Inheriting jewellery from loved ones can bring on many emotions, and wearing these pieces can help you feel closer to those who have passed and help you to maintain their memory.
However, sometimes the jewellery may not fit, be in a wearable condition, or just might not be in your preferred style! Repurposing materials from heirloom jewellery can be a great way to create a new keepsake that you will continue to wear, creating new meaning and memories.
In this article, we will look at how and why transforming your heirlooms can preserve your important family heritage for future generations to inherit in the future.
Why should you redesign heirloom jewellery?
Whether you have inherited a family member’s jewellery, or you have invested in antique jewellery and want to give it a new lease of life, transforming heirlooms is a great way to repurpose existing material into new designs. There are many benefits to redesigning antique jewellery for both the people wearing them, and the planet.
Sustainability
Repurposing the materials of antique jewellery is the most sustainable way to add new pieces to your jewellery collection. Creating a bespoke piece of jewellery will have a much higher quality of craftsmanship compared to more mass-produced mainstream jewellery.
With upcycling and repurposing remaining a key trend in the jewellery industry, not only will your redesigned jewellery use existing materials, it will also last longer, making it a sustainable and stylish choice.
Making it modern
Often, the core materials of an antique piece of jewellery, such as gemstones or metal, can remain in near perfect condition. However, taste and style can change over time, meaning the design of the item may not be that of the new owner and wearer.
By redesigning the piece, you can extend the life of the jewellery, respecting its heritage and meaning it will continue being worn, rather than gathering dust in a draw, or being forgotten in a jewellery box.
How to turn old jewellery into new pieces
Whether you want to make subtle changes, or completely redesign the heirloom piece, here is our step by step guide to transforming inherited and antique jewellery.
Evaluate your heirloom jewellery
The first thing to do when looking at how to repurpose inherited jewellery there are a few key things to consider.
Gemstones
Precious and semi-precious gemstones are often the most popular part of heirloom jewellery that are repurposed. This is due to them holding the highest value and being timeless elements.
From diamonds to pearls, emeralds to jade, each gemstone ranges in value and hardness, but generally they can be repurposed into new designs.
Metals
Precious metals, such as gold, silver or platinum, often retain their structural integrity and value, meaning they can usually be melted down and reworked into a new setting or design. This means you are retaining the meaning, but allows you to create something more ‘you’.
Condition
Depending on the age of the piece, how well it was looked after and the original design, the condition of the heritage jewellery may help to determine how much can be repurposed.
Any damage, such as chips or dents in the gemstone or metal, can weaken the integrity and limit how it can be used going forward. Some pieces may just need a simple jewellery repair servicing which will allow you to wear the pieces safely, while others will need completely taking apart and repurposing the individual components in a redesigned piece.
Redesign with clear vision
Now you understand the existing materials you have to work with, it’s now time to look at how these can be incorporated into a new design.
Look for inspiration
If your heirloom is from a particular era, research other designs or styles that were popular in that period. This can help you find alternative designs to consider for your new jewellery piece.
Browse existing jewellery collections and save pieces you like, even if it’s just one element or detail, such as a setting or textured finish. This will help you share a really clear vision with your jewellery designer during your consultation.
Combine multiple heirlooms in one new design
Often, people may inherit multiple pieces of heirloom jewellery as part of someone’s estate when they sadly pass away. These may all be of varying condition, too.
A beautiful way to honour the history and significance of their collection is to combine several pieces of heritage jewellery into a new piece. This could mean using the metal from one item and gemstones from another, to create a brand new, meaningful heirloom. You may even want to blend items from various family members, like grandparents and parents, to create a multi-generational keepsake and heirloom of the future.
Preserve and protect your new piece of jewellery
Finally, it’s important to ensure that you take the steps to maintain the memory and meaning for generations to come.
Honour the history and heritage
Engravings, family emblems or initials of the original and new owners can help to add a personal touch as well as preserve the family meaning even on a brand newly designed piece.
Incorporating the history and previous owner of the pieces in a subtle way will be a sentimental nod to its story while it continues its life in a new state.
Future heirlooms
When redesigning heirlooms into a new piece, think about how you can future-proof them for when the next generations inherit this piece in years to come.
Choose timeless designs rather than trendy silhouettes or styles so that they will stand the test of time, and avoid, or at least limit the extent of, another redesign process in the future.
It’s important to keep your new piece well maintained, ensuring to store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight – in a jewellery box is best! Be sure to remove jewellery before swimming, showering or using harsh cleaning products, and regularly clean your items to ensure they have the best chance of surviving for generations to come.
Final thoughts
When it comes to transforming heirloom jewellery, redesigned jewellery items are the perfect and sustainable way to honour the materials, owner and history while also giving older pieces a new lease of life and a long future ahead, too.
Want to transform an inherited jewellery piece?
Book a consultation with our bespoke jewellery designers who can help you to create a jewellery piece that honours heritage and style.
