There is a particular kind of beauty that lives in old jewellery, not just in the stones or the metalwork, but in the weight of what it carries. A ring passed down through generations holds more than gold and gemstones. It holds someone’s story, someone’s love, and a piece of a life that mattered. I have always believed that jewellery is one of the most intimate ways we carry the people we love with us, long after they are gone.
I know this not just as a designer, but personally.
Not long ago, I had the rare and deeply meaningful experience of redesigning a piece of aquamarine jewellery that had been handed down to me. It was a sentimental piece, and it was one I treasured. I found myself wanting to honour the stone and its history while creating something I would actually wear and love every day.
So I did what I encourage my clients to do. I sat with the piece, thought about what it meant to me, and imagined what it could become.
The result is something I am genuinely proud of. I designed a 19K white gold ring featuring the original marquise aquamarine, which weighs over three carats, surrounded by a full halo of round brilliant diamonds totalling 1.32 carats of D to F colour, VS clarity stones. The aquamarine’s natural pale blue-green catches the light in a way that still takes my breath away. It is bold, it is elegant, and it is entirely mine. More than that, it still carries the history of the piece it once was. That experience reminded me, in the most personal way possible, why this kind of work matters so much.
For my clients in Vancouver and across the Lower Mainland, I hear a version of the same story again and again. A grandmother’s ring. A mother’s brooch. A great-aunt’s pendant. These pieces arrive in their lives wrapped in meaning, and yet they often end up tucked away because the style feels dated, the size does not fit, or the design simply does not reflect who the person is today.
There is nothing wrong with that. Jewellery styles evolve, and so do we. But the idea of letting a meaningful piece sit unused, or worse, selling it for its metal value, can feel like a small loss every time you think about it.
The good news is that there is another way. Through my inherited jewellery transformation service, I work with clients to reimagine heirloom pieces in a way that honours their origin while creating something genuinely wearable and beautiful. The stone, the gold, the memory, all of it can be preserved and transformed.
Aquamarine is one of the most versatile gemstones I work with, and it is particularly well suited to redesign projects. Its colour range, from the palest icy blue to a deeper greenish-blue, gives it a timeless quality that works beautifully in both classic and contemporary settings. It is also a durable stone, rating 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means it holds up well in everyday jewellery.
As March’s birthstone, aquamarine carries rich symbolism. It has long been associated with clarity, calm, and new beginnings. For a piece that is being reborn into a new design, that symbolism feels especially fitting. You are not erasing the past. You are beginning a new chapter with it.
Whether the aquamarine in your inherited piece is a small accent stone or a substantial centrepiece like mine, there is enormous potential in what it can become. A dated cocktail ring can become a sleek modern pendant. An old brooch setting can be melted down and recast into a contemporary band. The possibilities are genuinely exciting, and every project is different.
If you are in Vancouver and considering a jewellery redesign, the process begins with a conversation. I offer consultations where we look at the piece together, talk about what it means to you, and explore what you might want it to become. I ask questions about your personal style, how you like to wear jewellery, and what kind of piece would actually make it out of the drawer and onto your hand.
From there, I create a design concept and walk you through it before anything is made. You will know exactly what the finished piece will look like, and you will have the opportunity to give feedback and make adjustments. Nothing moves forward until you are genuinely excited about the direction.
If you have additional old or unwanted gold pieces beyond the heirloom itself, my we buy old gold service can help you put that metal to work. Many clients use the value of old gold to offset the cost of their redesign, which makes the whole process far more accessible than people often expect.
Learn more about Aquamarines in my birthstone guide.
