The price of gold is hitting historic highs, and I’ll be the first to tell you: as a goldsmith, it changes the way I look at my workbench. But as a jewelry artist who has been at this for over 25 years—since I was a teenager obsessed with how metal moves—I see this as an incredible opportunity for you to finally clear out your jewelry box.
We all have it: the "junk drawer" of jewelry. A singular gold stud whose partner is long lost, a delicate chain with a knot that won't budge, or perhaps a heavy, dated cocktail ring from an aunt that just isn't "you."
When precious metal prices are this high, those forgotten pieces aren't just clutter. They are your both raw materials for a new treasure and a source of capital to offset the costs of fine jewelry.
What secrets does you jewelry box hold that your can use to make a new treasure you will love?
Tips for Buying Jewelry in 2026 Series: Rework or Trade Your Unwanted Jewelry
Why Upcycling is One of the Most Sustainable and Economical Ways to Buy Jewelry in 2026
When you walk into a most retail jewelry stores today, especially large chain stores, you are paying a premium for the "new" gold in the case. But when you work with a master jeweler and utilize our unwanted jewelry, we can bypass much of the market's sting.
By melting down your existing fine jewelry, or trading it in toward a new project, you are essentially "pre-paying" for the most expensive part of your jewelry. While you might still need to buy some precious metals and stones at the current market price, you will also be getting top dollar for the jewelry you are trading towards the project. And, at times, you’re simply paying for the artistry and the labor to transform what you already own.
Above: A few recent custom jewelry projects by Victoria Ashley Kerkela that used a customer’s stones and/or Estate Jewelry to craft a new piece of treasure.
The Perspective of a Female Goldsmith: Beauty Meets Utility
I’ve spent two and a half decades studying not just how jewelry looks, but how it lives on the body. As a woman making jewelry for women, I know that a piece can be a masterpiece, but if it catches on your favorite sweater or feels too heavy by noon, it’s going to end up back in that junk drawer.
When we upcycle your old gold into a custom piece, I’m looking at:
- Integrity: Can we reinforce the structural points to ensure this lasts another 50 years?
- Ergonomics: How does the piece work with your body, activity level, and wardrobe?
- Your Personal Style: Can we work the existing stones and metals into a personalized statement about you, your personal brand, or your wardrobe?
The Victoria Ashley Difference: Your Vision, My Hands
There is a unique magic that happens when a female master jewelry artist takes the lead. We tend to approach design with a blend of high-level technical precision and deep emotional intuition. I don’t just want to make you a ring; I want to make you the ring—the one you never want to take off.
If you’re feeling priced out of the current jewelry market, don’t look at the tickers on the news. Look in your jewelry box. Let’s take those broken memories and forgotten metals and turn them into a custom work of art that reflects who you are today.
Ready to start your transformation? Come visit us at the studio. I’ll personally sit down with you to evaluate your gold and sketch out a design that fits your life and your budget. Supporting our local, artisan shop means you're getting 25 years of master-level craftsmanship and a piece of jewelry that is as functional as it is breathtaking.
Some projects are a simple a transforming a ring into a Pendant or vice versa
Other Projects require precise manufacturing to make use of a customer’s stones.
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