There is something uniquely special about inheriting jewellery.

It may have belonged to a parent, grandparent or someone further back in your family history. And while the sentiment attached to it can be priceless, the piece itself may not necessarily be something you would choose to wear.

Perhaps the setting feels dated. The ring isn't your style. The chain has been sitting untouched in a drawer for years. Or maybe you've inherited a collection of pieces and have absolutely no idea what is real, what is valuable, or what could be transformed into something new.

This is where heirloom jewellery remodelling can become incredibly meaningful: taking the materials or stones from something old and giving them another life in a piece that feels distinctly yours.

But before you get there, there's usually one question:

How do I know if my heirloom jewellery is actually valuable -  or worth repurposing?

The only way to properly confirm the composition and value of jewellery and gemstones is through appropriate professional assessment and, where necessary, testing. But before making that appointment, there are a few things you can look for at home.

1. Start with the hallmarks

Grab a magnifying glass and look carefully around the inside of rings, clasps of necklaces and bracelets, earring posts or backs, and other inconspicuous areas.

You're looking for tiny stamps known as hallmarks or fineness marks.

These can provide an early indication of the precious-metal content of the piece. Common marks you might encounter include:

• 375 — 9 karat gold

• 585 — 14 karat gold

• 750 — 18 karat gold

You may also encounter marks such as 9K, 10K, 14K or 18K, depending on where and when the piece was manufactured.

Other marks can sometimes provide clues about the maker, assay office, country of origin or period in which the jewellery was produced.

Importantly, a hallmark is a clue rather than absolute proof. Marks can be absent, worn away, misleading or, occasionally, incorrect. Older jewellery may also use marking systems that aren't immediately recognisable.

If you're considering melting or remodelling an heirloom piece, its metal should still be professionally tested first.

2. Look at what the gemstone is set in

If you've inherited a piece containing diamonds or coloured gemstones, determining exactly what you're looking at becomes considerably more difficult.

One useful clue, however, can be the jewellery surrounding the stone.

We sometimes use the analogy of a beautiful sports car: generally, you don't spend significant money on the car and then put the cheapest possible components into it.

Similarly, a gemstone set into a beautifully made piece of high-purity gold or platinum can be one positive indicator that the stone itself warranted a fine setting.

But it is not proof.

Fine jewellery can contain synthetic or imitation stones, valuable natural gemstones can appear in relatively modest settings, and stones may have been replaced during a piece's lifetime.

Think of the setting as another piece of evidence - not the final verdict.

3. Examine the stones - but don't rely on appearance alone

With a magnifying glass and good natural light, take a close look at the stones.

You might notice wear, chips, scratches, inclusions, differences between stones, or signs that something has been replaced over time.

A very glassy-looking stone with significant surface wear or chipping, particularly when combined with an inexpensive or heavily tarnished setting, may warrant some scepticism.

However, you cannot reliably determine whether many gemstones are natural, laboratory-grown, synthetic or imitation simply by looking at them at home.

Modern synthetic gemstones can share essentially the same chemical and physical properties as their natural counterparts. Proper identification can require specialist gemmological equipment and, in some cases, laboratory testing.

So resist the temptation to make a definitive call from a magnifying glass - or a TikTok test.

4. Don't assume old means valuable - or worthless

Age alone doesn't determine value.

An old piece may contain valuable precious metal or gemstones. It might have collectible value because of its maker, provenance or design. Or its greatest value may simply be sentimental.

Likewise, something that looks relatively ordinary can sometimes contain excellent materials.

This is particularly important before melting down older jewellery. Once an historically or commercially significant piece has been dismantled or melted, that original value can be impossible to recover.

If something looks unusual, exceptionally old, beautifully handmade or carries distinctive maker's marks, have it assessed before altering it.

5. Ask a different question: is it worth repurposing to you?

This is perhaps the most important part.

The financial value of an heirloom and its value as an heirloom are two very different things.

A ring doesn't necessarily need to contain an enormous diamond to be worth remodelling. Your grandmother's modest gold wedding band might have relatively little value on paper, while being one of the most meaningful objects you own.

Repurposing allows that material - and its history - to continue.

Depending on the piece, existing gold may be able to be incorporated into a new design, gemstones may be reset, or elements of the original jewellery can become the starting point for something completely different.

Rather than leaving an inherited piece unworn because it doesn't quite feel like you, it can become something you reach for every day.

When should you see a professional jeweller?

These at-home checks are useful for answering one question:

Is this worth investigating further?

They cannot definitively establish the purity of an alloy, identify a gemstone or provide an accurate valuation.

If you're considering selling, insuring, remodelling or melting inherited jewellery, the next step should be an appropriately qualified jeweller, gemmologist, valuer or gem-testing laboratory depending on what you need confirmed.

At Ribs & Dust, heirloom remodelling begins by understanding what you have, what matters to you about it, and what might be possible.

Because sometimes the most valuable thing about an old piece of jewellery isn't what it's worth.

It's what it can become.  

Ready to remodel your inherited heirloom jewellery?