Tips & FAQ up cycling

Can I use old gold to pay for a new jewelry piece?

Not every jewelry design from the Floor Wetemans collection can be created using reused gold. Fine chains and white gold are generally not suitable for melting and reworking, as they are often contaminated with other materials such as rhodium. Chains, however, can often be reused in a new necklace design.

In many cases, your old gold can be used as partial payment towards a new bespoke jewelry piece. Floor Wetemans will deduct the value of the approved gold from the final price of the new design. This only applies to gold that has been carefully tested and confirmed by our goldsmiths for quality and purity.

This option is also ideal if you own gold in a color you no longer wear or love — it can be transformed into a piece that better reflects your personal style.

Which materials are suitable for reuse?

Gemstones with a hardness above 8 on the Mohs scale are generally ideal for reuse, including:

  • Diamonds

  • Sapphires

  • Rubies

  • Aquamarines

  • Tourmalines

Floor Wetemans only remelts solid 18k yellow gold and solid 18k rose gold. Silver and white gold are not remelted, as white gold often contains traces of rhodium.

Fine chains are usually not suitable for melting due to impurities, but they can often be incorporated into a new necklace design. Rings, medallions, coins and solid gold pieces are generally well suited for remelting.

If additional gold is needed for a design, new gold can be added during the making process.

Do you buy old gold?

No, Floor Wetemans does not purchase old gold without the creation of a new jewelry piece. The atelier specializes in bespoke jewelry and craftsmanship rather than gold trading.

By reworking your materials into a new design, the emotional and material value of the gold can continue in a meaningful way.

Do you remelt gold below 18k?

Preferably not. Gold below 18k often becomes too brittle after remelting, which can compromise the quality and durability of the final piece.

Is my own gold always used in the new piece?

In many cases, clients specifically wish to incorporate gold from a loved one or inherited jewelry because of its emotional value. Whenever possible, this gold is directly integrated into the new design.

However, depending on the material and technical limitations, this is not always possible. Floor Wetemans always communicates openly and transparently about what can and cannot be done throughout the process.

How much gold is needed for upcycling?

For the creation of a new piece, approximately twice the final gold weight is required in reusable material. During the remelting and refining process, a portion of the gold is naturally lost due to evaporation and technical processing.

Some components, such as clasps or delicate settings, are not made from reused gold in order to ensure the durability and longevity of the jewelry.

Because upcycling is an intensive and highly specialized process, this margin helps avoid significant material loss during production.

Do you rework silver?

At this moment, silver is not remelted in-house, as the purification process is currently too costly compared to using newly refined silver.

However, all leftover silver from the atelier is collected and professionally recycled in bulk by a specialized company, ensuring that no valuable material goes to waste.

I don’t know whether my inherited jewelry is valuable. Is the gold real? Are the diamonds genuine?

That is absolutely fine — you are not expected to know. Floor Wetemans is happy to assess and sort your jewelry during a consultation at the atelier. Evaluating materials and gemstones is part of the process.

Can yellow gold be transformed into white gold, or vice versa?

No, this is technically not possible through remelting.

However, your existing gold can still be used as partial payment toward a new piece made in the gold color of your choice.

Can you source a specific diamond or gemstone for me?

Absolutely. Floor Wetemans is happy to help source a diamond or gemstone tailored to your wishes.

You may already want to consider:

  • preferred shape

  • size

  • color tone

  • overall character of the stone

A curated selection of suitable options will then be presented, allowing you to make a final choice with guidance throughout the process.

Do you rework white gold?

White gold is not remelted in the atelier. Floor Wetemans only remelts solid 18k yellow and rose gold.

However, the value of your white gold can still be deducted from the price of a new bespoke jewelry piece made in newly sourced gold.