upcycling
Would you like to know whether your inherited jewellery has any value? Can we use your gold as melting material for a new piece of jewellery? Are your diamonds and gemstones genuine? Do you have an idea for a piece of jewellery?
We would be delighted to work with your old gold and gemstones to create a completely new design. You can find inspiration in the mood board of creations below. Almost anything is possible. During your appointment, we will develop a design together based on the size and quality of your stones. If there is not enough gold, that is not a problem - we can simply add more. Likewise, if there is too much gold, it is possible to pay for the work carried out with the excess gold. Prices for bespoke jewellery and upcycling depend greatly on the complexity of the project. During your appointment, we will test and weigh your gold and provide you with a specific quotation based on your idea.
Which items are ideal for repurposing, and which are not?
Gemstones with a hardness above 8/10 on the Mohs scale are our favourites due to their durability (diamond, sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, tourmaline, etc.). We only melt down 18K yellow or rose gold. We do not melt silver or white gold, as white gold often contains traces of rhodium, which can cause cracking during the process.
We do not remelt fine chains because they are generally heavily contaminated. However, we are happy to reuse them in a new necklace design. The ideal items for melting are gold plates, rings, medallions and coins. If there is not enough gold, we can supplement it with newly sourced gold.
Prices for bespoke jewellery and upcycling depend greatly on the requirements of the project. Read below to discover what can be done with white gold or unsuitable gold for melting.
Paying for a jewellery creation with old gold
Not all jewellery designs from our collection are suitable for being made from old gold. Fine chains and clasps, for example, are always purchased new.
In such cases, the solution is to use your old gold as full or partial payment. Elisa Lee will deduct the value of your old gold when you commission a new piece of jewellery.
This gold must first be inspected by Elisa Lee’s goldsmiths and confirmed to be high-quality gold (karat and purity).
This can also be an excellent solution if you have old gold in a colour that does not suit your personal taste.
Any questions?
Take a look at our FAQ at the bottom of the page, or book an appointment at our atelier in Ronse or Ghent. Our experts will be happy to provide honest advice about the possibilities and costs involved.
Curious if your inherited jewelry has any value? Or would you like to check if we can use your gold as melting material for a new piece of jewelry? Are your diamonds and gemstones real? Do you have a great idea for a jewel design? Make an appointment in our atelier in Ronse - Belgium. Our experts will be happy to give you their honest advice.