Where did you get that pearl cocktail ring? On the beach where your great-grandmother found it, back in 1935. The antique emerald brooch pinned to your favorite winter sweater? That was a hand-me-down from Grandma. The diamond wedding band you got when you exchanged vows with your spouse? A family heirloom. It’s lovely to have jewelry with sentimental value and personal history—but isn’t there a way to give these pieces new life while still holding on to the past? Yes!
Today, let’s explore some tips for repurposing old jewelry that is rare or expensive into something new—while maintaining the stone’s originality and luster.
Table of Contents
Consider Their Value, Carefully
Learning the value of your diamonds can be tricky. Unless you are an expert in jewelry and/or diamonds, it’s best to get an appraisal from a professional appraiser who can give you a more accurate idea of what your precious stones are worth. If you decide to sell your diamonds, make sure that you are getting the right price for them!
Choose a Reliable and Professional Jeweler
You should always keep in mind that the person who will be performing your jewelry service is a professional. Therefore, you need to find a jeweler you can trust and feel comfortable with.
The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is an organization that monitors and certifies diamond dealers, so it is essential to check if the jeweler you want to work with is a member of this institute. It means that he or she has undergone training from experts worldwide, which makes them know what they’re doing with diamonds.
It’s also crucial for you to check if the jeweler has insurance because it’s possible for him or her to accidentally cause damage to your precious items during the redesigning process.
Create a Custom Design That Fits Your Style
You can easily create a custom piece with your old jewelry as inspiration. It is possible to use the same design elements as your existing pieces and make them into something new. For example, if you like the shape, color, and size of an old ring that has diamonds set in it, then take those ideas to a jeweler who will create something similar but unique for you.
You can also use your old pieces as a guide to new designs by adding them to other rings or bracelets that may not have been designed with diamonds in mind. The stones will be used just like any other gemstone would be used in any other setting type so that they are perfectly integrated into their new setting without looking out of place or mismatched against their surroundings.
Recreate a 20th-Century Piece
- Redesign a piece of jewelry you love.
- Start by looking at the piece, and ask yourself what it’s missing. Does it need more color? Is there a section that could be reworked for a new style?
- Use unique materials to recreate the look and feel of your original creation. You can choose something as simple as adding some beads or changing a clasp, or completely changing the shape and style using other stones, metals, or even woods!
- Make your updated version more modern than its predecessor by incorporating some design elements from today’s trends: bold colors, geometric shapes, and contemporary touches like braided cords instead of chains. Or simply add rare and unique natural blue diamonds to enhance the beauty and value of your jewelry piece.
Make it special, so no one else has anything like yours—then wear it with pride!
Have Them Made Into a Pair of Earrings or a Pendant
You can also have your old diamond jewelry made into a pair of earrings or pendants. This is a great way to make a unique piece that is still old, but it’s also an excellent way of reusing diamonds that are already set in gold or silver.
Stack Them Up in New Setting and Make It a New Ring
The first step is to take your diamonds and stack them up in a new setting. This can be an existing ring, or you can make a new one. If you have an old diamond ring that has not been worn in years, or if it is damaged and needs to be repaired, consider having the stones reset into a modern setting, one that matches your current style better than the old one did.
A classic choice for resetting diamonds is platinum because of its durability and ability to hold up well over time without tarnishing or discoloring as gold does after many years of wear. Platinum also has a more contemporary look than gold does when it comes to jewelry, so this may be another reason why many people choose this metal as their metal of choice when creating new designs from old ones.
If none of these options appeal to you, then consider using colored gemstones such as rubies instead—they will add some color while still maintaining an overall classic appearance!
Redesign Your Diamond Jewelry the Right Way
If you have diamond jewelry that has been passed down through generations, it might be in need of some TLC (Tender Loving Care) but still has significant value. This can be a challenging situation because while you want to preserve the history and beauty of your piece, it may not be practical or affordable to have it completely redesigned by an artisan jeweler.
There are many options to redesign your diamond jewelry. For example, you can choose to have a new mounting or modify the existing one. The etching process is another way of making your diamond jewelry look different and more affordable.
The right way to go about it is to consult a professional jeweler who will guide you through the entire process. This person will help you choose a design that suits your style and make sure that it is durable, unique, timeless, and affordable enough for most people without breaking their bank balance.
