Old into new, explained honestly
Jewellery remodelling: old gold becomes your piece
A ring that's sat in a drawer for years, a chain with a broken clasp, earrings with a missing pair: if you want to have jewellery remodelled, émin in Zurich District 4 is the right place. We check your old gold, weigh it, determine its purity and credit its value openly towards your new piece.
Honesty comes before the design: not every piece of old gold can be reused directly, often it needs to be melted down and re-alloyed first before it becomes a clean, wearable piece. We explain what's possible, what it costs, and what your heirloom or old jewellery will become, before any work begins.
Why remodel your old gold with us
An honest check
We determine the purity and weight of your jewellery precisely and tell you openly what's possible.
Value credited
The material value of your old gold is credited transparently towards your new piece, with no hidden deductions.
Designed around your idea
Whether a new ring, pendant or earrings, we design the piece together with you, matched to your occasion.
What actually happens when jewellery is remodelled
Remodelling usually means melting down, re-alloying and recasting. Old gold often has an alloy that doesn't match your new piece directly, a different colour or a different purity than 18ct gold, for example. That's why we first check exactly which alloy you have, before we can tell you how much of the material can be reused cleanly.
Stones from old jewellery are handled separately: diamonds and coloured stones can often be removed and reused in the new piece, provided their size, cut and condition allow it. Here too we're honest if a stone is too small, damaged, or unsuitable for the new design, rather than promising something that won't hold up in the end.
What your old gold can become
A first orientation. We can only give you the exact answer after checking your piece at the atelier.
| Starting piece | What it becomes | Note |
|---|---|---|
| An old wedding or engagement ring | A new ring, pendant or earrings | Purity is checked, the setting is usually made new. |
| An heirloom with no recognisable setting | Raw material for a new design | Value is credited honestly based on weight and purity. |
| Single or incomplete earrings | A pendant, ring or new pair of earrings | We check whether there's enough material for your new piece. |
| A damaged chain or bracelet | A ring, pendant or new chain | Clasp and links are melted down, the alloy checked again. |
| Jewellery with gemstones | A new piece, stones reused where possible | Every stone is checked individually for condition, cut and size. |
How a remodelling works
Five steps, from booking to collecting your new piece.
Bring your piece
You bring your old jewellery to the atelier, or send us a photo in advance.
Purity check
We determine weight and purity and tell you what can be reused.
Value credited
We credit the material value openly towards your new piece, calculated transparently.
Design
Together we design your new piece, matched to occasion, metal and budget.
Collection
You collect your finished piece at the atelier, with its short story if you like.
What remodelling costs
The price depends on the work involved and the share of credited old gold. We calculate it openly once we've checked your piece.
Price depends on the work involved. We calculate openly, no surprises.
Guide prices, as of 2026, incl. VAT. The exact price depends on stone, metal and work.
Not every old gold can be used directly
Some alloys, heavily mixed or very low-purity gold for example, don't suit a new piece without extra work. In such cases we explain why melting and re-alloying is necessary and how that affects the credited value, before we start on the design.
Frequently asked questions
Almost always, though not always one to one. The alloy of your old gold determines how much can be reused directly. Sometimes it needs to be melted down and re-alloyed before it becomes a clean new piece. We check your piece at the atelier and tell you honestly what's possible before we start designing.
We weigh your piece and determine its purity, usually 18ct, 14ct or 9ct gold. Weight and purity together give the material value, which we credit transparently towards your new piece. You see the calculation before any work starts, with no hidden deductions or surprises at the end.
Ideally yes, then we can check it in person and discuss it with you directly. If that's not possible, send us a photo in advance for a first impression. The exact check of purity and weight, though, needs the piece physically at the atelier.
It depends on the new design and whether melting is required. For most remodellings we plan a few weeks, from the check through the design to collection. At the appointment we give you a realistic timeframe for your specific project.
Yes, we do this often, for example when gold from both families should flow into one shared ring. We check each piece individually for purity and condition and tell you how the materials can be combined cleanly, before we start on the design.
We check diamonds and coloured stones individually for condition, cut and size. If they suit the new design, we remove and reset them. If a stone is damaged or too small for what you want, we say so openly and suggest an alternative.
The first assessment at the atelier is non-binding. Only once you decide on a remodelling do we calculate material, work and credited value openly. That way you know exactly what to expect before any work begins.
Quick enquiry
Ready to have your old jewellery remodelled?
Tell us briefly which piece it is, and feel free to send a photo. We reply within one working day with a first assessment.