FabSwingers.com forum: Jewellery - inherited doesn't fit

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

My mum who has terminal kidney failure has gifted me some family jewellery today. Apparently both her at 21, & my grandma at 30 were both skinny tarts! I've been given rings that wouldn't fit if I diet till the end of time

Sooo, what do I do with it? Anyone had family heirlooms reworked?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My mum had rings melted in to a pendant and wore it on a necklace which were inherited

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By *argaryen starkCouple
over a year ago

pinxton

You can have it re sized

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"You can have it re sized"

I think I'd be looking at a full reset on a new band as I haven't inherited thin fingers. Probs stretch the band too much tbh

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By *argaryen starkCouple
over a year ago

pinxton

They can cut it and add a piece

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"They can cut it and add a piece"

That's good to know. I'm literally a non jewellery wearer, but I feel I need to do something with it vs going in a drawer

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

I’ve done some resizing , it’s quite labour intensive to do right because you cut a piece to size, with two v shape grooves, slot it in, solder then finish and polish.

If you go into Cookson gold in jewellery quarter they will be able to put you in touch with people. High st jewelers typically use 9ct alloys and omit the v shapes.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I’ve done some resizing , it’s quite labour intensive to do right because you cut a piece to size, with two v shape grooves, slot it in, solder then finish and polish.

If you go into Cookson gold in jewellery quarter they will be able to put you in touch with people. High st jewelers typically use 9ct alloys and omit the v shapes."

Is it easier to just take 5he settings & revamp into something new?

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

"They can cut it and add a piece

That's good to know. I'm literally a non jewellery wearer, but I feel I need to do something with it vs going in a drawer

I get the sentimental attachment to jewellery and that kind of family heirlooms. But if you're not ever going to wear it and it would just be kept out of sight in a drawer then there's honestly no disrespect or insult in selling things and using the money for something that you will get use from.

My dad was a 'collector'. Anything from stamps and coins to tacky model cars that are pretty much completely worthless and took up a lot of space at my mum's.

So she gave it all away to us kids and I sold all mine and used the money for something important to me. My brother still has the stuff he was given in a box in his attic, where it will likely stay forever.

I'd say that what I was given got put to a far better use.

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By *nightsoftheCoffeeTableCouple
over a year ago

Leeds

I've had some resized they just add a bit and make it match.

Mrs

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

"I’ve done some resizing , it’s quite labour intensive to do right because you cut a piece to size, with two v shape grooves, slot it in, solder then finish and polish.

If you go into Cookson gold in jewellery quarter they will be able to put you in touch with people. High st jewelers typically use 9ct alloys and omit the v shapes.

Is it easier to just take 5he settings & revamp into something new? "

Not from a labour cost perspective and not if it’s 14 or 18 ct. the band is quite expensive 18 ct is £40 per gram at the moment excluding labour.

OP I’ve just sent you a few pics of one I did recently , showing the correct technique so you can check they are doing it right. Always try to avoid melting / scalping gold it’s a last resort as you lose 1/2 the value.

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By *antheman97Man
over a year ago

Southport

I got a few rings from my mother after she passed, they were too big for me (I'm too skinny). I had one resized to fit me, and the other ones I just bought a simple necklace chain and put them on it.

It's easier to have jewelry sized down cause its just taking away material. but sizing up means they have to either find more metal of the exact same quality and colour to add, or they will have to completely change the shape and size of it so it fits; this means that it won't be the same as when you inherited it, it may loose any pure sentimental meaning as its not exactly the same.

Id suggest you either keep it in a sort of memory box with other things from that person, display them in a nice case or frame, or put them on a chain/repurpose them without loosing any material or resizing.

Hope this helps xx

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By *entlemanFoxMan
over a year ago

North East / London

OP,

As you are in the North East, there is Old Eldon Jewellers in Newcastle. They are on the original Eldon square.

They make and repair jewellery. When I was married they resized some rings and remade some pieces. They did a good job.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I got a few rings from my mother after she passed, they were too big for me (I'm too skinny). I had one resized to fit me, and the other ones I just bought a simple necklace chain and put them on it.

Hope this helps xx"

I want a piece to pass down to my daughter. It'll be 2 rings that were my mums & grandma's formed into a chain set. Both rinds are tiny, a garnet, freshwater pearl setting, and a shaph... Nothing fancy! I just want something made

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By *rincipessaWoman
over a year ago

your wildest dreams,

You can have the stones removed and placed into some other kind of setting. Selling the gold for scrap to pay towards the cost.

I have recently gotten my mums jewellery, some I kept that I would wear, I have given my daughter some of the rings that are too small for me. Some old bits I am having reworked and I’ve sold others to buy something that I will wear every day to remind me of her

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By *agneto.Man
over a year ago

Bham

They can put an extra bit in an make it wider if you want to keep it as is. Or just put it on a chain and wear it round your neck.

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By *TG3Man
over a year ago

Dorchester

"My mum who has terminal kidney failure has gifted me some family jewellery today. Apparently both her at 21, & my grandma at 30 were both skinny tarts! I've been given rings that wouldn't fit if I diet till the end of time

Sooo, what do I do with it? Anyone had family heirlooms reworked? "
melt the gold down and wear it as a gold bar around your neck 70s nostalgia

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