Sarah's mother-in-law, Diana, was a kind and funny woman who loved beautiful things. After inheriting her rings, Sarah wished she could wear them like she did her own mother's, but they were too big and not her usual style. Selling them didn't feel right, but neither did leaving them unworn.
She'd been putting off the decision until she stumbled on my website and knew straight away what the answer was: remodelling them into a new ring with the essence of the old ones.
That's the thing about jewellery with meaning: it's just so much more than the sum of its parts.
After receiving her finished ring, Sarah told me:
"I think of Diana when I wear it. It is a link to the past but also a symbol of a new beginning because it has been transformed into something new."
The value of sentiment
When we talk about what things are worth, sentiment is often dismissed - "Oh, it's not worth anything, it just has sentimental value."
When did we collectively decide sentiment is less valuable than financial worth?
As a jewellery designer, blending quality craftsmanship with personal meaning is all part of the process.
So, I wanted to bring you inside that world with me to find out more about what the pieces I create are really worth to my clients.
Over ten recent bespoke jewellery commissions and remodelling projects, I asked my clients what their pieces mean to them.
Their answers - and the stories that inspired them - say so much more about value than any appraisal ever could.
A portable family tree: Steph's story
Gemstones are like tiny time capsules when they're preserved across the generations, and Steph's story sums up this idea of carrying decades of emotional family history in miniature, sparkling form.
"As a little girl, I used to wear my mum’s engagement ring while she plaited my hair in the mornings, and she always said it would be mine eventually.
"A few weeks after my dad died, one of the stones fell out. My mum found it and had the stones reset, but the jeweller did a terrible job and all the delicate gold was replaced with great, ugly lumps.
"My mum and I both cried and, although she continued to wear it, after she died, I couldn’t bear to wear it and I put it away for many years."
It's stories like these that make me wonder how anyone can dismiss sentimental value. Yes, it's a piece of metal on the surface, but in terms of emotional importance, the value is off the charts.
In finding a way to weave these pieces together in a single, contemporary ring, Steph created a portable family tree to transport through life and pass down to her daughter, with all of the stories tightly packed inside.
Steph explained:
“The rings were my engagement and wedding rings, and my mum’s engagement ring. The bracelet belonged to my sister.
"My mum and sister have both died, so the pieces were very special to me. I had wanted to have them made into an eternity ring for a number of years, but couldn’t find the right design.
"When I saw one of your designs I knew it was just right for me."
Summing it up, Steph added:
"The ring connects me, my sister and my mum. It arrived a couple of weeks before I retired, so it was special in that way, too. One day it will belong to my daughter - for now, I look at it every day and it makes me smile."
Marking life’s moments
Shirley’s ruby remake
Shirley's engagement ring was remodelled to celebrate her and Terry's ruby wedding anniversary. She wanted something that felt contemporary - "not fussy or overly ornate, which isn't me at all."
But as it turned out, the anniversary wasn't the only milestone being marked.
“It was an auspicious time to have the ring remodelled. As well as it being our anniversary, we were just coming to the end of 10 years running our business and venturing into a new phase of our life together. Terry had also been two years clear from his cancer diagnosis.”
Forty years of marriage, a decade in business, a new chapter, good health - Shirley's remodel encapsulated so much into one ring, in the fuss-free style she adores.
She added:
“From beginning to end, the process was really positive. The website explained everything very clearly, and the case studies were really helpful to understand what could be achieved. Loved the before and after posts on Instagram.
"Kate was very intuitive, and having the computer modelling was very helpful for any tweaks.”
Kathryn's hallmarked tribute
Kathryn's paternal grandmother had always been so proud of her for becoming a doctor, and after having two sons, she'd been pleased to pass her wedding ring down to her beloved granddaughter.
When she got engaged, Kathryn was excited to wear the ring for her big day as a connection to her late grandmother and her late father. And while she researched having it resized, she realised she could take it a step further and have it reimagined.
Better still, having the ring remodelled and hallmarked in Birmingham added an extra personal touch, as it was the city she and her husband had called home for 33 years.
She said:
“I wanted something personal and unique and also beautiful. I initially was planning on having my grandmother's ring made smaller to fit... until I realised it could be completely re-fashioned. But at the same time, keeping the connection to her.”
“Trying on the finished ring was a special moment. And then putting it back in the box until our wedding day.”
Kathryn’s heirloom gold was melted and remodelled into a textured “Dune” band, bearing the Birmingham hallmark and linking her to her home, family and future.
Kate's C's symbol of love, loss, and legacy
When Kate C's husband died of cancer in 2023, just two days before his 50th birthday, she was left with three rings that no longer felt separate: her engagement and wedding bands, and the white-gold circle he'd worn every day of their marriage.
She tried slipping his ring onto her finger, but it was far too big. What she really wanted was a single piece that could hold their entire story and one day be passed to their teenage daughter.
Kate C said:
"I'd seen Kate's work online, and she'd created some pieces that I liked. Meeting Kate in person cemented the fact I'd made the right choice."
We melted down all three rings into fresh gold and set a new sapphire gemstone - their daughter’s birthstone - as the star of the show.
Weeks later, Kate unboxed a ring with layers of resonance - past, present and future in one cherished item. In her words:
"A celebration of life and our life together."
Price isn’t the point
Speaking to my clients for this piece, something became crystal clear: not a single person mentioned diamond size, carat weight, or market value when asked what makes their piece precious.
Instead, they spoke about:
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Personal stories – heirloom pieces, birthstones, family memories.
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Emotional resonance – comfort after loss, confidence after illness, daily bursts of joy.
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Longevity – creating something that transcends trends and can be passed through the generations.
Amplifying meaning: bespoke and remodelled jewellery
One thing that might surprise you is how much my clients value the journey of creating their new piece, as much as the end result.
It's a personal and vulnerable process, particularly for remodelled pieces.
One client said, "Sending off the three rings felt quite scary."
Asked whether any part of the process felt especially emotional, Gemma said:
"Leaving your rooms without my ring, thinking, 'wow, did I really just do that!?'"
I can't stress enough how much of a collaborative process this is.
I understand how precious your pieces are to you, and I never take it lightly how daunting it must feel to hand them over to a stranger.
That's why I make sure that by that point, I don't feel like one. We've connected and built a level of trust that allows me to carry out a special task on your behalf.
“It felt like a really personal experience—you understood how important it was to me.”
- Steph
“[The process was] So easy but creative, empathetic and reassuring.”
- Sarah
From the first sketch to the moment you try on the finished piece, every decision is yours.
The result is one-of-a-kind jewellery that can’t be found in a shop window because the message behind it is all yours.
Choosing the right person to create your meaningful jewellery
It doesn't matter whether you're commissioning a piece for yourself or as a gift - choosing the right jeweller is paramount.
This is one of the reasons I share personal stories and experiences in my blog posts and emails to you.
I want us to have that relationship that makes you feel comfortable trusting me with your precious pieces.
Over the years, I've opened up about my mental health, motherhood, sobriety journey, and even my love of cheesy music and 70s detective shows.
I want this to feel like a safe space - to me, it's more than a business, it's a community (another wonderful reason to support an independent jeweller).
We're in this process together, and our connection lasts long after your ring, necklaces, earrings, or bracelets make their way into your collection.
Asked about any memorable moments in the process, Gemma said:
"Just stepping inside your door, as I have always felt very judged in jewellery shops because I had no idea what I wanted and never really liked anything I saw, but coming to see you was a lot easier and welcoming."
My client, Kate C, said:
"Kate was a pleasure. She listened to what I wanted and was understanding, suggested ideas and then created the most beautiful ring. The process was easy to arrange and was really interesting to see inside the studio."
Spiritual meaning, everyday rituals
For some of my clients, meaning comes not just from the item itself, but in joyful rituals that form part of their everyday life.
Speaking about her ring, Steph said:
"Every morning, I give it a little shake before I put it on and then look to see which stones are uppermost for the day. Double diamond days are extra special! Honestly, it still brings me joy every single day. Thank you."
Every story is unique, just like the jewellery we make
"Kate, you have created a family heirloom."
Reading these words proves to me that sentimental value will always trump carat weight.
So, I'm curious... What will your personalised piece of luxury represent to you?
If you have a story waiting to be told in stunning sterling silver or timeless solid gold, I'd love to be the catalyst to help you tell it.
Explore my bespoke jewellery and remodelling services - I can't wait to bring your story to life and create something utterly priceless.
