Have you ever wished you could wear the special pieces in your jewellery box that are not your style, broken, or worn out?
Village Media chatted with Nicholas Rosset, Goldsmith and Gemmologist with Savoy’s Jewellers here in Sault Ste. Marie about how to breathe new life into our most treasured pieces.
“If your jewellery is out of style, or worn out beyond repair, we often suggest making a new item to cherish. Our designers can make virtually anything you can think of. The cost can be quite low, especially if we are using your metals and gemstones,” says Nicholas.
Start with a Beautiful Design
The first step in creating a custom piece is meeting with an experienced jeweller. They can help to guide you through the process effortlessly. Expect the designer to assess any materials that you are hoping to use and to ask for any ideas you might have.
“At Savoy’s, we often provide a sketch or even a computer rendering to help develop the concepts. Occasionally, this step is repeated until the design is perfect,” Nicholas explains. “We can start from scratch or melt your old jewellery and make anything. Using your materials preserves the sentimental value of your heirloom. We can also supply or supplement any materials required, too.”
As for the type of pieces that can be created, the sky is the limit. People will often create rings, pendants, earrings, and brooches but it doesn’t have to stop there. “We also do production runs for schools, clubs, and companies,” adds Nicholas.
Expert Goldsmiths and High-Tech Equipment
In addition to a carefully crafted design, creating a custom piece of jewellery also requires exacting talent and the right tools. The goldsmiths at Savoy’s combine old world knowledge and tools with leading edge modern equipment such as laser welders, laser engravers, and diamond origin testers. There are very few goldsmiths in northern Ontario that are able to produce this type of custom work in-house.
“With six experienced goldsmiths, each with their own strengths, we have the right professional to work on your jewellery regardless of its complexity or age,” explains Nicholas.
Beautiful End Results
Once you are happy with the design, the goldsmith begins to create your new piece of jewellery. According to Nicholas, there are a few different techniques that can be used.
“Sometimes it is best to melt and fabricate the jewellery by hand and other times we utilize CNC cutters or 3D printers to create a wax mold. If the design calls for a wax mold (either made by hand or machine), the next steps are to cast the mold into precious metal. Then the production moves back to the work bench for gem setting, assembly and final polishing,” he explains. “Turnaround time is usually between two and six weeks, depending on the complexity.”
Overall, transforming an old piece of jewellery that you don’t wear into something new to love and cherish takes time, but it is definitely worth the effort.
For more information about Savoy’s custom jewellery services, visit them at 290 Queen Street East or The Station Mall in Sault Ste. Marie, call (705)253-9703, or check them out on social media @savoysjewellers.