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Custom Memorial Jewelry

Reviving Family Legacy: The Benefits of Redesigning Family Jewelry

When a loved one passes down something meaningful such as a jewelry item, it holds a special place in our hearts. Shared through generations, these pieces carry stories of love, memories, and heritage. I can attest to this personally, as my wife's late mother gifted her some jewelry pieces that she cherishes greatly. However, as times change and styles evolve, these treasures might find themselves tucked away, waiting to be worn again. Here’s where the beauty of redesigning family jewelry comes in, offering a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond the radiance and beauty of the jewelry item itself.

1. Preserving Sentimental Value:
Family jewelry is more than just metal and gemstones; it’s a tangible connection to our past. Redesigning these pieces allows us to preserve their sentimentality while allowing for personalization to the wearer of the item.  Whether it’s a mother's diamond ring or a sister's pendant, incorporating these elements into a new design honors their legacy and keeps their memory alive.

2. Cost Effectiveness:
Creating a custom jewelry item from scratch can be costly, but redesigning family jewelry offers a cost-effective solution. By reusing existing materials, you can significantly reduce the overall cost of the project. This means you can invest in quality craftsmanship by working with a custom jewelry designer like myself without breaking the bank. I can create a new jewelry item using your existing stones but make it personalized to your needs and wants while cutting down on costs by using your existing diamonds and/or gems. This allows you to create something exquisite without overspending.

3. Emotional Healing:

Redesigning family jewelry can be a therapeutic process for some people. It can assist in allowing individuals to heal and find closure after significant life events such as loss of a loved one or divorce. Transforming old jewelry into something new can symbolize a fresh start or a continuation of the family legacy, serving as a source of emotional healing and empowerment.

4. Customization and Personalization:
Redesigning family jewelry gives you the opportunity to create something truly unique while keeping your loved one's legacy with you. Whether you’re updating a vintage ring to be more suited to your style, or transforming a diamond into a necklace, the possibilities are endless. Some people may also find that they want the exact style of the jewelry item to remain the same, but the item needs to be redone due to poor stone setting, wear and tear, or improper sizing. When you're working one on one with me as your designer, we can customize the design according to your preferences, ensuring that the final piece reflects your individual style and personality. 

5. Creating New Traditions:
While family jewelry holds historical significance, redesigning it can also pave the way for new traditions. By involving multiple generations in the design process, you foster a sense of unity and collaboration within the family. Each new piece becomes a symbol of shared values and shared experiences, strengthening familial bonds for years to come.

6. Eco-Friendly Approach:

In an age where sustainability is paramount, repurposing family jewelry aligns with eco-friendly practices. By breathing new life into old pieces, you contribute to reducing the demand for newly mined materials and minimize waste. 

In conclusion, redesigning family jewelry offers a myriad of benefits, from preserving sentimental value to promoting sustainability and fostering family traditions. It’s a thoughtful and meaningful way to honor the past while embracing the future, creating timeless treasures that will be cherished for generations to come.

Submit A Custom Design  Request:

If you have a jewelry item you would like to repurpose, or create from scratch, I would be honored to work with you to make that dream a reality. Fill out the custom design request or schedule an appointment today and we can get started designing your dream piece. If you'd like to reach out to me directly with inspiration pictures, or pictures of your current items, please e-mail me at kevin@jackcustomjewelry.com.

For examples of our custom memorial pieces and redesigns, look below:

Nichols before after.png

This client had an idea to honor her late mother and create a new and memorable piece that would remind her of her mom every time she looked at her finger. We took the high quality diamonds from her mother's antique and cherished rings, and recreated a more modern design that my client would love.  We even used her mother's gold to recreate the new ring. The result was spectacular.

Brooke before and After.png

When Brooke's grandmother sadly passed, she reached out to me to design a custom pendant using her grandmother's handwriting to create a pendant she could wear everyday that would remind Brooke everyday of her grandmother. What an incredibly thoughtful way to honor and cherish the memory of her loved one. 

Hegarty Leblanc before and after.png

This client was gifted over two carats of diamonds by her mother to use for her engagement ring. This incredibly generous gift became a beautifully redesigned engagement ring fit to the daughter's more modern style.

Messina before and after.png

This client's wedding was coming up, and she was searching for the perfect wedding band. She loved the size of her grandmother's diamonds, but wanted a more modern style, set in yellow gold. This became her "something old and something new" and will be a constant reminder of her grandmother and her generosity for generations.

Memorial jewelry - handwriting.JPG

This engraveable bar necklace holds a special place in my heart, as it was made from letters written from my beloved mother-in-law after her passing, written to her daughter, my wife. We both think of her everytime she wears it, which is nearly ever day.

Caery Before and After labeled.png

This client reached out to me to repurpose her original yellow and white gold engagement ring into a rose gold pendant using her diamonds from the ring. After removing the diamonds from the ring, we measured them, and created a layout from smallest to largest graduating away from the center diamond. She generously gifted the beautiful new creation to her daughter.

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