Can I turn inherited jewellery into an engagement ring?

Can I turn inherited jewellery into an engagement ring?

You've inherited a jewellery piece from your Grandma - perhaps a ring or a brooch. As you look at it, you think the diamonds must be worth something and that gets you thinking. You wouldn't wear it as it is, but could this jewellery piece be turned into an engagement ring?

The short answer

Yes, you can absolutely turn family heirloom jewellery into an engagement ring. It can be the most meaningful way to create a ring you're going to love in the future. Whether it’s an old cut diamond from your grandma’s ring, a cluster of smaller stones from several pieces, or a brooch which has been handed down, these materials can be carefully re-designed into a ring that reflects your personality and family history.

What jewellery can and can't be remodelled

Almost all gold jewellery can be remodelled. In fact it doesn't even matter if you have several pieces of different carats. With a bit of chemistry, the gold can be turned from 9 to 18 carat, yellow gold to white gold and more.

The most important thing is to find a jeweller who you feel you can trust. A good bespoke engagement ring designer will ask the right questions to work out what your perfect ring design will be, even if you're not sure yourself and will guide you through the process.

 

My interactions with Ruth has been nothing short of amazing, I went to her about my wedding ring and getting a few extra diamonds in there and she was very helpful and proactive. She explained everything clearly and I can see the quality of her work is next to none. She is truly an expert in her field. Thank you Ruth

Why choose to repurpose family jewellery

A lot of engagement rings can be very generic, featuring row after row of generic diamond rings. By repurposing a piece of heirloom jewellery, you create a story and a future heirloom that is uniquely yours. You don't have to be restricted though. You might choose to pair your family diamonds with new gemstones of your choice. You don't even have to have a diamond in your engagement ring. Why not choose a sapphire or ruby instead?

Good design honours the past while designing for now and into the future.

 

How the transformation process works

Turning your family heirloom into an engagement ring starts with a conversation about your story, memories and and any design ideas you've had so far. You don’t need to have it all figured out at the start. From there, I will sketch initial concepts and ideas to show you. We'll then work together to refine these until the design feels right. Once you’ve agreed the direction and paid a 50% deposit, the handcrafting begins in the studio, with updates on progress along the way. It's a good idea to allow 3 months for your bespoke ring to be designed and made to avoid rushed design decisions, which you might later regret. Finally, when your new ring is finished, the final payment is made and you receive a piece that blends your family history and future together.

 

Let's talk about the 'what if's'

What if I regret it?

In our consultation, we'll talk about the pro's and con's of different designs. I take a gentle approach and if while getting to know you, I get the sense that redesign is genuinely not the right thing for you, I will be honest (even if it means not creating a ring, which I would love to work on).

What if family members are upset?

Occasionally family members have strong views. However, usually it comes from a place of being worried about the outcome. By booking a consultation with me first, you can have your own questions answered, which makes it easier to talk to them and bring them into the conversation afterwards. If a family member definitely doesn't want a piece of jewellery such as a ring altering, but you really want to use it as an engagement ring, then there are creative ways around it, such as designing an additional ring that fits around it.

I don't know what I want yet

That's totally fine, you don't need to yet. Over the years, I've developed a knack for drawing out half-baked ideas, likes and dislikes and bringing them together into one engagement ring design. You've probably seen a lot of designs out there that you don't like. That's all really useful information and a great starting point.

 

How much will this cost?

Creating an engagement ring from an heirloom piece, usually starts at around £2500, up to around £20 000. However, during a consultation, we talk about budget right from the start to avoid surprises. So for example, if your budget is £5000, then I'll create a design within that (without going right up to your upper budget when there's no reason to). I will always give you a fixed total before we start, so you know exactly how much it's going to cost.

 

Turning a brooch into an engagement ring - real life example

 

Every diamond and every flake of gold came from the family heirloom, creating a piece of history as well as a beautiful ring for Matt's fiancé Anna.