My Process: How I Revamp Your Heirloom Jewellery
See how I use my 25 years of GIA-certified experience to carefully dismantle and redesign your family heirlooms, keeping their soul intact while giving them a modern identity.
Being part of the 12th edition of the Gem and Jewellery Exhibition in Delhi as a panelist was a true honor. It was a moment of pride to share my journey of revamping heirloom pieces with such renowned names in the industry.
A warm welcome to my brand new showroom at Panchsheel Plaza, Hughes Road, Mumbai. Here, you can experience luxury and explore a variety of collections, from polki and diamonds to our exclusive Mahiway collection.
Meet me, Mona Shah, a GIA-certified Jewellery Architect. With over 25 years of experience and nearly 5,000 transformations, my vision is for every woman to have an exclusive, revamped piece in her jewellery box.
I was honored to be a panelist for an I.M.P.A. discussion on bridal styling. I shared my insights on how to revamp heirloom jewellery, like a mother's Chandan Haar, to suit a modern bride's look.
This was my most challenging revamp because the client was a jeweller herself. We transformed her piece using 22-karat gold, real polkis, topaz, and a carved green aventurine stone, and I'm proud to say she was satisfied.
Whether it's a minor change or a major transformation, I am here for you. For example, we took a client's small gold tops and made them into a smart, lightweight festive wear piece by adding an intricate pearl jacket.
Looking for budget-friendly redesigning? We've got you covered. In this revamp, we strategically placed side pieces on a pearl collar and utilized the earrings to make a matching bracelet, all within the client's budget.
Here are three reasons to use velvet in your jewellery. It enhances aesthetic appeal, provides protection for the piece, and creates a striking contrast with metals and gemstones.
Breaking news! You can refurbish your real, outdated jewellery. This was one of my favorite unique revamps, where we added creative parrots, corals, black onyx, and jute to completely transform a piece.
A client asked if it's necessary to be a certified jeweller for revamping. I believe knowledge and experience are crucial to avoid ruining a client's real jewellery. My GIA certification is a testament to that expertise.
About My Process & Philosophy
Many people worry that changing their jewellery means melting it down and losing the original gold. That is never the case here. My process focuses on non-destructive dismantling, carefully taking apart rigid, outdated settings and repositioning the stones or gold motifs into a design that fits your current style. Whether we are adding pearl lattice work or incorporating polkis, I ensure the structural integrity of your original gold stays exactly as it was.
As a GIA-certified jewellery professional, I view every piece of heirloom jewellery not as a static object, but as a design challenge. When you bring me a piece—perhaps a heavy, rigid bangle or a traditional gold necklace—my first step is to listen to the story it holds. We start with a consultation, where I assess the metal purity and stone quality. Clients often assume their old gold coins or inherited sets are pure, but I always run a computerized purity check first to ensure our design plan is accurate and safe.
My goal is to make your jewellery wearable. I do not believe in keeping memories locked in a locker. My approach blends traditional goldsmithing techniques with modern architectural design. We might take a heavy kambarband from Bangalore and transform it into a lightweight, multi-strand choker, or use traditional jaali work to give a dated pendant a contemporary finish.
Distance is not a barrier. Through video calls and secure shipping, I work with families across India and internationally. Every project follows a collaborative sketch-to-creation timeline. We brainstorm placement, discuss gemstone accents like Russian emeralds or high-grade onyx, and prototype the layout before a single piece of metal is touched. Whether it is a simple bead-stringing job or a complex bridal set transformation, my focus remains on comfort and durability. We often add velvet backing to chokers or use adjustable patwa work so the pieces feel as good as they look.
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