Jewelry is a common item passed on from one generation to the next.  The practice is commonly thought of in relation to passing on a wedding or engagement ring, but it's also common when it comes to other pieces of fine jewelry.

While family heirloom pieces are often treasured for sentimental reasons, they often don't get worn often since styles change and a piece designed in 1937 isn't necessarily something a person will like decades later.   Alternatively, an older piece in a gorgeous setting may be something someone WANTS to wear, but poor workmanship or years of neglect may have compromised the piece.  This can lead to loose gemstones and other problems that make it difficult to wear without being worried that it will tall off, get lost or become damaged further.

It's a heartbreaking problem, and one jewelers hear about often.

But all hope is not lost!

People who want to incorporate a family piece into their own jewelry collection don't have to compromise on style or worry about loss or damage - they can simply have the old piece refashioned.

Many jewelers who offer custom work are also open to taking an existing piece - or pieces - and making them into something new.  It's a process more and more people are considering as a way to breathe new life into heirloom pieces that would otherwise never see the light of day.

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking to refashion jewelry:

• Don't Reuse Metal – The integrity and quality of metal is affected each time it is melted down.  For this reason, it is not a good idea to use it in a new piece.  In fact, if a jeweler you speak with suggests reusing the metal, that may be a red flag for their overall workmanship.  To be fair, there are cases when some of the metal may be used but it would likely be only as an accent.
• Don't Lose Value – While you likely won't want to reuse the metal in your new piece, that doesn't mean you should lose the value.  Have the metal separated and weighed.  Your jeweler can offer you a price or you can take it to a third party dealer.  You can use the money you get from the metal to defray the cost of your rebuild.
• Consider Different Pieces and Settings – After having a brooch that features a horizontally set square opal for years, it can be hard to imagine it as something else.  But, by taking a piece and breaking it down into its separate components, a talented jeweler can transform it into something completely different.  Be open to turning your brooch into earrings, a necklace, bracelet or anything else.
• Updated Jewelry Isn't Free Jewelry – Much of the cost of truly high end or fine jewelry comes from the time and talent it takes to make the piece.  While supplying the gemstones for a piece of jewelry will lower the cost of a new high end piece, it still won't be cheap ... and you wouldn't want it to be!  When it comes to workmanship, you get what you pay for.  Make sure the company will cover this remade piece with the same warranty they use on their own pieces.

Jewelry handed down from one generation to the next offers a glimpse into the lives of those who came before us.  Their style may not be our own, but that doesn't mean we don't have things in common.  Taking those original components connects you through the ages thanks to a shared love for making the world a brighter place.