Often receiving heirloom jewellery can feel bitter sweet. They are a lovely object to remember a loved one by and often hold a great deal of sentimental value.
However, in order to fully appreciate heirloom jewellery, you may need to repair, rework or redesign the jewellery in order to adapt it to your personal jewellery style, or to reflect more contemporary jewellery design.
Luckily, there are several ways you can balance honouring the history and heritage of heirloom jewellery pieces while staying true to your style.
In this article, we will take you through the steps to successfully transform your family heirloom jewellery, from assessing the quality to deciding exactly how you want to reuse some or all elements of the cherished jewellery you own.
Assessing the quality of your heirloom jewellery
Firstly, it is good to take a look at the jewellery and fully understand the full potential as well as the sentimental value it holds.
Quality and condition of the components
It’s important to assess the condition of all elements of the jewellery, including the quality of the metal and any gemstones it features. You’ll want to consider the carat of gold (9ct, 18ct, etc.). Look for any hallmarks to help you determine this, or work with a trusted jeweller who can advise.
You can also take a visual assessment as a first port of call. Are there any signs of visible damage, such as thinning metal, scratches or dents. In gemstones, look out for damage such as chips or cracks.
Sentimental value
Receiving a piece of heirloom jewellery can stir mixed feelings of sadness and sentimentality. While some may want to keep it as intact as possible to honour its original wearers, others would be happy to alter it substantially to create a new piece that means they wear it and continue the legacy.
Although the item is yours, you may also want to consider how this might impact other family members to avoid any adverse reactions to redesigning the jewellery.
You can honour any sentimental features of the original, such as engravings, by incorporating them centrally in a new design.
Historical significance
Depending on when the jewellery dates back to, the materials it uses and the jewellery design it embodies, your heirloom jewellery may have historical significance.
Rare jewellery that is in a good condition may hold a high value as an antique. You can determine its significance by having a jewellery valuation, or appraisal. This can help you understand if making significant changes will decrease its value. If this is the case, you may want to instead focus on restoring it to its original glory to retain, or even increase, its value.
Your personal style
Even if the heirloom jewellery is a beautiful example of craftsmanship, and uses the highest quality materials, if it doesn’t fit your jewellery style or your lifestyle, it may end up not being worn or enjoyed at all.
Think carefully about how you want to wear and appreciate the jewellery – will it be worn every day or on special occasions only? This can help you to decide if the piece in its current form fits with your vision, or if it needs to be reworked to ensure you make the most of it.
Your Budget
Depending on the quality of the materials, and how much of a transformation you want to make, will all have an impact on the cost to repurpose your heirloom jewellery. While simple repairs can be fairly cost effective, full redesigns for a bespoke new piece may come at a higher cost.
Consider what you are willing to spend, and the return on this spend – for example, will it increase the monetary value of the heirloom jewellery in the long run by extending its lifecycle, or will it have a higher personal and sentimental value by ensuring that you are able to enjoy it and let the memory of the original owner live on.
Once you understand the condition of your heirloom jewellery you’ll be better able to understand if you need to repair, rework or completely redesign the jewellery to make them wearable.
Popular ways to repurpose heirloom jewellery
Melting metals
Vintage and antique gold and silver is often of very high quality, making it perfect for melting and reusing in new bespoke jewellery designs. This will allow you to keep the heart of the heirloom jewellery but rework it into a brand new design, taking on modern jewellery trends or timeless styles.
Stone resetting
Whether your heirloom jewellery features diamonds, precious stones like emeralds, sapphires and rubies, or even semi-precious gemstones like pearls or opal, many of these can be repurposed into other items. Gemstones can be reset into rings, earrings or pendant necklaces. However, other creative ways to use gemstones include statement hair accessories, like headbands, hair clips or even embellished scrunchies!
Brooch the subject
Brooches are one of the most versatile pieces to rework. While brooches have fallen slightly out of fashion, they can be repurposed very easily into a statement pendant necklace or detail on a cuff bracelet.
Charm jewellery
Charm necklaces are really having a moment this summer, and this trend could be the perfect way to commemorate a loved one and repurpose several pieces of jewellery in one new design.
Charm necklaces and bracelets are a great way to use various elements from the same or different heirloom jewellery and create a truly personal and sentimental new piece. The beauty of charm jewellery is that you can continuously add to it over time, so if you receive any more heirloom jewellery in the future, you can keep adding to your charm piece, allowing it to evolve with you.
Focusing on key details
Take inspiration from key elements of your heirloom jewellery and incorporate these into a new bespoke piece. For example, if your heirloom jewellery has a distinct pattern or detail, such as filigree, you could incorporate this into a new design as a nod to the original.
Repairs and resizing
If you plan to keep your heirloom jewellery as close to the original as possible, it may be as simple as booking a repair service to restore them to their former glory, ready to be given a new lease of life.
Similarly, some heirloom jewellery may be in perfect condition, but not fit you as you wish to wear it. Therefore a resizing service might be all it takes to allow you to enjoy wearing your jewellery. While some resizes are straight forward, depending on the intricacy of the design and the extent of the resize it may be more complicated. Consult with an experienced jeweller to get the best outcome.
Final thoughts
When it comes to repurposing family heirloom jewellery, it’s important to respect the original owner and craftsmanship while also honouring your own personal style to ensure that you are adding value and extending the life of the heirloom.
Whether you’re repairing or resizing, or working on a completely bespoke design using materials or elements of an original heirloom, making sure to work with reputable jewellery experts will ensure that you have a final product that holds meaning and value, and could even be passed down again to even more generations to come!
