Five Rings and a Pendant Unworn! Then Revitalized!

Kathy’s Finished Pin Kept the Design Details, Not Just the Gems.

What Do You Do With Five Rings You Don’t Wear?

Kathy was given many pieces over the years from her loving father. They were great in their day. She also inherited some little rings. This all added up to five rings and a pendant that hadn’t been worn in years.

Well you know my motto – “Wear it Don’t Warehouse it!”

Kathy and I discussed her taste and what she does wear. She told me among other categories she loves to wear pins.

How exciting it was re-imagining these unworn, but no less loved, items of jewelry joining forces into a unified piece of jewelry.

You can love an older piece of jewelry and yet not wear it. I loved this chance to make those memorable older pieces wearable again.

Read on to see the steps we took to get it right.

May you perhaps be inspired. Maybe you’ll end up looking at your long unworn, but loved-enough-to-keep jewelry pieces.

Our First Draft of Kathy’s Pin

Kathy’s Little Pile of Treasures

As we approached this project we at first figured the large blue topaz heart should occupy the center.

Often large gems look great flanked by smaller stones. This time we were incorporating a very colorful mix of gem elements.

Once we Took the Ring Shanks off I Laid Out the Proposed Order for Kathy

Laying Out the Idea

Calla Gold Jewelry five rings and a pendant re-do project

I Rearranged the Gems in Their Settings and Took a New Picture for Kathy

On the left was our first idea.

I emailed Kathy the picture so she could envision her finished pin.

She responded that she might like it better with the big blue topaz her Dad gave her at the very top. That’s on the picture on the right.

Once I laid it out with the heart on top I loved that way best.

Here are the Most Touchy Gems, the Opals. They Got Re-Set First

Making it Up

Calla Gold Jewelry pin project from five rings and a pendant

Here’s the Side View for You

I had to remove the gems for the heat of soldering the gold together.

The opals were re-set first as they are the most sensitive and touchy.

Happily Kathy is Now Wearing Her Five Rings and a Pendant as a Pin!

Five rings and a pendant into a pin project by Calla Gold Jewelry

Here’s One More Picture From This Fantastic Project. I Was Quite Inspired by it

If there is one thing I love, it is a client willing to dive deeply into her jewelry box and look at what she’s inherited or owned forever and stopped wearing.

When she brings it up to the light of day it’s funny that sometimes these pieces can in combination suggest the solution to what they should become.

And sometimes what you love, for example pins, helps the idea bubble up to the surface.

I had to share this project because I believe a lot of women own jewelry that on its own has become too small to wear or has become dated or just you’ve grown tired of it. This wonderful pin is being enthusiastically worn by Kathy and I couldn’t be happier that she chose to ~

“Wear it, Don’t Warehouse it!”

Happy Re-Designing Jeweler,
Calla Gold

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About Calla Gold

Calla Gold is a Personal Jeweler and Author who takes pride in working with clients one-on-one to integrate their personal sense of style and taste into custom designed jewelry and repaired jewelry pieces. Unlike typical Santa Barbara jewelry businesses, Calla Gold has no brick-and-mortar location. Calla Gold comes to you, bringing you the jewelry collection you want to see and collaborating with you to create unique custom jewelry. Calla also works with at-a-distance clients.

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Linda Menesez

8 years ago

Calla, that is so pretty! I love the combination of colors and shapes of the individual gemstones. What a wonderful way to really use and enjoy what she already had. I can totally see how she’d not be wearing them. I have rings myself that sit and don’t get worn. Much like hers.
I love what you did with them.

Thank you for sharing,

Linda

Calla Gold

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Reply to Linda Menesez

Dear Linda,
That was so great to read your similar experience. I think a lot of us have rings that aren’t broken, and we care too much to get rid of them, but then there they sit not worn.
I’m glad you dug the re-done look! Me too.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla

Tracey M.

Calla, this project answers a question so many people like me have. What do I do with the rings that time has passed. I loved them then and then stylistically moved on.
This is so great. I like how you didn’t just set gems in four prong settings, but left the designs they were in originally in intact.

Reply to Tracey M.

Hi Tracey,
Thank you so much for telling me what you like about this idea. It was so much fun. I do believe that it will spark some people to have me make similar pins!
Happy Re-Doing Jeweler,
Calla

Therese C

6 years ago

Calla,
This is wonderful! What a marvelous idea for those very special gifts that you love too much to get rid of, but unfortunately no longer wear.
And, for those heirloom gifts too!!! I love how you incorporated the original setting to retain the look of the piece!!! This is just perfect!!

Reply to Therese C

Hi Therese,
I’m glad you enjoyed the transformation from unworn to worn again. The idea of heirloom gifts getting new life has a great appeal to my sense of sentimentality and my sense of aesthetic. When re-using part or all of an older piece I get to see a different aesthetic and look, and it’s unique and can be a conversation starter.
You might like to see a watch I turned into a pendant. I used the mechanical insides and added rubies:http://bit.ly/2ahNzNr
Thanks for visiting.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla