How to Redesign or Reset an Heirloom or Antique Ring
- And Why Bespoke Jewellery Is for Everyone
Heirloom and antique jewellery carry more than metal and stone - they carry memory, lineage, and a quiet sense of history. But as time moves, styles shift, and pieces can feel less connected to the way we live today. Resetting or redesigning an heirloom or antique ring is a thoughtful way to honour its origins while giving it a new chapter.
In our London studio, redesigns - and all bespoke commissions - are crafted in recycled solid gold, using a zero-waste process that preserves the story while reimagining the form. Whether you’re reworking a family treasure, transforming an antique jewel, or creating something entirely new for yourself, bespoke allows you to shape a piece with intention.
Bespoke isn’t reserved for proposals. It’s the next level of personalisation - a way to create jewellery that feels distinctly, unmistakably yours.
1. Begin With the Sentiment
Every bespoke project begins with meaning. We start with your story - who wore the piece, how it was found or passed down, and what you want to preserve or reinterpret.
Some choose to keep the spirit of the original design. Others prefer a quiet departure: a new form crafted from familiar gold or gemstones.
And bespoke isn’t limited to rings. Antique or heirloom pieces can become:
- A pair of earrings shared between siblings
- A pendant holding the diamond from a grandmother's ring
- A bracelet using stones collected over generations
- A brooch reimagined into something sculptural and contemporary
- Jewellery that feels wearable daily, not only cherished occasionally
Whatever its beginning, your piece becomes a personal chapter - made with care and shaped for the life you lead now.
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2. Assess the Stones
For every heirloom or antique redesign, our jewellers take time to understand the materials.
We examine each gemstone for:
- Condition
- Integrity
- Suitability for new settings
- Shape and potential recutting
Diamonds tend to transition beautifully into modern settings. Antique cuts - like old mine or rose cuts - can be preserved or reset in a style that honours their character. Coloured stones may need protective settings or reinforced prongs to ensure longevity.
Whether you’re restoring a vintage ring or using antique stones to create earrings or a necklace, the process begins here.
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3. Recycle the Gold
Where possible, we melt down the original gold and use it in your new design.
Gold reclaimed from antique or heirloom jewellery becomes part of the new piece - symbolic, sustainable, and deeply personal.
This zero-waste approach is central to how we work. Recycled gold can be reshaped into:
The past is not lost; it simply takes on a new form.
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4. Explore New Designs
Once we understand the materials and your vision, the design begins. For heirloom resets - and all bespoke commissions - the possibilities are wide-ranging:
- A modern solitaire set with your family diamond
- A pendant using one heirloom stone
- Earrings crafted from a matching pair
- A pavé band incorporating antique diamonds
- A contemporary cluster inspired by the original silhouette
- A brooch reimagined as a sculptural pendant or charm
- A shared set: one antique piece transformed into multiple heirlooms
- A completely new design shaped around your lifestyle and aesthetic
Whether the starting point is a Victorian ring or an Art Deco brooch, our aim is to give the piece continuity - a history carried forward, not replaced.
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5. The Making Process
Once the design is finalised, the piece is handcrafted in our London studio:
- Gold is melted, shaped and refined by hand
- Antique or heirloom stones are reset with precision
- Every surface is filed, polished and finished by our jewellers
- Each detail is checked for balance, longevity, and wearability
The result is a piece that honours its origin - or celebrates a new one - while feeling deeply aligned with who you are today.
Whether it becomes a ring, earrings, a necklace, bracelet or brooch, every bespoke piece is crafted to be worn, lived in, and eventually passed on.
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