A Bespoke Jewellery Remodelling Project in My East London Studio
Final remodelled jewellery collection
Jewellery remodelling is one of the most rewarding parts of my work as a bespoke jeweller, especially when it involves transforming pieces that have been unworn for years into something fresh, modern, and deeply personal. This remodelling project was created for Ruut, who I first met at Handmade Britain the year before she came to visit my East London studio.
At the time, Ruut mentioned she had a collection of old jewellery she never wore and would love to breathe new life into one day. When she arrived at my studio, she brought a mix of pieces in 18ct and 14ct gold, along with gemstones and silver jewellery — all holding potential, but none truly reflecting her style anymore.
A few of the original pieces
Why My Customer Chose Jewellery Remodelling
Ruut was very clear about why she wanted to remodel her jewellery. The pieces weren’t her taste, felt old fashioned, and simply didn’t fit with how she wanted to express herself. Rather than leaving them unworn in a jewellery box, she wanted to transform them into bold, contemporary pieces she would genuinely love and reach for.
She was drawn to my playful, modern aesthetic and particularly loved my studded designs. The goal was to take jewellery with history and sentiment and reinterpret it through a fresh lens.
14ct gold hoops designed to hang various charms on
Refining Mixed Gold Jewellery into One Cohesive Collection
The original jewellery collection included pieces in both 18ct and 14ct gold, along with silver items and loose gemstones. As part of the redesign process, we decided to refine all of the gold down into 14ct gold, as that was the tone and colour Ruut wanted all her jewellery to be in.
This step helped create a cohesive collection where every piece worked together visually and stylistically, rather than feeling like separate fragments from different eras.
We discussed how she liked to wear her jewellery day to day, what shapes and textures she felt drawn to, and how bold she wanted the finished pieces to feel. I then went away and sketched designs for all of the remodelled jewellery before we finalised the direction together.
Repurposed 14ct gold watch case
Transforming a Vintage Watch into a Contemporary Pendant
One of the standout transformations in this project was a vintage 14ct gold watch. Ruut loved the idea of keeping the watch case itself but wanted it completely reimagined.
I carefully removed the strap and all of the internal watch workings, leaving the gold case as a sculptural form. The empty face was replaced with a lavender chalcedony gemstone, transforming it into a statement pendant. The watch case now also functions as a connector, allowing Ruut to wear it with different bead necklaces she already owns.
It’s a perfect example of how jewellery remodelling can preserve the essence of an object while completely changing how it’s worn.
14ct gold ball and pearl earrings
Modern Pearl Jewellery with Gold Accents
The pearls were redesigned into pieces that felt playful and contemporary rather than traditional. Two of the pearls were used to create a new pendant with 14ct gold accents, giving structure and warmth while keeping the design light and modern.
Her original pearl stud earrings were merged with her own 14ct gold ball studs, creating a hybrid design that felt intentional and far more aligned with her love of gold jewellery.
14ct gold ball and pearl pendant
Studded Connector Pendants Using Gemstones
A loose rose quartz was transformed into a studded connector pendant, designed to be worn with a selection of bead necklaces Ruut already had. Like the watch pendant, this piece was designed with versatility in mind — something she could layer, swap, and style in different ways.
The studded detailing echoed across the collection, tying all the remodelled pieces together with a consistent, playful design language.
14ct gold studded rose quartz connector pendant
Remodelling a Diamond Ring into a Bold Contemporary Piece
The cluster-set diamond ring needed a complete overhaul. While the diamonds themselves were beautiful, the original ring felt dated and wasn’t something Ruut ever wanted to wear.
I removed the diamond top entirely and prong-set it onto a completely new backdrop, designed to feel bold, symbolic, and modern. I incorporated my signature stud detailing, knowing how much Ruut loved that element of my work.
This ring became one of the strongest pieces in the collection — a contemporary redesign that still honoured the original diamonds.
Classic old diamond ring reimagined in a bold, symbolic style
Gold Plating Silver Jewellery for Everyday Wear
Alongside the seven newly remodelled bespoke pieces, Ruut also had around six silver jewellery pieces she never wore simply because she prefers gold. Rather than redesigning them completely, we chose to have them vermeil gold plated, allowing her to enjoy them again while keeping their original form and sentiment.
The result was a jewellery collection that finally made sense for her — cohesive, gold-toned, modern, and wearable.
A Complete Jewellery Remodelling Transformation
In total, this project resulted in seven newly designed bespoke pieces, all refined into 14ct gold, alongside several rejuvenated favourites. Presenting the finished collection to Ruut and seeing how much she loved the transformation was such a joy.
Jewellery remodelling takes pieces that no longer feel like you and transforming them into jewellery that truly reflects who you are now.
If you have old jewellery you never wear and would love to remodel it into something totally new and uniquely yours, I’d love to welcome you to my East London studio and explore what’s possible.
Every remodelling project begins with a conversation.
If you’re considering remodelling old jewellery or commissioning a bespoke piece and would like to explore what’s possible, get in touch below. Share a little about the pieces you have and what you’re drawn to, and we can begin shaping something uniquely yours.