Has anyone had a bespoke piece of jewellery made from existing pieces?

[TiredMule]

I have inherited some jewellery from my DMIL who very sadly lost her battle with cancer earlier this year. None of it I would wear as it's gold and a lot quite dated. My dh thinks it's a waste and agrees that if I could turn it into something I love and would wear everyday she would really love that.
There's not a massive amount, most are small stones, the main one is a solitaire from her engagement ring. I also have my dm's engagement ring as well, and she'd like me to incorporate that too.

I'm just interested to hear from anyone who has done something similar to find out rough costs, ideas, if it worked well, who you used, was it difficult, would you do it again etc etc.

If it is going to work out to be very expensive I'll have to rethink.

Yes. I also work for an independent jewellers who offer a similar service.

I have a lovely personal item which I adore and which I wear whenever I'm going out.

Yes, it was more expensive than buying off the shelf, but totally worth it.

We did this - made our engagement ring out of an old necklace which belonged to my husband's gran and which she had passed down to his family. It cost £600 (cost of gold was much less then though it was 2006!) and we were able to consult the jeweller at every stage, design, materials etc. I love my ring as it is completely unique and the diamonds are from something that was passed down through DH's family for years. His gran came to our wedding (she died not long later) and was delighted we'd used her necklace for the ring.
It was very easy - we brought in necklace, spoke to jeweller, he showed us some examples, we agreed on a design and he went off and 2-3 weeks later it was done!

I was just going to come on and comment about my engagement ring, but I see Travel has beaten me to it! It wasn't mega cheap (melting and doing whatever they have to do with the metal is only a bit cheaper than the price of actual gold), but I absolutely adore my engagement ring, and would thoroughly recommend it. On phone and can't face linking, but mine was made by Sophie Harley, who has done a couple of pieces for me (Google her, she is first result because she made the James Bond Casino Royale necklace).

I was given some ruby and diamond stud earrings which I never wore, so I took them to a small independant jeweller, who came up with some designs for a pendant. They used the gold, and made a beautiful design using the stones.

Its easier now, you can look on the Internet and see what you like, and who is good at what you want. It was a couple of hundred, I think. Bit more for the chain.

Fantastic! Can I ask how you found your jeweller? I'm guessing obviously local is good as it's easier to go and take the jewellery etc, or did you travel?
Asking as we're in Dorset so not near any big city. Googled quickly and a few came up locally, but I don't know how to tell if they are good? Obviously a recommendation would be the best way to go but I'm pretty sure no one I know has done this.
The other issue is I'm really not sure what kind of thing I want, I know I'd like a ring, but haven't thought too much particularly as I wasn't sure what they could do with what I have.
It's a long shot but I don't suppose any of you had it made in Dorset?!

I had mine made by Bill Steenson who has a showroom in Belfast but has his workshop in the South of Ireland somewhere, sorry! He is amazing though, don't know if he does remote service but definitely worth looking at his stuff for inspiration.
I love the fact that my ring was handmade by a man I met in person, in Ireland (I used to live there but have lived in England for 10 years now, so it's nice to have something Irish on me every day )

You could see if you can google exhibitors at the Bovey Tracey craft fair, apparently the standard is very high, so you might get a hit on someone nearer to you? I'm in Devon and hear good things about Erin Cox in Exeter, but not sure if she does bespoke stuff like that or not?

Not Dorset, but any local jeweller who is independent will probably be very helpful and know people who do that, its a small world

My dm did this at the jewellery quarter in Birmingham. It cost around £200 as they took some of the cost off due to the extra gold. They sketched lots of designs based on what she told them she wanted and she picked one.

She made two rings into one and it is beautiful. If you nee the info of the people who did it pm me and I can find out for you.

Thank you for the suggestions, Winchester and Exeter are definitely options. If anyone knows of one around the Farnham/Guildford area that could work too! It's lovely to hear about your lovely results, makes me very excited that this might actually work! I'm also now thinking that I could look into using a few of the bits to make my dds something in the future, maybe something for their 18th. Can't afford to do it know though.

Erin Cox in Exeter does do bespoke work, because we have talked about he making a brooch or pin for a cardigan I have! Very nice lady, but have not seen any of her commissions. She's in Castle St.