How to Get the Most Out of Your Inherited Jewelry

by Nancy Plante October 06, 2017

By Nancy Plante

Jewelry can mean many different things to many different people. From fashion statement to relationship symbol, the jewelry we wear is a way of signifying who we are and what we stand for. Your own personal sense of style is reflected in the jewelry you choose.

But when it comes to a piece of inherited jewelry, there is an added sentimental value potentially attached to a loved one who has given us a precious gift or who has passed away. Wearing this jewelry may touch your heart more deeply than any other piece in your collection.

The dilemma is when an important piece of heirloom jewelry doesn’t fit your personal style – so you may feel compelled to leave it in the jewelry or safe deposit box.

How you deal with the family heirloom jewelry is important. You may feel guilty for not wearing the piece. You’d like to honor the person who gave it to you - and be reminded of them - but the jewelry may be outdated, uncomfortable, or simply isn’t “you.”

Don’t worry; there is a happy medium that can include upgrading the settings or turning the piece into a new design that you will love forever.

Heirloom Jewelry Made More Modern

Your own personal sense of style can be reflected in that piece of inherited jewelry. A good jeweler can work with you to create a design to leverage the best of the old with a fresh, new design.

Our process starts with communication and consultation, by phone, online, and/or in person. During these discussions, our designer begins to get a sense of the history of the piece, your emotional ties to it, and your own sense of style. We discuss budget and look at some of our previous designs to help develop an understanding of your likes and dislikes. Some customers even come to us with an idea as a starting place.

All of this work can be done remotely if you don’t live nearby. As we begin to sketch the new concept, we work one-on-one with you, carefully crafting your vision into reality.

Creating something new while incorporating elements of the heirloom jewelry is a tricky process. We want to use as much of the piece as we can without creating waste. We want to reinvent the old item in a way that honors the spirit and emotion behind it. Our goal is to celebrate the life of the loved one you lost in a way that also fits your personal preferences so that you will feel comfortable wearing the piece again.

It’s even possible to combine multiple pieces of heirloom jewelry into something totally new that you had never conceived of. We can do this in a way that appropriately reflects your style. In these designs we can ultimately represent multiple generations, in addition to several loved ones who have passed away.

Don’t Store Your Inherited Jewelry – Wear It

Plante Jewelers has a particular affinity for heirloom jewelry. That’s because we are the third generation to serve customers in this location. Pierre Plante’s grandfather Arthur Plante founded our family business in 1905.

We understand the value of honoring the traditions that have been passed down to us. If you have a piece of heirloom jewelry that you would like to discuss, we would be pleased to provide you with a complimentary consultation. Together, we can honor your loved one by taking the best of the inherited jewelry and modernizing it so you will feel proud to wear it.

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