Can You Combine Multiple Old Pieces into One New Design?

Many people have a box, drawer, or jewellery roll full of old pieces they never wear. A broken bracelet from years ago. A ring inherited from Grandma that isn’t really your style. A lone earring because the other one went missing years back. A pendant that feels special but looks dated. Over time, these pieces build up and you’re left wondering what to do with them.

A question we hear often at Gillian’s Jewellery in Forest Hill is:

“Can you combine multiple old pieces into one new design?”

The short answer is yes — and it’s one of the most meaningful parts of our work. Turning several unused, sentimental items into one beautiful piece you’ll actually wear is something many of our clients choose because it carries family stories forward in a fresh way.

Below, we’ll walk through what can be reused, how the process works, and why this option is so popular.

Yes — Combining Multiple Pieces Is Possible (And Very Popular)

Remodelling isn’t just about recycling material. It’s about honouring the sentimental value in each piece while creating something you genuinely feel excited to put on every day.

In many cases we can:

• Melt down old gold

• Recycle usable metal

• Remove and re-set diamonds or gemstones

• Combine stones from multiple rings, pendants, brooches or earrings

• Reshape or redesign elements you want to keep

Every job is unique because every piece brought in has its own history, material type, and condition. That’s why every project starts with a careful inspection and a conversation about what you want the final piece to feel like.

What Can Be Combined?

Gold and Precious Metals

If you have multiple pieces made from solid gold, they can often be melted together and reused. This includes:

• Rings

• Bangles

• Chains

• Earrings

• Broken pieces

However, gold purity must be checked. Gold with unknown alloys or pieces that are not solid gold may not be suitable for melting because they can affect structural strength. San will test your items first so you know exactly what can be used.

Diamonds and Gemstones

Diamonds and most precious gemstones can be removed from their old settings and placed into your new design. Even chipped stones are sometimes repairable through re-cutting.

Gemstones can come from:

• Old engagement rings

• Family heirlooms

• Birthstone jewellery

• Vintage pendants

• Brooches or dress rings

Many clients bring in gemstones from multiple relatives to create one meaningful family piece.

Chains, Earrings, and Small Fragments

Even if you only have fragments or broken items, the metal may still be usable. These can often be melted down or contribute to the total metal required for your new design.

In cases where metal isn’t suitable to reuse, you may still be able to use it as trade-in credit towards the cost of fresh metal, keeping the sentimental items part of the story.

What We Commonly Create from Multiple Old Pieces

A New Ring

Rings are the most popular remodelling outcome. Clients often choose to create:

• A modern engagement ring using inherited diamonds

• A meaningful anniversary ring combining stones from sentimental pieces

• A statement ring using gold from several old items

This is a beautiful way to carry family memories in a fresh piece that suits your style today.

A Pendant or Family Keepsake

Pendants are incredibly flexible designs. We commonly create:

• Family pendants using stones from multiple relatives

• Birthstone-based pieces

• Designs that honour a loved one using their original gems

The Family Tree style pendant has become extremely popular, especially when clients want to combine stones from several generations.

A New Bracelet or Bangle

If you have several gold pieces that aren’t useful in their current form, combining them into a solid gold bangle or bracelet is a fantastic option. It’s a timeless piece that many people wear daily, making it a perfect way to give sentimental items a new life.

What Can’t Be Reused?

Metals With Unknown Purity

If metal purity cannot be confirmed or contains unstable alloys, it may not be suitable for melting. San will always test these items before proceeding so you know exactly what is possible.

Plated Jewellery

Gold-plated items cannot be melted or reused because the gold layer is extremely thin and bonded to a base metal. These pieces can still hold sentimental value, and we may suggest alternatives for incorporating their meaning into your new design.

Gemstones That Are Cracked Beyond Repair

Most gemstones can be reset, but some stones that are heavily fractured or cracked may not be safe to reuse. In these instances, we’ll explain the risks and offer suggestions, such as replacing the stone while still incorporating the original story behind the piece.

How We Turn Old Pieces into Something You’ll Actually Wear

Step 1 — Bring in All Your Pieces

You don’t need to sort or decide anything beforehand. Bring everything you have — even pieces you think aren’t worth keeping. We’ll examine each item, test the metals, check the stones, and help determine what can be reused.

Step 2 — Design Consultation With San

This is where your story becomes the foundation of the design.

During the consultation:

• You can bring inspiration photos

• We discuss your preferences

• San sketches ideas

• You’ll explore ways to keep the sentimental elements visible or symbolic

The goal is to ensure the final design reflects your style while honouring the emotional significance of each old piece.

Step 3 — Melting, Re-setting, and Crafting

Once the design is finalised, San begins the detailed work:

• Melting gold

• Forming new components

• Crafting settings

• Re-setting gemstones by hand

This careful process ensures every stone is secure and the metal is strong enough for everyday wear.

Step 4 — Final Polish and Reveal

Every handmade piece is carefully finished and inspected. The moment clients see their remade piece for the first time is always special — especially when it carries memories from different parts of their life or family.

Real Examples From Gillian’s Jewellery

Here are some past remodelling stories on our website that show how we’ve combined multiple pieces before:

1. Patience Leads to Better Decisions — A Remodelling Story
A collection of older pieces was transformed into a timeless and meaningful new design.
Internal link: “Patience Leads to Better Decisions” blog

2. When Sentiment Meets Practicality: Designing Jewellery with Heart
A sentimental selection of family items became a cohesive new piece that suits the wearer’s everyday style.
Internal link: “Sentiment Meets Practicality in Jewellery Design” blog

These examples are fantastic to include in your internal linking strategy because they show real transformations and build visitor trust.

Why Clients in Melbourne’s East Choose Gillian’s Jewellery

People from Forest Hill and surrounding suburbs visit us because:

• Everything is done in-house with genuine craftsmanship

• San, the jeweller and owner, works closely with every client

• Clients appreciate the time, care, and honesty in each consultation

• Our reviews consistently mention warmth, professionalism, and reliability

• The experience online, through reviews, and in-store matches perfectly

Many clients tell us they chose Gillian’s Jewellery because they wanted someone who truly listens and understands the sentimental importance of their pieces.

Thinking of Combining Your Old Jewellery?

If you have old jewellery tucked away, you might be surprised by how much of it can be turned into something beautiful. You don’t need to decide what to keep or what can be used — just bring it all in.

San can guide you through the entire process, explain what’s possible, and design something that feels right for your style.

To get started, you can:

• Visit us at Forest Hill

• Book a design consultation

• Bring your items in for a no-pressure assessment

Your next favourite piece might already be sitting in your drawer — it just hasn’t been brought back to life yet.