Heirloom jewellery carries more than metal and gemstones — it carries memory, heritage, and sentiment. But as the years pass, beloved pieces may show their age through worn claws, dull settings, or outdated designs. When that happens, the question becomes: should you repair it, replace it, or transform it into something new?
At The Bench Jewellery, we help clients make that decision every day. With in-house goldsmiths in Kamloops, Kelowna, and Chilliwack, and decades of experience, we evaluate each piece individually to determine whether restoration, recreation, or redesign best preserves its value — both emotional and material.
Why Heirloom Jewellery Deserves Careful Consideration
Family jewellery tells stories: wedding bands passed through generations, pendants inherited from parents, engagement rings that mark beginnings. These aren’t just accessories — they’re milestones.
Because these pieces carry emotional significance, choosing how to care for them requires more than a quick polish or replacement. Every heirloom deserves a thoughtful, skilled evaluation from experts who understand metals, gemstones, and craftsmanship from every era.
Our goldsmiths see everything from antique diamond rings to mid-century brooches, and we treat each piece with respect. Whether you bring in a vintage bracelet or a century-old engagement ring, our first step is always preservation.
When Repair Makes Sense
Repairs are often the simplest and most faithful way to restore heirloom jewellery to its former beauty. If the damage is localized — a bent shank, a cracked setting, a loose gemstone — the underlying integrity can often be maintained.
Common repair situations include:
- Loose or missing gemstones. We can match and reset stones to maintain the original look.
- Worn claws. These can be re-tipped or rebuilt to secure stones safely.
- Broken chains or clasps. Soldering and replacement parts restore durability.
- Surface wear and dullness. Polishing, ultrasonic cleaning, and sometimes rhodium plating, revive brilliance.
Repairs are ideal when the piece’s sentimental and design value remains intact. In these cases, the best solution is simply to strengthen what’s already there.
Example:
A client brought in her grandmother’s sapphire ring with a broken claw and dulled gold. After cleaning, re-tipping, and polishing, the ring regained both strength and sparkle — without losing any of its original charm.
When Replacement Is the Smarter Option
There are times when repairs would cost more than rebuilding the piece entirely, or when structural wear makes further fixes unreliable.
Replacement might be your best choice if:
- The metal shows deep fatigue or cracking throughout.
- Previous repairs have weakened the setting.
- The design isn’t suitable for daily wear anymore.
- A new version could improve comfort, balance, or gem security.
In these cases, our goldsmiths can recreate your piece from scratch — using new metal, modern settings, and upgraded craftsmanship — while keeping its essence alive. Think of it as a respectful replacement.
Example:
An older diamond ring had been repaired many times, each fix making it more fragile. We cast a new shank in the same yellow gold alloy and re-set the original diamond. The design remained the same, but the ring could now withstand decades of wear.
Redesign: Transforming Heirloom Gold & Gemstones
Sometimes the best path lies between repair and replacement — a redesign.
Using materials from the original piece, we can create something entirely new that still carries the same story.
Our process, described in our resource Custom Jewellery Using Heirloom Gold and Gemstones: Transforming Old into New, combines sentimental preservation with modern design.
What that transformation looks like
- Consultation & Story Sharing
You bring in your heirloom piece and tell us its story — who it belonged to, what it represents, and what you envision next. - Evaluation
Our goldsmiths assess which parts can be reused — gold, gemstones, settings — and identify what may need to be replaced, or added. - Design Collaboration
Together, we create sketches or digital models. You choose styles, metals, and finishes that reflect your current taste while honouring the past. - Crafting
The transformation begins. Gold may be melted and recast. Stones are cleaned, repolished if needed, and reset. Every step is overseen by our skilled team. - Reveal
The result is a piece that’s unmistakably yours — modern in form, but rich with history.
Examples:
- Melting down a grandfather’s wedding band to craft a new engagement ring.
- Resetting an inherited diamond into a minimalist pendant.
- Combining gemstones from several family pieces into one cohesive design.
This approach lets you preserve what matters — the materials, the memory, and the sentiment — while wearing something that feels new, meaningful, and personal.
Our Evaluation Process
When clients bring in heirloom jewellery, we look beyond aesthetics. Our assessment includes:
- Condition – Checking for cracks, thinning metal, broken stones, or prior repairs.
- Material Integrity – Testing whether gold or gemstones can be safely reused.
- Design Feasibility – Considering structure, proportion, and wearability.
- Cost & Longevity – Balancing the investment of repair or redesign with expected lifespan.
- Sentiment – Respecting the emotional connection and ensuring the outcome feels right.
Every recommendation comes with a transparent estimate and clear explanation. You’ll always know your options before deciding.
Case Studies: Restoring Legacy Pieces
A vintage diamond brooch reborn
A vintage brooch had lost stones and stability. We restored the setting, replaced missing gems, and converted it into a pendant. The client now wears it daily — safely and proudly.
An engagement ring, remade for a new generation
A mother’s engagement ring was too fragile for her daughter’s active lifestyle. We melted the gold, reset the diamond, and created a sleek bezel-set design perfect for everyday wear.
A family gold collection, united
Multiple outdated pieces — a bracelet, two rings, and a pendant — became a cohesive stacking set, merging memories into something timeless.
How to Decide: Repair, Replace, or Redesign
Ask yourself these questions:
- Does the piece hold sentimental value that outweighs its material worth?
- Can the damage be repaired without risking future breakage?
- Do you still love the style and want to wear it often?
- Would redesigning it make it more meaningful for you today?
If you’re unsure, bring your jewellery in for a free consultation. We’ll inspect it and explain your options.
Preserving the Past, Creating the Future
Your jewellery is part of your story. Whether it’s a repair that restores its shine, a replacement that secures its longevity, or a redesign that gives it new life, our goal is the same — to honour where it came from and ensure it’s worn with pride for generations to come.
Bring your heirloom piece to any Bench Jewellery location in Kamloops, Kelowna, or Chilliwack, and let’s explore what’s possible.