Redesigning Old Family Gold: How to Turn Heirlooms Into Jewellery You Will Wear

Almost every family in Udaipur has a box of old jewellery that rarely comes out. A grandmother’s heavy necklace, a set from a wedding decades ago, single earrings that lost their pair. It is precious, but often it is not something anyone wears.

Turning that gold into pieces you will actually use is something many families ask about. Done carefully, it keeps the family connection and gives the gold a second life. Here is how to approach it.

Decide what to keep exactly as it is

Not everything should be melted. Some pieces are worth keeping intact: fine old Jadau or kundan work, hand-engraved pieces, or anything that carries a strong family memory. Craftsmanship like that is hard to reproduce, and its value is more than its weight.

If you are unsure whether an old piece is kundan, polki or something else, our guide to kundan, polki and Jadau explains the differences.

Options for redesigning

• Reset the stones. Old polki or coloured stones can be taken out and set into a lighter, modern design.
• Split a heavy set. One large necklace can become a pendant, a pair of earrings and a ring for different family members.
• Remake completely. Melt and refine the gold, then use it towards new pieces of your choice.
• Repair and refresh. Sometimes cleaning, re-polishing and replacing a clasp is all an old piece needs.

How old gold is tested and valued

Before anything is remade, the gold is tested for purity and weighed. Older pieces often have no hallmark, and some contain solder, stones or lac inside that add weight but are not gold. A good jeweller will test the metal in front of you, explain any deductions and write the net value on paper.

Ask for the purity result, the gross and net weight, and the rate being applied. If the old gold is going towards new jewellery, the new piece should be billed separately with its own weight, purity, rate and making charges.

What to check before you hand anything over

• Photograph every piece and note its weight before it is tested.
• Agree the design, final weight range and making charges in writing.
• Ask whether any stones will be reused and how they will be returned if not.
• Make sure the finished gold is BIS hallmarked with a HUID code.

Our hallmark guide shows what those marks look like.

How long does it take?

Simple changes such as resizing or re-polishing can be quick. A full redesign usually takes longer because the design has to be agreed first and then made by hand. Your jeweller should give you an expected timeline before work begins.

Bring it in

If there is a piece in your family that deserves to be worn again, bring it to our showroom at 8th Street, Hajareshwar Colony. We will look at it with you and explain your options before anything is decided. You can also browse our gold jewellery and polki jewellery for design ideas.