Here at Artisan, we’re known for our remodelling service, and a question that many of our customers ask is:
Can you make a new ring from an old ring?
Yes, absolutely!
Remodelling or redesigning jewellery is, to put it simply, taking old jewellery pieces and transforming them into something new. Inherited and unloved pieces no longer have to sit unused in your jewellery box. If you are wondering about the cost of remodelling, click here to learn more:
Old jewellery pieces can be redesigned into pretty much anything, but rings are definitely one of the most popular choices so let’s break it down step by step…
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Here’s exactly what happens when you choose to remodel a ring:
The Design Process:
Design Consultation
The first step to having your ring remodelled is to book your design consultation and visit the workshop. Design consultations are FREE 40 minute appointments in which you can chat one on one with the jewellery experts. Bring down all of your old jewellery, even the bits you think are no good! You will be surprised with the many possibilities…
At Artisan, the design process is 100% customer lead. If you don’t like it, we won’t make it! For more ideas to start your remodelling project, visit the gallery on our website.
The story of this remodelling starts with these three rings…
Our lovely customer Kym came down to the workshop with the rings, all 18ct gold, photographed above. The ring on the left is a ruby and diamond eternity ring which was a gift from her husband. The ring in the middle of the photograph is a solid gold band which was her nan’s wedding ring, and to its right is a ruby and diamond cluster ring which she also inherited from her nan. As the eternity ring had worn thin, Kym wanted to combine all the rings together to give them a new lease of life.
Sketching Ideas
After your jewellery has been assessed and your jeweller has an idea of what it is you want, it’s time to start brainstorming ideas! For this remodelling, Kym wanted a ring that curved and flowed around the gemstones, so this free flowing element was essential when it came to sketching ideas for her new ring. The redesign of her ring was also going to sit next to her wedding band, meaning that it needed a flat edge. After the designs had been sent over to her and finalised, it was time to start making her new ring.
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Making the ring:
Melting down the gold
Before any of the remodelling work can begin, first any stones must be removed so that the existing gold pieces can be melted down. This is done at a really high temperature using oxy-propane to ensure that the gold is fully fluid when it’s been melted. The molten gold is then poured into an ingot mould to cool into a small solid bar of gold. After this has cooled, your jeweller begins the long hard process of rolling it through a rolling mill. This forms the gold into a square cross section piece of metal… and trust me this takes some serious rolling and is basically an arm workout!
Making the main body of the ring
Once the profile has been made, the gold bar (AKA the wire) is then wrapped up into a circle. The ends are cut off and soldered together to form the basic shape of the ring, and then the twists and curves are formed and shaped ready to hold the settings.
Making the settings
Settings are the metal pieces that hold the gemstones onto your jewellery items. There are many different styles of settings but in this particular ring, they are all rub over style. These settings were formed from a seamless gold tube which is cut and then tapered in a collet block. They are then added to the wire shank (the part of the ring that wraps around your finger) and soldered together to form the complete ring.
Setting the stones
Once the ring has been formed, it’s time to add the stones! This design of this ring requires 3 rubies and 2 diamonds to be set, as well as lots of small round brilliant cut diamonds to be grain set along the bottom band of the ring. Each stone is individually fitted below the surface of the setting edge, and the edge is then carefully folded over to neatly hold the stone in place. All of the tiny diamonds along the bottom row were grain set using gravers to pull up small curls of metal from the surface and then pushed down with a beading tool to create the tiny little grains that hold the diamonds in place.
Adding the finishing touches
Once stones have been set, the setting edges need to be tidied. They are all individually sanded down so that they are free from tool marks. The ring is then meticulously polished to a high finish so that it’s super sparkly!
The finished piece
And Voila!
The ‘tiara’ ring is complete…
Testimonial:
“I was lucky enough to inherit my nan’s wedding ring to use when I got married. She also gave me a ruby and diamond ring but I rarely wore it as I had an eternity ring my husband bought me. Many years later the eternity ring had worn quite thin and having seen some of Justine’s remodelling work, I asked her if she could design something to combine both rings and give them a new lease of life. I loved the designs that she sent me, but one stood out. She took account of the shape of the wedding ring and made something that used the separate elements to create a new ring which curves and flows around the gemstones. I now have a piece of jewellery that is sympathetic to the originals and unique to me! It’s my favourite present ever and I am really grateful to Justine and the Artisan team.” – Kym Cahill
Remodelling your old jewellery is a great way to rework the unloved pieces in your jewellery box whilst keeping their sentimental value alive. We work with you to find styles and designs of jewellery that excite and inspire, so book your appointment here to start your ring transformation!
