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REMODELLING
Do you have old jewellery lying in a drawer unworn, or have you inherited jewellery which just isn't your style? We can breathe new life into your old jewellery by remodelling it into a stunning new piece. Jewellery remodelling can be as simple as melting down an old wedding band to create a new one, turning a lonely earring into a pendant, or resetting a diamond into a contemporary new mount. Or it could be as complex as combining several old pieces into a fully bespoke design.
This service is also perfect for replicating designs that have become damaged or are too fragile to wear, such as inherited family heirlooms. We can create an exact copy of the design in new metal and reset the existing stones to give you a new, stronger piece suitable for everyday wear.
Scroll down to read some frequently asked questions about our remodelling service. If you have any queries that aren't covered here, please get in touch. ​​
Frequently Asked Questions
What is remodelling?
Remodelling jewellery can take many forms. It can be as simple as resetting a diamond into a new ready-made mount, or as complex as creating an exact replica of an antique piece in new metal. We have a 3D laser scanner onsite, allowing us to replicate even the smallest details. A common remodelling request is turning earrings into pendants, whether it is an inherited pair being split between two siblings, or a single earring left after one is lost. This is a relatively simple job of removing the earring post and attaching a hanging bail. It is also common for inherited wedding rings to be melted down and used to create a new wedding ring for a child or grandchild. Whatever your plans, we can help!
Where do I start?
To enquire about remodelling, please pop into the shop with your existing jewellery, or email sales@loganthejewellers.co.uk so we can discuss your requirements and the next steps. If you know exactly what you'd like for your new design, most of the consultation process can be done by email. But don't worry if you're not sure where to start! We'll arrange an appointment for you to visit us for a consultation, where we can show you different setting styles, stone sizes, and examples of our past designs.
Can I reuse my existing gemstones?
We complete dozens of bespoke designs each year using a customer's own gemstones, often arranging for them to be repolished to look like new. If you want to add extra gemstones, our stone-matching service ensures a perfect match to the originals. However, we must stress that using your own stones is not without risk. While we will visually inspect each stone to determine whether it is suitable for reuse, we cannot guarantee the integrity of gemstones we have not supplied. Gemstones can often have hidden faults and weaknesses not visible to the eye, especially if they are being reused from existing jewellery. When subjected to repolishing, or to the heat and pressure of the setting process, these hidden faults can cause a stone to crack, chip or shatter (even diamonds). This is due to the inherently fragile nature of gemstones and is outside of our control. Stone failure is extremely rare - we have only experienced this a handful of times in several decades of jewellery design. But unfortunately it can happen, even with brand-new stones. Gemstones supplied by us are fully guaranteed and will be replaced without charge if they fail, but customer-supplied gemstones are used at your own risk, and replacement stones will be chargeable. We won't be able to cancel your bespoke design in the event of stone failure during setting, as the mount will already be finished by that stage. But if your stone does fail, we will supply a replacement at trade price with no additional charges added.
Can I resuse my existing metal?
It might be possible to reuse the existing setting in it's current state, for example when turning an earring into a pendant. It is also possible to 'melt down' existing metal and use it to make a new wedding band or bangle, or incorporate it into a new bespoke design. However, this process isn't as simple as people often think. 9ct gold only contains 37.5% pure gold. 18ct gold is 75% pure, and 950 platinum is 95% pure. The rest of the metal is a mix of alloys such as zinc, copper, nickel, iron, aluminium and silver. There is no defined standard for the mix of alloys used, and different items of jewellery will have different types and quantities of alloys in their metal. Some jewellers will 'melt down' existing jewellery and mix it together in one batch to make something new. While this is often done cheaply, it is very poor practice, resulting in an unstable alloy mix and impurities in the metal. The resulting jewellery will be weak and have a poor finish. The correct method is to melt the metal and use a process called ‘refining’ to extract the pure gold or platinum, leaving behind the alloys and impurities. The extracted gold or platinum is mixed with a new batch of alloys in a process called 'alloying'. Pure gold can be used to make 9ct, 14ct or 18ct gold in yellow, white or rose. The only difference is the amount and type of alloys used. Refining and alloying metal is a complex process requiring specialist equipment and chemicals, and it takes many hours to complete. This means that the cost of time and materials usually outweighs any savings achieved by reusing existing metal, especially in the case of 9ct gold. If the existing metal has sentimental value, you might be happy to pay the extra cost to have it incorporated into your new design. But if you have no sentimental attachment to the existing metal, we would recommend that your design is made in new metal as this is the easiest and most cost-effective option. You can also trade-in your existing metal scrap to offset the cost.
How long does it take?​​
This depends entirely on the type of remodelling. Setting a diamond into a new ready-made mount can be completed in as little as a few days. A complex bespoke design could take months, especially if we need to source matching stones. We'll provide an estimated timescale as part of the quote for your remodelling project. If you have a tight deadline, we'll do our best to help.
How much does it cost?​​
The cost of remodelling will vary depending on the work involved. We base all quotes on the time taken to carry out the work, and the cost of materials required. Turning a single earring into a pendant can cost as little as £90 in 9ct gold. Making a simple handmade wedding band from existing metal would cost approximately £400. This includes the cost of refining the existing metal and hallmarking the new ring. A ready-made ring mount could cost as little as £400 in 9ct gold and £600 in platinum, including stone setting. This is based on a simple four-claw solitaire mount. If you'd like a heavier mount or a diamond-set design, this would increase the cost, as would a mount designed to hold several stones. Pendant and earring mounts are cheaper than ring mounts, as they use less metal. A simple four-claw pendant mount would cost as little as £180 in 9ct gold and £250 in platinum, including stone setting. Bespoke remodelling designs generally start at £1000 in 9ct gold, but could cost several thousand pounds depending on the design chosen. Please get in touch for an accurate quote based on your requirements.
Can I spread the cost?​
Our free layaway service allows you to split the cost into an agreed number of instalments and collect your item once the balance has been paid in full. There are no additional charges and no credit check. Please ask for details. We also offer interest-free instalments from PayItMonthly. Please let us know in advance if you'd like to apply for this, as it is not available for all orders.