Using Your Own Gemstones or Gold
Jewellery often carries personal history. Some pieces mark important memories, while others may have been passed down through generations. At SAW Atelier, I am happy to discuss creating a new contemporary piece using your own gemstones or gold where possible.
Please note that working with client-supplied materials is a more specialised and time-consuming process than a standard commission. Before any commission can begin, your materials will need to be carefully assessed to determine whether they are suitable for reuse. Additional fees may apply depending on the condition of the materials and the complexity of the design.
Using Your Own Gemstones
Not all gemstones are suitable for reuse. Their size, condition, hardness, and setting requirements will all affect whether they can be incorporated into a new piece.
In general, I may not be able to work with:
soft stones such as opal, jade, or pearl
very small stones under 2mm
stones that are cracked, chipped, heavily worn, or damaged
stones whose condition makes resetting unsafe
Some stones may still be considered on a case-by-case basis, but acceptance cannot be guaranteed until they have been assessed.
Additional Costs for Gemstones
Depending on your stone, the following fees may apply:
Stone inspection fee: $50–$100
A condition report can also be arranged if required.Unsetting fee: $30–$50 per stone
Additional design fee:
This may apply if your stone has an irregular shape, requires a custom setting, or involves a more complex design process.
Using Your Own Gold
Client-supplied gold may also be considered for reuse, depending on its purity, condition, type, and weight. Old jewellery may contain mixed alloys, solder, previous repairs, or other unknown elements that can affect the making process.
Some gold can be reused directly, while other materials may need to be refined, adjusted, or traded in towards new metal before making begins.
Gold may be considered for reuse if it is:
solid gold with identifiable or testable purity
in suitable condition for the intended design
of sufficient weight for the new piece
appropriate for melting or reworking
Old gold rings, broken jewellery, and gold bars may all be considered, but each case will be reviewed individually.
Gold That May Not Be Accepted
In some cases, gold may not be suitable for direct reuse. This may include:
gold with unknown purity
heavily repaired or altered jewellery
gold with unstable or mixed alloys
material that is too light for the intended design
gold-plated or gold-filled items
Gold-plated and gold-filled materials cannot be reused as solid gold.
Additional Costs for Gold
Depending on the condition and type of gold supplied, additional fees may apply for:
material assessment
cleaning and preparation
removing stones or components
refining or alloy adjustment
additional design work
Please Note
SAW Atelier will handle your materials with great care. However, reusing old gemstones or gold always involves some risk, particularly if the materials are old, delicate, or already worn.
The condition of your materials may affect the design process, cost, and final outcome. In some cases, I may recommend refining the gold first, or using fresh metal while preserving the original material in another way.
Enquiries
If you would like to discuss a commission using your own gemstones or gold, please get in touch before booking.
Materials will need to be reviewed before the commission can be confirmed.