Five things to consider when remodelling jewellery

Designer and gemologist Lauren Addison shares her tips for giving vintage pieces a new lease of life

1Preserve its sentimental value. Vintage jewellery does not always appeal to modern tastes, so instead of letting your heirlooms go unworn, why not give them new life? Repurpose your grandmother’s diamond engagement ring into a unique necklace or turn your aunt’s emerald earrings into a bypass ring to honour the past while living in the present.

2Know the value of your gemstones and/or jewellery. Have your jewellery evaluated and appraised by a trained gemologist before you move forward with any changes. Gemstones can be damaged from years of wear and tear, so before you make any costly plans, be sure your gem is fit for repurposing. Perhaps it just needs a little TLC before you get started.

3Be upfront and realistic about your budget. Custom jewellery requires artistry, precision, time and craftsmanship, and while you may be providing one or more gemstones, depending on the complexity of the design, the mounting can still be quite costly. Be upfront about your budget with your jeweller and together you can come up with suitable options while giving new life to your gemstones.

4Do not get swayed by trends. When commissioning a piece of jewellery, you should choose a design that is an extension of your personal style and avoid getting swayed by current fashion trends. This will hopefully be a piece of jewellery that you will cherish for years to come; it would be unfortunate for it to end up back in your jewellery box collecting dust once the trend has passed.

5Work with someone you trust. Be sure to work with someone who is willing to take the time and listen to your ideas, and your likes and dislikes, so the process of upcycling your jewellery is an exciting one. Any jeweller can remodel a piece of jewellery, but you should work with someone who is trustworthy, understands your personal style, factors in your lifestyle and is able to take all of that information and translate into a well-designed and crafted piece of jewellery.