Customizing heirloom jewelry

Have you inherited jewelry you never wear?  Is it dated or just not your style?  Many of our clients come to us with heirloom jewelry pieces that are lying unused in their jewelry boxes.

Here are some of the most common reasons why you might want to customize your family heirlooms.

Ill-fitting heirloom jewelry

This is one of the most common reasons for customizing pieces. Even if you love your grandma’s ring, she may have been a different size. Sometimes clients come to us after a significant change in weight, or even to make a piece lighter and more comfortable to wear. We can make pieces larger or smaller, so just let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll advise accordingly.

Sharing an heirloom piece

This is especially great if you want to gift jewelry to several loved ones. Depending on the piece, an expert jeweler could manage to create two or more pieces from a pre-existing one. For example, long earrings could be transformed into 2 or 3 different pairs, and necklaces could be shortened to create bracelets or even rings.

Changing an heirloom piece to fit your style

Family heirlooms are always appreciated, but it can be difficult to make a piece that’s 50+ years old fit into a modern wardrobe. By modifying it you can create a one-of-a-kind jewelry design that you’ll use way more often. We can also customize an heirloom engagement ring to make it fit the new recipient without taking away from the original style.

Fixing damaged heirloom jewelry

Even if you love the original piece, it may have been damaged over time. Lost stones, damaged sections or missing pieces can make an heirloom impossible to wear. Sometimes, your jeweler might be able to replace the missing pieces. However, adding new stones or using the same metals can be costly. By customizing the piece, we might be able to modify it without spending too much on new elements: you’ll get a new piece without breaking the bank.

Custom jewelry design isn’t limited to changing pre-existing pieces. Our team can also replicate a piece you’ve seen elsewhere.

Replicating a piece of jewelry is a complex process, but the end result is always worth it. Whether you want to emulate a lost heirloom or were inspired by a piece out of your budget, we will work together to create the best-looking replica of your ideal piece.

Creating a personalized jewelry design

You might not want to change an heirloom or imitate another piece, but rather create a one-of-a-kind jewelry design for a loved one. Custom jewelry is a thoughtful gift that anyone will cherish! Plus, you’ll be making sure the end result truly represents the recipient’s style.

We’ve helped countless clients create a personalized jewelry design, so we know a thing or two about the process. If you’re interested, here’s how it usually goes:

• Think about your likes and dislikes

Of course, if the piece isn’t for you, think about what the recipient likes. We recommend having a list of the colors they like and dislike, as well as their favorite stones and combinations.

This step also involves considering their lifestyle. Will they be using the piece daily? Is this a piece for special occasions only? If the piece is for someone else, it might be worth it to ask friends and family for pointers.

• Brainstorm ideas

This is the fun part. Now that you have a rough idea of what you want, start putting together pictures of how your customized piece will look. We really like Pinterest for this step: it’s easy to look up keywords and find pieces that are similar to what you’re looking for.

• Start drafting and refining

Once you’ve brainstormed, it’s time to refine your custom jewelry design. You don’t really need to be a good artist for this: either draw by hand or limit your reference pictures to the ones that most closely resemble your ideal piece.

• Bring your idea to a custom jewelry expert

Once you have a clear image of what you want, talk to an expert! A professional jeweler will be able to assess your design and help make the final tweaks. We will also let you know an estimate of the cost, and maybe technical details like the best materials to create your idea.

We might also have pieces in stock with some of your chosen elements. That way, you’ll be able to see them in real life before ordering the final piece.

• Enjoy!

Our favorite part. Once your jeweler has crafted your unique piece, it’s time to enjoy it! Use it, gift it, or treasure it.  Now you have a fully customized jewelry piece that represents your personality and taste, so wear it often.