When I opened my studio gallery in 2008, I made a promise to tread lightly on the Earth and honor the stories behind every piece of jewelry I crafted. That promise led me to offer clients the option to bring in their own gold—whether it’s inherited heirlooms, outdated styles, or broken chains—and transform it into something fresh, personal, and entirely new.
I like to call it “mining your own gold,” because in many cases, you’re literally sitting on a treasure chest of sentiment and value just waiting to be reborn.
At the time I launched this service, conversations about “dirty gold” and the environmental impact of mining were becoming impossible to ignore. I’d spent years honing my skills in design, wax carving, and the lost-wax casting process, and I knew that recycling existing gold was not only kinder to the planet but also deeply meaningful for clients.
By reusing their own materials, we eliminate the need for newly mined metals, reduce chemical waste, and keep precious memories intact. Plus, every casting happens right here in my studio—no outsourced plating, no hidden chemicals—just solid gold, repurposed with care.
Over the years, I’ve seen clients arrive with a wide range of gold pieces ready for transformation. Inherited jewelry is perhaps the most common: grandmother’s wedding bands, aunt’s vintage pendants, even pieces handed down through generations that no one quite knows how to wear.
Wedding rings—especially those from a past marriage—offer another opportunity for reinvention. I’ve recast countless wedding sets into diamond pendants or striking right-hand rings that honor the original sentiment without locking clients into styles they no longer wear.
Broken chains do make their way into the studio from time to time, though I always caution that heavy solder content can affect the purity of the melt. When I anticipate that challenge, I’ll design highly textured pieces where a mix of old and new gold creates stunning, organic surfaces.
Bringing your own gold to life in a new design is easier than you might think. Here’s what you can expect from start to finish:
Design Consultation
We begin with a relaxed conversation about your vision—whether it’s a sleek band, an heirloom-inspired pendant, or a custom engagement ring with family diamonds. I share a curated collection of textures, curves, and lines to spark ideas and help you envision how your gold will evolve.
Gold Testing & Karat Discussion
I test the karat of your gold to verify the purity. 24K karat gold is pure gold. Jewelry is made with alloys, which bring the karat down to 18 karat or 14 karat. An alloy is a recipe of other metals such as silver, copper or zinc, which give variations of color like white gold or rose gold. Together, we decide on the karat gold based on the look and durability you desire.
Weight Calculation & Credit
Using the specific gravity of your gold alloy, I calculate the precise weight needed for your new design. If you have more gold than required, the extra grams can be converted into a credit toward labor cost. If you need additional gold, we’ll simply apply the current market rate to the additional gold you will need by weight.
Design Worksheet & Estimate
I draft a detailed worksheet outlining the design specs, materials, and cost estimate for your approval. Transparency is key—I want you to feel completely comfortable before we begin.
Photographic Documentation
Before any stones are removed or metals melted, I photograph your original jewelry. This is the final chance to document the piece exactly as it was worn and loved.
In-House Creation & Updates
As I create the wax model, cast the metal, and set stones, I capture the goldsmithing processes while making your new design. You’ll receive a personal a keepsake design booklet which shows you the journey of your heirloom jewelry at the workbench. You’ll see the transformation into a new work of art.
Final Reveal & Delivery
Once your piece is polished and perfected, we schedule a reveal—in the studio. Seeing the joy on a client’s face when they hold their “new” heirloom for the first time is always incredibly rewarding.
Every piece I’ve re-crafted carries its own tale, but a few stand out in my memory. One of the very first clients—shortly after I opened in 2008—wanted her late mother’s wedding ring transformed into a sculptural curve pendant with a single diamond. She wore that piece close to her heart for years until she passed it on to her daughter. I still remember the pride in her eyes when she saw the finished pendant for the first time.
More recently, young couples have been bringing in grandmother’s engagement rings and aunt’s necklaces to design their dream wedding sets. It’s a beautiful cycle: those family stories are woven into new vows and celebrations, bridging generations with every sparkle.
And then there was the client who arrived with a lifetime of treasures—her own pieces alongside inherited rings and her mother’s heirlooms. She wanted something she could wear every single day, something that would instantly conjure all those memories. Together, we melted every bit of 24K, 18K, and 14K gold she brought in, fusing them into her very own custom alloy. I textured the surface with my signature blue oak-bark finish to symbolize her family tree—and oak’s enduring strength, wisdom, and stability. She fell in love with it on the spot, and now that 18K bracelet has become her daily talisman.
Beyond the financial and environmental benefits, there’s something deeply spiritual about transforming a piece you’ve lived with into something new. You remain connected to the original story—whether it’s a family legacy or a personal milestone—while adding your own chapter. For clients who’ve panned for gold in my hometown region of Butte County, I can even alloy their own nuggets into custom designs, creating jewelry that literally contains the Earth’s hidden treasures.
Gold prices have soared to historic highs—very recently, pure 24K topped $3,300 per ounce. Back when I started metalsmithing in 2001, gold was around $271 per ounce. If you’ve been holding onto gold from past purchases, inherited heirlooms you don’t wear, or broken chains, you may be sitting on a literal gold mine. Repurposing your own gold not only spares you from purchasing at peak market prices, but any excess value can offset labor costs or even earn gallery credit toward another design. It’s eco-friendly, cost-effective, and emotionally rewarding— a total win-win!
If you’ve been eyeing that box of unworn gold or heirloom pieces gathering dust, now is the perfect moment to breathe new life into what you already own. I’d love to chat about your vision, walk you through the process, and help you mine the gold you never knew you had. Every piece begins with a conversation—and I can’t wait to hear your story.
Sustainability, sentiment, and precise craftsmanship come together in every recycled gold piece I create. Let’s turn your heirlooms into tomorrow’s treasures.
Ready to get started? Reach out to schedule your complimentary design consultation today.
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