Second Life Jewellery
Heirlooms 2.0 • Second Life
Jewellery remodelling and heirloom resetting
You know those rings, stones and bits of gold sitting in a drawer? They don't have to stay there.
I remodel old, inherited and unworn jewellery into pieces you would actually choose to wear now. Inherited rings, loose gemstones, old diamonds, broken chains and odd earrings are all remade by hand in my London studio. The stones stay. The gold stays. The story stays. What changes is the shape it comes in.
Send me a photo of what you have and I will tell you what it could become, and what it would cost. The estimate is free and there is no obligation.
What can be remade
Old stones. New chapter.
An inherited ring can keep every one of its stones and still feel completely different. I lift the stones, design a new setting around them, and reset them. You keep what the piece means, and lose only the shape you never liked. This is the most common heirloom redesign I am asked for.
Two stones. One new story.
A forgotten pair of gemstones, a single stone out of a broken setting, earrings that lost their partner. These become the ring you reach for every day. Designing around loose stones you already own is the part I enjoy most.
Reset the diamonds.
Old diamonds do not need to look old-fashioned. Diamonds cut decades ago are often beautiful stones sitting in a setting that has simply dated. They can be lifted out, reset into a design that suits how you dress now, and given a completely different life. Engagement rings, eternity bands and cluster rings can all be reworked this way.
Keep the character.
I do not want to erase what makes an heirloom special. Art Deco settings, Victorian detail, the slightly odd thing about a piece that makes it yours. The idea is to keep its soul, then redesign it for the way you dress now.
Not just rings.
Chains, bracelets, brooches, pendants and coloured stones can all be reworked. Sometimes the smallest change, a different length or a new clasp, makes something feel completely new. Several small unworn pieces can also be melted and combined into one you will actually wear.
Beautifully packaged.
Every reset piece comes back beautifully packaged and ready for its next chapter. It is all in the finishing touches.
A Second Life story
Not throwing the past away.
One of my favourite Heirlooms 2.0 stories came from a client after her divorce. She had jewellery from her marriage that she no longer wanted to wear, but the gold and the stones still had value and history.
We took those old pieces and turned them into a ring designed exactly the way she wanted, for her new second life.
That is what this is about. Not throwing the past away, but turning it into something that feels right for who you are now.
How jewellery remodelling works
- Send me a photo. A phone snap is fine. Tell me what the piece is and anything I should know about where it came from.
- I come back with an idea and an estimate. No obligation, and nothing is taken apart at this stage.
- We design it together. You tell me what you would actually wear, and I work out how to get there using what you already own.
- It is remade by hand in the London studio, and comes back beautifully packaged, ready for its next chapter.
Common questions about resetting old jewellery
Can you reset my grandmother's ring?
Yes. Inherited rings are the most common thing I am asked to remake. The stones and the gold are kept and reused, so what you inherited is still what you are wearing, just in a form you will take out of the box.
Can old diamonds be put in a new setting?
Yes. Diamonds and most coloured stones can be removed from an old setting and reset. Older cuts often look wonderful in a simpler modern design.
Can an old engagement ring be redesigned?
Yes, and it is a common request after a divorce or a bereavement as well as for a style change. The stones can go into something that carries no reminder of the original setting at all.
What if I don't know what I want?
Most people don't, and that is fine. Send the photo anyway. It is usually easier to work it out by looking at the piece together than by deciding in advance.
Can you use gold or stones from several different pieces?
Yes. Combining a few unworn pieces into one you will actually wear is one of the best things about remodelling. Odd earrings, broken chains and single loose stones all count.
Does the whole piece have to be changed?
No. Sometimes the right answer is a small one. A resize, a new clasp, a different chain length, a clean and a polish. I will tell you if that is all it needs.
How much does it cost to remodel jewellery?
Each piece is quoted individually, because the cost depends entirely on what you already have and what you want made. Sending photographs and getting an estimate is free.
Where are you based?
The studio is on a houseboat at Taggs Island, Hampton, in southwest London. Anna Lou of London has been making jewellery by hand for over twenty five years, with stockists including Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
Heirlooms 2.0
What's hiding in your jewellery box?
A ring you never wear? Loose stones? An old chain? Answer two quick questions and I'll come back with an idea and an estimate. It costs nothing to ask.
Or message me on WhatsApp if you would rather send photos straight away, or email hello@annalouoflondon.com
Same stories. New beginnings.
Anna Lou
Founder and Creative Director, Anna Lou of London
Half Mile, Taggs Island, Hampton, TW12 2HA