Remodeling Your Old Jewellery

Turn old jewellery into new

Do you have jewellery that you don’t wear? Maybe you have inherited some rings that are not quite your style? We can re-design your jewellery so you can enjoy wearing it. At Jewel Beetle, there are two options available to you:

Melting down your gold
Trading your gold for new materials

Melting down

We understand that your old or inherited jewellery has great sentimental value and we will always meltdown your gold on your request. Designs are limited with this process but we can advise you on this. Have a look at some the great results below. ring diamonds topas gold

"We love transforming your old jewellery it can take on a new lease of life and be enjoyed again instead of hiding away inside your jewellery box!"

ring remoddeling

Trade - in

There are less limitations on your design when you choose to trade your jewellery in for new materials. We send your scrap gold for refining. The gold value fluctuates on a daily basis and you will get the gold price on the day the refining takes place. This amount is then credited to our metal account and we can use this to supply new materials to make your piece of jewellery. You can also choose alternative metals like platinum or white gold for your new design.

What sort of design can I have made?
For inspiration take a look at our extensive portfolio of designs in store. If we are using your own gold then designs are limited but our jewellers are always on hand to offer advice. If you prefer, we also offer a bespoke design service. Ask us for details!

How much does it cost to have a ring made?

Every job is different in terms of cost. Some customers have all the materials and other jobs may require extra gold to be added to the mix. As a rough guide you can download our remodeling price guide.

"Thanks for all the excellent contact I experienced while creating my new ring. The end product is a sensational piece and I very much enjoy wearing it"

Judy McKenzie, Nelson

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF REMODELING JEWELLERY?

First, we carefully unset your gemstones, taking great care not to damage them in this process. We cut out any settings and solder joins that cannot be used. We weigh what’s left and add any extra gold if needed. This all goes into the crucible to melt. The molten metal is poured into an ingot. Once cooled, if the ingot is successful, we start the process of several rounds of rolling through the mills and annealing (a heating process to soften the metal). Once the metal is in a workable shape we start the process of manufacturing your new design!

IS IT CHEAPER TO REUSE MY OWN GOLD?

In most cases, you will save some money using your own materials but this largely depends on how much gold you have to start with and what you want to make as a new design. The savings may not be as much as you might expect. The process of melting your gold can take as much as three times longer than starting with new materials. Just as a dressmaker would need to painstakingly unpick all the seams of a dress to reuse the fabric to sew something new, there is a lot of time involved in carefully un-setting gemstones, removing impurities like solder joints from jewellery, before we even begin the melting and manufacturing process.

ARE THERE ANY METALS THAT I CANNOT MELT DOWN FOR MY NEW PIECE OF JEWELLERY?

Yes, silver as it is not economically viable to melt down. We also don’t melt down white gold or platinum jewellery as we simply don’t have the right equipment to reach the temperatures needed to melt successfully. Chains are not advisable for melting down as each link in the chain is joined with a small amount of solder and this results in impurities in the melt. These impurities can cause cracks in the metal once we begin to put the ingot through the rolling mills. At Jewel Beetle, we will always advise you if we are not reusing your gold in case it is of sentimental value to you. We can often advise you of a different design that is more suitable for melting down and remodeling.

DO YOU BUY GOLD AND BROKEN JEWELLERY?

At Jewel Beetle we do not buy gold items in exchange for cash. However we can accept old gold items to be traded. With the credit from your refined scrap, we can use this amount to supply new materials to make you a new piece of jewellery. The gold value fluctuates on a daily basis and you will get the amount based on the gold price on the day the refining takes place. With this option, you can also choose to have your new jewellery design made in a different metal like platinum or white gold

WHAT SORT OF DESIGN CAN I HAVE MADE?

For inspiration take a look at our extensive portfolio of designs in store or visit our website gallery. If we are using your own gold then designs are limited but our jewellers are always on hand to offer advice. If you prefer, we also offer a bespoke design service. Come and talk to us and show us what you have and we can advise you on the options. Sometimes we can remove parts of an old item and reuse them in a new design. Alternatively, if the item isn’t sentimental we can trade in your old gold towards the cost of a new item of jewellery. If your new ring weighs more than the old one, more metal will need to be purchased and added to the melt as well. Some designs are cheaper to manufacture by carving a wax model and having it cast. If the same design is made from sheet metal or a bar there is a lot of filing required to get the desired shape, and more material is needed from the outset. If your design lends itself to be cast, we unfortunately cannot use your own gold for this. At Jewel Beetle, we will always advise you if we are not reusing your gold in case it is of sentimental value to you. We can often advise you of a different design that is more suitable for melting down and remodeling.

CAN I REUSE THE GEMSTONES FROM MY OLD RINGS IN MY NEW RING?

In general Diamonds, Sapphires and Rubies stand the test of time. If your gemstones are in a reasonable condition and not chipped or too scratched we are happy to unset them for use in a new piece of jewellery. We understand that jewellery and your gemstones have a very personal and sentimental value. We can re-use your gemstones but this is entirely at your own risk. Flaws in gems are often concealed by their settings, there is always a risk of breakages when stones are un-set. Some stones are more vulnerable to breaking than others, especially softer gemstones like Emeralds and Opals. We would advise on inspection if the job can be done.

CAN I MIX 9CT AND 18CT GOLD TOGETHER TO MAKE A NEW PIECE OF JEWELLERY?

We encourage you to keep items made of different carat gold separate. Although it’s not standard practice to mix different carat golds together, this can be done on request. We do not stamp these items as they do not conform to either 9ct or 18ct standards. This can devalue the item. Also, if you ever need to get the item repaired or resized in the future, the colour of the newly added metal will be different due to its mixed alloy content. It’s advisable to disclose this to the jeweller.