Jewellery Remodelling
Inherited or unworn jewellery often carries deep sentimental value. But a piece made for an earlier generation isn't always something you want to wear today. The stones might be beautiful. The setting might not be.
Our jewellery remodelling service uses the original stones and precious metal to create something new — a piece that honours where it came from while being something you'll genuinely wear. The process is collaborative. We work with you on the design, show you CAD models before we cut metal, and produce a finished piece that carries the story forward.
How Jewellery Remodelling Works
Consultation
Bring the existing piece to our Hatton Garden office. We'll discuss your ideas, style preferences and budget.
Design
We sketch options, then move into CAD for the chosen direction.
Approval
Review the 3D model, request changes, approve.
Production
Master craftsmen rework the original stones and metal into the new design.
Delivery
Your remodelled piece is independently inspected and delivered, with the option of a same-day insurance valuation.
Why Remodel With a Valuation House
Remodelling is irreversible. Once a Victorian setting has been broken up, it cannot be put back. That matters, because some inherited pieces are worth considerably more intact than the sum of their stones and metal — particularly signed pieces, period jewellery in original condition, and anything by a recognised maker.
Most remodelling jewellers can't tell you which category your piece falls into. We can. Prestige has valued jewellery for insurers, probate and the courts for over 35 years, so before any work is discussed we tell you what you actually have.
If a piece is more valuable left alone, we'll say so — and suggest remodelling a different item instead, or sourcing additional stones so the original stays whole. We would rather lose the commission than have you unknowingly destroy something significant.
What We Can Remodel
- Inherited rings, brooches and pendants
- Engagement rings from a previous marriage
- Unworn dress rings and cocktail rings
- Single earrings where the pair has been lost
- Dated settings holding good stones
- Damaged pieces beyond economical repair
- Loose stones from several pieces combined into one
- Gold chains and bracelets no longer worn
Most remodelling projects start with a piece that has been sitting in a drawer for years. If you're unsure whether yours is suitable, bring it in — the assessment is free and there's no obligation.
Redesign Jewellery in London, With Nothing Sent Away
Every stage happens at our Hatton Garden premises. Your stones are unset, catalogued and reworked in the same building where they were assessed — nothing is posted to a trade workshop elsewhere.
For sentimental pieces this matters more than people expect. You can see the stones between stages, and if you want to be shown the piece part-finished, that can be arranged. Most remodelling commissions take four to six weeks from design approval.
Combine Remodelling With Valuation
A remodelled piece needs a new valuation. The old certificate describes an item that no longer exists, which creates a genuine gap in your insurance cover.
Our valuation team can produce a full insurance valuation on collection — high-resolution photography, a detailed written description of the new piece and a current market replacement value. Because the valuation team is independent of the workshop, your insurer receives an objective report.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the design and how much new material is needed. Because you're supplying the stones and often the metal, remodelling is usually less expensive than commissioning an equivalent piece from scratch. You receive a written estimate before any work begins.
It depends on the reference, the finish and the condition. Case-only work sits at the simpler end; full case and bracelet refinishing on a complex reference costs more. We assess the watch and give you a written estimate before any work begins.
Typically four to six weeks from design approval. Complex designs or projects requiring additional stones to be sourced take longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline at the design stage.
That's the question most clients arrive with. The stones and metal are the parts that came from the person — and those carry through into the new piece. We can also retain elements of the original setting, or keep the mount and return it to you separately. Worth raising at consultation.
Yes, and it's one of the most common requests. Stones from several inherited items can be brought together into a single piece, which often works better than remodelling each one separately.
We'll tell you before any work is agreed. Signed pieces, period jewellery in original condition and work by recognised makers frequently fall into this category. We'll explain the options and you can decide with the facts in front of you.
Often, though not always — it depends on the design. If there's a shortfall we can add metal, and if there's a surplus the excess is returned to you or credited against the work.
Not necessarily, but it's sensible for anything of significant value. It records what the original piece was, which some insurers ask for, and it establishes whether remodelling is the right decision.