginning production.
Additionally, you benefit from having full design visibility before production begins. With Photorealistic 3D Rendering technology, you can view and approve the final design at all stages. This eliminates any doubt regarding the finished product and assures that the completed piece meets your expectations.
Those who are looking for local designers specializing in redesigning old heirloom jewelry near me will find that Olertis provides a comprehensive redesign process that includes free insured shipping; documentation of all material handling; and transparent production stages. Insurance coverage is available during the process, giving you additional peace of mind. If you’re ready to start your custom jewelry redesign, feel free to reach out to an Olertis advisor.
Ultimately, redesigning heirloom diamonds and redesigning old jewelry are not merely about recycling materials — they are about creating a durable modern piece that retains significance and meets industry-recognized standards of craftsmanship and engineering.
Learn more in our article: “What You Should Know Before a Custom Redesign of Old Jewelry.” →
