Restorations and Re-Designs

Sue came to me with two cherished pieces, her wedding band and engagement ring (which had been cut from her finger after a sporting accident). She hoped to bring them together by setting her marquise diamond into the wider wedding band, while preserving the deeply meaningful engraving inside.

She also wanted the new design to reflect her faith, with crosses incorporated on either side of the stone. As we talked, I learned how active her life is, filled with sports and time spent with her grandchildren. When I examined her original setting, it was clear the prongs were no longer secure, with two worn down and one completely broken.

To better protect her diamond, I suggested a bezel setting. She loved the idea, choosing to have the stone set east-west, with the crosses (made from recycling her engagement ring band) thoughtfully placed on either side along the top of the band.

The result is a beautifully reimagined ring, strong enough for her lifestyle, rich with personal meaning, and preserving the original engraving that tells her story.

Leah came to me with her grandmother’s diamond ring, a piece rich with history, but one that had suffered significant damage in an unfortunate garbage disposal accident (more common than you might think). The diamond had been reset in a six-prong mounting, leaving chips along the girdle and crown exposed and vulnerable to further wear.

To protect the stone, I recommended a bezel setting. Inspired by an engraved topaz bangle she admired in my collection, Leah envisioned something with similar movement and detail.

The result is a graceful swirl ring, adorned with hand engraving and delicate accent diamonds, an heirloom thoughtfully restored, protected, and ready to be cherished for its next chapter.

Sometimes the true value of a stone isn’t measured in dollars, but in the memories it carries. Sentimental pieces, regardless of their material worth, deserve to be worn and enjoyed.

In this case, Paula brought in an imitation green stone from a lost earring, along with diamonds from a pair of studs she no longer wore. Rather than letting them sit unused, we reimagined them into something entirely new.

For the yellow gold ring, she envisioned a flowing design with a twisted rope detail, double shank, and a softly undulating center. For the white gold piece, she requested a graceful bypass shank and asked that the original stud settings be preserved exactly as they were, something I was more than happy to accommodate.

The result is a pair of beautifully fluid rings, each one honoring the past while giving these sentimental pieces a new life.

 Sometimes, a subtle transformation is all a piece needs to become something entirely new. Barbara came to me with her husband’s diamond ring, hoping to wear it as a meaningful tribute to his memory. She wished to preserve its original character, avoiding any drastic redesign or new setting. The ring, however, felt too masculine for her hand. Through careful, delicate reshaping of the top and band, I was able to soften its profile while honoring its original design. The result is a beautifully balanced, more feminine piece that carries both its history and her story forward. 

Mall brought in her late husband’s cherished wedding band along with an opal collected during their travels, waiting years for the right jeweler to bring her vision to life. She envisioned a tall setting with a classic twisted rope detail. The result is a beautifully crafted gold ring, an enduring tribute that carries their story forward. 

Sandy brought me her mother’s diamond engagement ring, a treasured heirloom that sadly had to be cut from her mother’s finger when she passed. Rather than letting the ring remain a painful reminder, Sandy wanted it lovingly restored so it could begin a new chapter in her family’s story. She also entrusted me with four small diamonds of her own, asking that they be incorporated into the design.

Today, the restored ring carries the spirit of both mother and grandmother. When Sandy’s son presents it to his fiancée, he will be giving more than a ring, he will be passing along a piece of family history, filled with love, memory, and legacy. 

  Connie brought in a sentimental men’s ring she longed to wear, but it didn’t feel quite right on her hand, and the original stone had become heavily worn. I reimagined the design with a more refined, feminine silhouette and added a raised bezel to transform its presence. A beautiful natural ruby now takes center stage, giving new life to a cherished piece. 

 Kelley came to me with a ring she no longer enjoyed wearing as it frequently caught on her clothing, and the design felt too simple for her taste. After discussing options, I suggested transforming the piece into a pair of earrings. The redesign gave new life to her gemstones, and the finished earrings were both elegant and practical.

 Pam had a beautifully cut topaz ring that she rarely wore because of its bold scale. She asked if it could be transformed into a pendant while preserving the original setting. I reimagined the piece by adding a handcrafted side bail enhancer for added dimension and interest, along with a hinged bail at the top for versatility and ease of wear. Finished on a rich gold rope chain, the result is an elegant, wearable statement piece that honors the original design in a fresh new way. 

Heidi had two wedding rings belonging to family members.  She contacted me with ideas of creating a circle pendant using the two rings and incorporating the diamonds and hand engraving.  The larger ring contained an engraved message from 1952 that she wanted preserved.  The result is a beautiful circle pendant with an added large diamond in the center just because!

Tami brought me two heirloom gemstone rings that had been passed down to her. While they held sentimental value, the style didn’t feel like her. She asked if the stones and gold could be reimagined into pieces that better reflected her personal aesthetic and her faith.

Together, we transformed the gemstones onto a custom hand made sterling silver cross, thoughtfully designed to incorporate each stone from the original rings. The yellow  gold ring was melted down and used for accents on the cross and also crafted into a new pair of earrings, giving fresh life to the cherished metal. And, just because every redesign deserves a little joy, an additional hammered band was crafted and accented with rubies and diamonds "just because".

Rose came to me with her treasured diamond engagement ring and wedding band, both gifts from her beloved husband. She envisioned transforming these meaningful pieces into a double heart pendant, preserving the original diamond exactly as it was set. The result is a timeless heirloom pendant, lovingly reimagined, that keeps his memory close and beautifully honors the story they shared.