- No products in the cart.
A Complete Guide to Repurposing Heirlooms and Old Favorites
We all have clothes and accessories that we don’t wear, but don’t know what to do with it. This is especially true for our jewelry collections. Whether it’s a pair of earrings passed down through generations or a ring that no longer suits your style, it’s common to hold on to jewelry that holds sentimental value but rarely gets worn. Instead of letting these precious pieces rot away, you can turn them into beautiful collections that are more wearable. And its quite easy while being easy on the pocket.
“What is the point of having jewelry that sits in a locker never to be worn simply because the style isn’t quite right for you,” says Shilpi Goyal, the owner and designer of Shilpi Goyal Jewellery, a brand she has built from the ground up that specializes in diamonds and semi-precious stones. Shilpi enjoys helping clients transform old heirlooms into pieces that better suit their tastes.
“I hate the idea of these precious pieces sitting unloved and unworn in a safe collecting dust when they can become anything you want them to be. They are treasures to be cherished and enjoyed as often as possible,” Shilpi explains about her passion for redesigning and repurposing jewelry. Her passion is aided by her eye for details and natural talent, which has been fine-tuned through years of experience.
The “Second Life” Service
What do you do with ornaments that may be from forgotten times, in terms of design and usage? Many of us have jewelry kept in lockers gifted to us by our mothers or mothers-in-law. As time passes, we may not want to wear those pieces due to reasons like being broken, dirty, heavy, or out of fashion. This is where Shilpi Goyal comes to your rescue with her "Second Life" service.
Shilpi brings forth fresh designs by redesigning and reworking family heirlooms and valuable artisanal assets. While retaining the essence of the old-world charm, Shilpi gives them a contemporary twist. "We analyze the additions and subtractions of gems and decide what will suit the product best while keeping costs under control," she says.
The Process
1. Understanding the Wearer’s Needs: Shilpi first understands the wearer’s needs and thought process for both current and future use. After all, artisanal jewelry is not redesigned every day!
2. Craftsmanship and Skills: Her craftsmanship and skills can change the combination of different shapes, styles, and sizes of any jewelry—be it sets, necklaces, rings, maang tika, bangles, or maathapatti—leaning away from traditional compositions.
3. Modern Updates: “When it comes to reworking heirlooms into new jewelry, we update the piece appropriately, creating a more modern and wearable version of the existing design,” says Shilpi. “With some clients, we’ll do a complete transformation where we reuse the gemstones and metal, and can also supplement with newly sourced gemstones, depending on our client’s chosen design thought process.”
Benefits of Repurposing Jewelry
There are numerous benefits to repurposing old jewelry rather than buying something brand new. The primary benefit is cost-effectiveness, particularly if you use all elements of the original piece. Eliminating the need for many, if any, other materials means you are only paying for the design fees and production costs, which significantly reduces the price of your bespoke piece of jewelry. This option can make customized jewelry more affordable for the first time. Repurposing your old jewelry can breathe new life into treasured pieces, making them relevant and cherished once more. Not only does this process honor the sentimental value of the original items, but it also allows you to create something uniquely personal and stylish.