Resetting and Repurposing Inherited Estate Jewelry

When someone passes away, their most prized possessions often become gifts for their loved ones. Leaving someone an antique watch, heirloom necklace, or even a precious engagement ring can be a beautiful way to send blessings from one generation to the next. Yet sadly, these beloved family treasures often end up locked away in a safe, hidden from sight. 

Why does this happen? Most people who receive estate jewelry from their parents or grandparents aren’t always sure what to do with it. Selling old jewelry might feel disrespectful, even though it’s not your style and you’ll probably never wear it. Thankfully, there is a third option: repurposing vintage jewelry to give it new life.

5 Ways to Repurpose Vintage Estate Jewelry

Antique jewelry is not always wearable based on current trends or due to the current condition, such as a worn-away finish. Whatever the state of the items your parents or grandparents leave to you in their wills, you can put them to better use through upcycling or repurposing.

1. Use It to Make Something Brand New

If you’re not too sentimental about the design, estate jewelry can become the raw material for new pieces more suited to your taste. You can use it to create custom jewelry for special occasions, helping you remember your departed loved ones when it matters most. This option involves removing the gemstones and melting the metal, using the parts to cast brand-new jewelry.

2. Modernize the Design 

Much has changed in jewelry design over the ages, so what was stylish 50 years ago probably isn’t in vogue today. If you don’t want to reconstruct your old jewelry entirely, you can modernize it by resetting the gemstones or even recutting them to achieve a more modern shape. While you’re at it, consider adding to the original design by attaching some melee diamonds or other accent stones. 

3. Combine It With Another Piece of Jewelry

Another way to repurpose used jewelry is to add it intact to an existing piece from your collection. This approach works best for bracelets and rings where stacking is effortless. For example, fusing your grandmother’s engagement ring to your own will give you a blend of old and new in a singular design. Pieces like these can become family heirlooms when you leave them to your children one day.

4. Create a Matching Jewelry Set

If you were lucky enough to receive a sizable vintage jewelry collection from a departed loved one, you might get multiple upcycled pieces out of it. You could melt everything down and use the metal to cast a matching necklace, earrings, and bracelet set, reusing the original diamonds and gems. Alternatively, you could turn the jewelry into twin bracelets for different occasions.    

5. Honor the Heirloom With Engravings 

Finally, you can keep inherited jewelry unchanged but add a small engraving. This option allows you to maximize the sentimental value. For example, you might engrave the original owner’s name into a ring with space for your name on the other side. Eventually, it can become multigenerational heirloom jewelry that individually honors the wearer’s parents and grandparents. 

Repurposing Old Wedding Jewelry 

Estate jewelry almost always includes engagement rings and wedding bands. Repurposing these unique pieces can be challenging for many reasons. You may want to give a vintage ring to your partner when you propose, or you may be hesitant to use it if your parents’ marriage ended poorly. Whatever the circumstances, communication is critical. 

Remember, not everyone appreciates the sentimental value of secondhand jewelry. You may need to compromise on using the ring as is by turning it into something unique to your relationship. When it comes to wedding jewelry, the benefits of customization usually outweigh the cost.

Is Estate Jewelry Worth Anything? 

No matter how shiny, not all estate jewelry fetches a high price. Some pieces – particularly antique gold jewelry – may be worth lots of money, while others hold more sentimental value. The best way to determine the value of a vintage jewelry collection is to have it appraised by a professional. 

Condition, materials, and market demand could influence the final selling price. Sometimes it may be worth repurposing the jewelry to increase its sale value in the future. 

What You Should Know Before Selling Antique Jewelry

If you still want to sell your estate jewelry after the appraisal, you could first consider some aspects. Selling preowned jewelry online can be a nightmare for inexperienced sellers due to the prevalence of scammers in unregulated spaces. Instead, we recommend taking your jewelry to a reputable reseller or registered diamond broker for a fair price.

It’s also worth noting that you probably won’t get your money’s worth for old jewelry in poor condition. Always have it professionally cleaned and repaired before trying to sell it. You could also remove the stones and sell them separately for higher individual prices.

Upcycle Old Jewelry With JPratt Designs

JPratt Designs is a family-owned business that has helped people repurpose estate jewelry in Dallas for over 30 years. With so many years of experience behind us, we often serve multiple generations of the same family, giving us a deep understanding of every ring’s sentimental value. We love turning beloved heirlooms into wearable custom designs that won’t spend their lifetime in a jewelry box. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact JPratt Designs.