Heirloom Ring Redesign in South Africa

Turn an old ring into one you will wear

You have a ring that sits in a drawer. It came from a grandmother, a mother, or a marriage that has moved on. The design feels dated or the band is worn thin, so you never put it on. We redesign that ring into something you will wear every day, and we keep the stones that matter to you. The work happens in our South African workshop and we handle the whole process remotely, so you deal with us by WhatsApp, email or video from anywhere in the country.

A redesign reuses what is already yours. That often means the diamonds or coloured stones from the old piece, and sometimes the gold. We assess what can be reused, tell you what cannot, and build a new setting around the parts worth keeping. If you want to add a new moissanite or lab-grown diamond alongside the old stones, we can do that too.

How we assess the old piece

We start from photos. Send us clear pictures of the ring from the top and the side, and a close view of each stone. Tell us what you know about it, such as who it belonged to and roughly how old it is. From those photos we give you a first read on what is possible and a price range for the new design.

When you go ahead, you post the ring to us insured or arrange a drop-off, and we examine it under magnification. We check each stone for chips, cracks and wear on the girdle. We check the metal for thinning and old repairs. Some stones come out clean and reset with no trouble. Others have damage that makes resetting risky, because a stone with an existing chip can break when it is pressed into a new setting. If we find that, we tell you before any work starts. We would rather be honest than crack a stone that means something to you.

What can and cannot be reused

Most sound diamonds and sapphires reset well and look new once cleaned and polished into fresh claws. Smaller accent stones are easy to reuse or match. Softer or more brittle stones, such as opals, emeralds and some older pastes, are harder to reset safely and we assess each one on its own. Worn or cracked stones sometimes cannot be reset at all, and in that case we can source a matching moissanite or lab-grown diamond so the new ring still holds the look you want.

Old gold can often be reused. We can melt down and refine 9ct or 18ct gold from the original ring and work it into the new band. There are limits. Very worn gold, or gold mixed with solder from past repairs, does not always give a clean result, so sometimes we recommend new metal and set your stones into that. We do not buy your gold or stones from you and we do not give cash valuations. What is yours stays yours and goes into the new piece.

Building the new setting

Once we know what we are working with, we design the new ring with you. You tell us the style you want, whether that is a solitaire, a three-stone ring, a halo or a plain band with a flush-set stone. We work in 9ct and 18ct gold in yellow, white and rose, and in platinum. You can see the approach we take on our process page, and browse finished shapes in our moissanite engagement rings and wedding rings for ideas. A full redesign runs on the same made-to-order timeline as our custom work, which is four to six weeks from the point the design is signed off.

If you would rather start a design brief from scratch around your old stones, our custom commission page walks you through it. When you are ready for numbers, send your photos through the quote page and we will come back with a price and a plan.

Can you reuse the diamonds from my grandmother's ring?

Usually yes. Sound diamonds reset well. We check each stone under magnification first, and if one has a chip or crack that makes resetting risky we tell you before we start.

What if a stone cannot be safely reset?

We explain why and show you the damage. You can leave that stone out, keep it loose, or replace it with a matching moissanite or lab-grown diamond that we source for the new ring.

Can you use the gold from my old ring?

Often yes. We can refine and reuse 9ct or 18ct gold. Badly worn gold or gold full of old solder does not always give a clean result, so we sometimes recommend new metal.

How do I get my ring to you safely?

Post it to us insured or arrange a drop-off. We assess it, keep you updated, and return the finished ring with free insured delivery. See shipping and delivery.

How long does a redesign take?

Four to six weeks once the design is signed off. New stones we supply come with GRA or IGI certification and our warranty.