5 Great Reasons to Reimagine Old Jewellery

Posted on Mar 20, 2023

A treasure trove is hidden in your drawer - that’s right, it’s your jewellery box! Before you spend on new jewellery, consider repairing, repurposing and reusing the older pieces you already own.

Whether it’s a ring from a previous relationship, or an inherited heirloom that isn’t quite your style, it’s a great way to save money, contribute to environmental conservation, and build a unique jewellery collection.

At White November, we reimagine your jewellery to create extraordinary new pieces that are modern, beautiful, and suit your own individual aesthetic - for a fraction of the cost of buying a new piece of jewellery. Our team have been offering reimagined jewellery services for years, breathing new life into jewellery that holds sentimental value for people and past events that hold a special meaning.

Read on to discover the five reasons why we believe you should reimagine your old jewellery.

- NUMBER ONE -

To Save the Environment

Upcycling has gained an increased momentum as we all focus on creating a more sustainable future. Reimagining vintage jewellery - whether it be resizing a gifted ring, or resetting gemstones from an inherited piece into a completely new design - is a great way to keep your environmental impact at the forefront. While the notion of refurbishing jewellery is gaining in popularity, goldsmiths and master craftsmen have reworked metals and reset gemstones for centuries, remaking heirloom pieces for new purposes.

The best thing about precious metals is that these raw materials are extremely durable, and are capable of being melted down, reworked, and completely redesigned. You can either reuse jewellery from your collection or buy pieces from antique shops or vintage boutiques. By giving these precious metals and pre-existing gems to the White November design team, you not only support the local economy, but are also minimising your carbon footprint - reducing the time and effort required to source and transport all the highly sought-after materials required to put together your unique piece of jewellery.

- NUMBER TWO -

To Save Money

In this ever-changing and unpredictable financial climate, it is natural to think of ways of how to better maximise your hard-earned money. For quality jewellery, it is standard to expect to spend a few hundred dollars at the very least. Recreating new jewellery pieces, therefore, is the smartest way to make the most of your current jewellery collection while also making the most out of your money.

Look through you and your family’s collection and find pieces that may be damaged, out-of-style, or in need of repair. At White November, we have the expertise and tools to repair old pieces and restore them to their former glory, extending the life of your once-loved jewels and saving you from re-buying these precious materials in a brand new piece.

Remodelled jewellery pieces also provide you with more value than selling them for cash, usually only leaving you with a fraction of the actual insurance value. This is because the gold buyer is only interested in the metal, and does not consider the price of the gemstones or the labour cost. Therefore, a reimagined design - which comes with a new valuation, ensures that not only the precious metals, but also the cost of gemstones and the crafting time are included in the true value of the piece.

- NUMBER THREE -

To Create a One-of-A-Kind Piece

There are inevitably pieces in your jewellery collection that are outdated, long-forgotten and unlikely to be worn again - whether it be because they do not match your current style, or because they are just not exciting to you anymore. Seeing the unlimited potential and magic of an old treasure is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences we have here at White November. We take such pleasure in being able to keep the sentiment and connections of your loved ones alive with an exquisite piece of jewellery that keeps them with you forever.

Reworking a heritage piece into a new design allows you to create something that is completely unique to you and your personal style, while also preserving honoured traditions and heartfelt memories. To give your jewellery a new lease on life, these pieces combine new and old precious materials, and are made using intricate handicraft techniques, giving your item a completely unmatched, artisan touch. If you are looking for a way to mark a special occasion, then a piece of jewellery that combines elements from an existing piece into a brand new design is an ideal way to combine cherished memories of the past, with soon-to-be cherished memories of the future.

- NUMBER FOUR -

To Create a Family Heirloom

Fortunate as we are to live in a world where we can travel across the world so easily, oftentimes, traditions are the only thing that keeps a family close - no matter the distance. A heirloom piece links family members together and to their heritage, serving as a reminder of their identity. Reimagining jewellery is a wonderful way to hold memories close, and keep love alive across generations. It is also a beautiful way to welcome someone new into your family, just like with the Royals - Princess Diana was gifted a sapphire brooch from The Queen Mother, and redesigned this heritage piece by turning the sapphire and diamonds into her iconic seven strand pearl choker necklace, giving this family heirloom a new life. The legacy of this piece - having had two different uses - has also transcended two generations.

By reworking heirloom pieces, precious materials and gemstones are brought to life again, allowing you to continue to share the story behind these memorable pieces, thus keeping them alive in the hearts and minds of yourself, as well as in all of your next generations to come. It also allows your family members to feel a sense of pride, seeing their once beloved pieces worn by the younger generations of the family and knowing that their memory has been immortalised by those they love most. The White November design team are able to create multiple pieces from one original heirloom jewellery piece, each with its own link and meaning to the initial ancestral family history.

- NUMBER FIVE -

For a Refreshed, Modern Update

The wonderful thing about redesigning old jewellery is that anything can be given an invigorated new feel. Just like your beloved grandmother’s brooch, which can be converted into a ring that is more suited to your own personal style, a bangle bracelet into a matching ring stacker set, or your mother’s engagement ring that can be transformed into a pendant that can be worn close to your heart.

Another way to remodel old jewellery is by giving it a dual purpose - for example, turning a ring into the centrepiece for a necklace, or a brooch that can be worn as a pendant. Creating more versatility within your jewellery collection is the best way to make it feel fresh again.