Remodels and Commissions
Throughout my career as a goldsmith, I have specialized in remodelling jewellery. I love the process of transforming an heirloom piece into something new that will be cherished and worn, all while preserving the memories embedded in the metal and stones.
I am excited to take a look at any jewelry you wish to transform and collaborate with you to create a new design. I have crafted a wide range of designs for clients, ranging from traditional to avant-garde, and I welcome any challenge.
Once a design is finalized, I deconstruct the items, meticulously removing any stones and setting them aside. Occasionally, old stones may have invisible cracks or damage from prolonged wear, so I cannot assure that all stones will be reusable, and hold no accountability for them if that is the case.
I will examine all the precious metals and provide you with an assessment to determine if we need to add more. Alloys from overseas may have different compositions, which means I cannot always predict the exact colour or carat of the finished item. If you wish, I can refine the metal for an additional fee by sending it to a refiner who will certify the carat post-refinement. If the heirloom jewellery isn't usable, i will let you know ,but otherwise i will go ahead and melt it into an ingot ready for the making process.
Creating a custom item primarily involves hand fabrication, which includes hand forging and rolling out material into sheets or wires. These can then be cut and soldered to form the necessary components, create settings, and set stones as required. Occasionally, I cast elements in-house. For more intricate designs that necessitate sending items to a caster, an additional fee is incurred for using heirloom metal, as it requires dedicating an entire casting flask to your piece, resulting in additional costs for space usage.
There is a common belief that utilizing a customer's metal will significantly reduce the cost of jewelry pieces, and while this may be true in certain instances, it is important to consider that the process of deconstructing, melting, and reforming the metal into sheets and wire is more time-consuming than acquiring recycled metal sheet and wire directly from bullion dealers.
Once crafted, the piece will be dispatched to the Edinburgh Assay Office for testing and hallmarking, ensuring your item's quality is certified and recorded for perpetually.
I will keep you informed throughout the process and update you on the progress. If you are satisfied at each step, you will assume liability for any issues that may arise with the materials you've provided.
Pouring an ingot in gold.
Two flat ingots waiting to be rolled.
Flat ingots rolled out.
Turned into two bands ready to solder.
