A Guide to Jewellery Remodelling with Before and After Photos
There are many reasons people choose to melt down and remake their jewellery. Perhaps you have a collection of jewellery that has been handed down through the generations, or maybe you have a ring you'd like updated and modernised - something new to suit your style. Alternatively, you may have a special heirloom diamond you'd like to incorporate into a new engagement ring.
I’ll walk you through how to prepare for a remodelling consultation, what to bring, and what to discuss with the jewellery designer. I’ll provide a glimpse into the design process for the more complex remodelling jobs, and how to choose the right jewellery designer for the job.
How to prepare for a remodelling consult
What to bring?
Bring all the jewellery you want remodelled and redesigned to show the designer.
If you're going through the remodelling process remotely, send photos of the items next to a ruler so the designer can measure the size of the gemstones you want reset.
The jeweller will inspect the pieces to see which gemstones can be re-set, what gold can be melted into a new piece of jewellery, and which items might be best credited to the job or simply returned to the client.
What to tell the jewellery designer?
Let the jeweller know what item of jewellery you want e.g. a ring, pendant, or earrings etc. If you’re looking to have a ring made, you should also be clear about which hand you want to wear it on.
Consider where you intend to wear the item. Is it a piece for everyday wear, like an engagement or wedding ring? Or do you want it to be a special-occasion piece, like a cocktail ring, to be worn only on special occasions?
Jewellery designed for everyday wear will have different design features compared to a statement piece worn only on special occasions.
The next step is conveying your style to the jewellery designer. The best way to do this is by collecting a handful of images of jewellery you like and sending or showing them to the designer as style inspirations.
At this point, the jewellery designer will ask you prompting questions to gain a clearer idea of who you are and what kind of jewellery you like to wear. With all the jewellery and gemstones measured, and a blueprint of your style preferences in hand, it’s time for the designer to get to work and create jewellery design concepts for your feedback.
Behind-the-scenes designing phase
This is where the brainstorming begins. Ideas are sketched, developed, and the best concepts are drawn to scale.
A scale drawing is arguably the most important aspect of a successful jewellery remodelling project. If the gemstones' proportions don’t work together, it will show in the scale drawing. This design is the closest you can get to seeing what the piece will look like before it is made.
If coloured gemstones are being used, I include their colours in the design sketch, as colour is another layer of design that needs to be considered.
Design concepts and development
Now the fun part begins: you get to see the designs and select your favourite one - perhaps you might have a few changes you want to make to a particular design. Either way, remember, you are the client, and the most important thing is that you are happy.
What if I already know what design I want?
If you already know what design you want, that’s great! It makes the process a lot quicker. I would still recommend viewing a scale image of what your gemstones or diamond might look like in the design you have. The proportions can be adjusted to suit the size of your existing gemstones to achieve the correct overall look.
Melting old gold and making it new
Once the final design has been approved, your gemstones are unset, the gold that can be reused is melted down, and your new item is created.
Choosing a designer to remake your jewellery
It is important to find a jewellery designer who has an eye for design. Unfortunately, I have listened to many people share horror stories about getting their family heirlooms remodelled.
Being able to see the design potential in existing gemstones is a skill developed over time. To find a jeweller who can help you reimagine your jewellery, look at their current portfolio. Do they have a range of jewellery you like the look of? Do they go above and beyond with their designs? Initial jewellery remodelling consultations are generally free of charge. In the initial consultation, you will get a feel for whether the designer is a good match for you.
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Simple jewellery remodels like melting gold and turning it into a plain band starts at $500AUD
More complex remodels with multiple gemstones start around the $1900AUD mark up to $4000AUD
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The whole process from designing the new jewellery piece to making the item takes from 4 to 6 weeks.
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We are located on the Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia.
Our studio address is B4 354 Mons Road, Forest Glen, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4556 -
Yes, we offer a remote jewellery remodelling service for clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania and throughout Australia.
Meet the author
Hi, I’m Lisa, owner of Set Together Jewellery. I’ve been helping clients reimagine their heirloom jewellery for over a decade. As a jewellery designer, I love these kinds of projects. The history that jewellery holds and the stories I’m told are wonderful to be a part of—a glimpse into family connections. The existing gemstones give me parameters and boundaries to work within, a welcomed challenge to solve. The before and after always blow me away, and the reaction I get from my clients is simply priceless, from tears of joy to warm hugs.
If you’d like to see more jewellery made at Set Together, view our full gallery
If you like to contact Lisa directly, send an email to this address.
