Reusing Gold

It may sound like a great idea to have grandma’s old wedding rings melted down and made into a new fashionable ring for you, but it’s not quite that simple.

Because gold jewelry is not pure gold, it cannot simply be melted and reused. That said, very few jewelers have the equipment needed to properly process the gold. Simply melting the gold results in metal that is porous and brittle, which is not safe for everyday wear. Jewelry made form this metal will bend, break and exhibit an uneven pitted surface luster, or porosity. Thus, pieces made this way will not generally hold up well over time. To be safely reused, the gold must be refined, which is the process that frees the metal from impurities and unwanted materials.


While many jewelers will not melt your gold, it is not impossible to find one who will. Some may do it in their store, but most likely they will send it to a refinery. But be aware: what you get back may not be the actual gold you took in. Often for time and monetary efficiency, the jeweler will process a batch of jewelry rather than just your pieces and give you a portion of the refined gold. If it is important to you that you actually use grandma’s jewelry, ask about the jeweler’s process or consider doing something different.

A creative jeweler can help you find other ways to use grandma’s jewelry. Depending on the pieces, you may be able to add or subtract diamonds or gemstones to create a new look. In some cases you can take the top off a ring and fashion it into a pendant or create a pair of earrings if the design is symmetrical. Some wedding bands can be shaped into open heart pendants, and don’t forget that you can always set diamonds and gemstones into new mountings.

Your idea may not work exactly like you envision, but don’t be afraid to share your ideas with a jeweler and let him or her help you find a design that will be both visually appealing and a durable design.


-Photo from www.accountancypartners.co.uk