Jewellery remodelling: give your old gold a new life
What is heirloom gold?
Heirloom gold is a term used to describe gold passed on between family members, usually in jewellery form. Common heirloom jewellery pieces include signet rings, pendants, pieces with family crests or symbolism, and wedding rings.When you inherit heirloom gold, what you do with it is up to you. Some choose to resize and keep wearing it as is. Others prefer to repurpose it into something that better reflects their own taste. And some choose to sell it. There's no right answer when is comes to only what feels right for you.
Why do people melt down old gold?
The reasons are as personal as the pieces themselves. The most common ones we hear:It's not to your taste
The style of the original piece no longer resonates, but the gold itself holds both sentimental and material value.
Milestone gifts
Many of our customers use inherited gold to create something meaningful for a child's graduation, 21st birthday, or wedding day.
Sentimental connection
A piece may carry emotional weight without being wearable. Redesigning it keeps that connection close.
How to reuse or remodel old gold
There are a few ways we can work with your existing gold — it depends on the piece and what you'd like to create.
Resize or rechain
Ring resizing or replacing old, weak or broken chains to make old heirlooms wearable again.
Repair or restore
Older pieces may have lost stones, snapped clasps, damaged claws, or surface scratches.
Full remodel
Melt it down and create something entirely new and unique. This is the most transformative option.
Reusing your old gold is simple and fuss-free.
Every piece of heirloom jewellery has its own history, and we see that as part of its beauty. Because of that, we carefully assess each item before we start. Most solid gold pieces, such as rings, pendants, and earrings, can be melted down and reused.
We can also set gemstones or diamonds (either newly sustainably-sourced by us, or your own) into your new design, adding another layer of meaning and making it completely unique.
STEP 1
Gold identification & design consultation
During your consultation, we assess the suitability of your gold and check its hallmark to confirm it's solid and establish the carat. If there's no visible hallmark, we can send it off for professional testing.
We then discuss what you'd like to create - an engagement ring from a grandparent's wedding band, a pendant or something else entirely. Depending on complexity, we'll provide a sketch or a full 3D render for your approval.
STEP 2
Sourcing & quote
Once your design has been finalised, we'll identify if any additional gold or gemstones are needed and provide you with a quote.
Step 3
Making
We'll then get to work on creating your piece using your heirloom gold. The method depends on the piece - we may roll the gold into wire for fine work, or use sandcasting for more sculptural forms.
How we work with your heirloom gold
If we're melting down your old gold to make something new, we use two main methods. The method used depends on the nature of your old gold and the new piece you'd like to make.
1. Rolling into wire
Your gold is melted and rolled into wire, making it perfect for creating classic shapes like wedding bands.
2. Sandcasting
An ancient technique which involves pouring melted heirloom gold into a mould - ideal if you’d like to keep a more organic, detailed texture.
Understanding UK hallmarks on family jewellery
If you're not sure if your family jewellery is solid gold, you can look at the hallmarks. Using a magnifying glass is best. The numbers, letter and symbol will let you know what carat gold it is, when it was made and hallmarked, and where.Carat
375 · 585 · 750
9ct, 14ct, or 18ct gold
Assay office
Symbol
Where it was tested and marked
Date letter
Letter
The year it was hallmarked
Can't find a hallmark, or not sure what you're looking at? Read our full hallmarking guide here. Or simply bring the piece in — we're happy to take a look during your consultation.
The environmental benefits of remodelling jewellery
Reusing old gold is very environmentally friendly, as it does not require 'new' gold to be sourced.No new mining required
Gold mining strips land, consumes vast amounts of water, and damages ecosystems. Reusing your gold means none of that is necessary.
Lower carbon footprint
Extracting and refining new gold is energy-intensive. Working with recycled gold (like we do with all of our jewellery, not just heirloom projects) sidesteps that process entirely.
Circular jewellery with longevity
Something worn, loved, and eventually passed on again. Repurposed heirloom jewellery stays in the world rather than being lost to it.
Ideas for redesigning your old gold
The most popular choice is an engagement or wedding ring, but the possibilities are endless. We can't wait to bring your jewellery idea to life.Discover some of our recent bespoke pieces created using our customers' heirloom gold below. Perfect for inspiration and an idea of what might be possible for your design.
Pricing
At Wild Fawn, working with heirloom gold starts at £495. This would be the price of something like a wedding ring that needs no extra gold added and no stones. The price depends on the intricacy of the design that you would like and whether we need to add any gold to make your design. We'll always provide a full quote before any work begins.Ready to give your heirloom gold a new life?
If you have old or inherited gold that you would like to rework into something new, book a free consultation with us to discuss your ideas. The consultation can be virtual or in-person in our cosy South-East London workshop consultation room, during which we can test your gold, discuss your design, answer any questions you have, and provide guidance on pricing.Book a consultation to start your jewellery remodelling journey now
Reusing old gold FAQ
What kind of jewellery can I remodel?
Your jewellery must be solid gold to be reused and repurposed. Things like rings, pendants, and bangles are best.
Gold chains may not be suitable, due to the links likely being weakened over time.
If you're unsure if your jewellery is suitable for reusing, just book a consultation and we can advise.
Can you melt down gold-plated jewellery?
As we work exclusively with solid gold, we do not work with gold plated jewellery. Whether gold-plated pieces can be worked with depends on the core metal - e.g. is it solid sterling silver beneath the gold plating?
Some other studios may be able to help.
Can I reuse old diamonds & gemstones?
Yes! If you have heirloom diamonds or gemstones that you'd like to be used in a bespoke piece, bring them in to your consultation. We'll take a look and let you if they're suitable for reuse, and the best way to incorporate them into your design.
If you would like gemstones in your repurposed-gold piece but don't have any, we can ethically-source these for you, too.
