Redesign Your Jewelry By Melting Your Gold – Part 3: Why Solder Matters

Many clients visit our Toronto studio to redesign jewellery using heirloom gold or gemstones. In some cases, we can melt old gold into new jewellery as part of the custom jewellery redesign process. However, pieces that contain solder—such as chains or resized rings—may not be suitable for melting.

When helping clients redesign their jewellery, the first step is to confirm that their old gold matches the required karat and colour for the new design.

Next, we weigh the gold to make sure there’s enough gold to complete a private casting process for the new piece.

Once these steps are complete, we carefully inspect each piece for solder seams.

Solder seams are thin lines that join 2 pieces of metal together. They’re often found in:

• Chains
• Multi-part jewellery designs
• Rings that have been resized

These seams may seem insignificant, but they can create serious problems when melting gold to make new jewellery.

Why Solder Can Ruin a Gold Casting

Solder is a metal mixture used to fuse jewellery components together. In vintage and antique jewellery, solder often contains lead.

Lead lowers the melting temperature of gold so pieces can be joined without damaging the surrounding metal. While this technique was common in older jewellery making, it creates a major issue when melting gold for a new design.

When lead enters the molten gold during casting, it can cause:

• Porosity (tiny holes in the metal)
• Brittle or weak gold
• Rough or pitted surfaces

Sometimes a small porous spot can be repaired with laser welding, but gold containing multiple solder seams—like a chain—is usually not suitable for melting into a new custom piece.

The only way to remove lead and other impurities is through refining, a specialized process that separates pure gold from other metals. Unfortunately, refining small quantities of gold is typically too expensive to be practical for most jewellery redesign projects.

A Real-Life Lesson from our Toronto Jewelry Studio

A few years ago, I melted my grandmother’s gold bracelet to create a ring.

Unfortunately, the bracelet links had been soldered with lead. When I cast the ring, the metal turned out porous beyond repair.

I made the ring all over again—this time using newly refined gold. The second casting produced a flawless result, but it was a valuable lesson about how solder can affect melted gold.

Our Recommendation When Redesigning Heirloom Jewellery

To ensure your new custom piece is strong, smooth, and beautifully finished, we generally recommend avoiding gold from heavily soldered jewellery when melting metal for a new design.

Examples include:

• Chains
• Heavily repaired pieces
• Rings that have been resized multiple times

If you have jewellery like this that you no longer wear, we’re happy to offer a competitive gold trade-in credit instead. That credit can be applied toward the cost of your new custom design.

With today’s high gold prices, many clients are pleasantly surprised by how much value their old gold holds.

Wrapping Up: Give Your Jewellery A New Life

Thank you for following along with our Melting Your Gold blog series. We hope these articles have helped demystify the process of redesigning heirloom jewellery and melting old gold for new designs.

Jewellery carries memories, milestones, and family stories.

When done thoughtfully, your existing gold can become something new, meaningful, and beautifully crafted just for you —a piece that carries your story forward.

Whether you’re redesigning sentimental jewellery or trading in old gold to offset the cost of a new piece, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process. Your jewellery will be redesigned in our Toronto studio. If you live outside Toronto, we offer secure shipping and will collaborate with you seamlessly—no matter where you are.

Ready to begin?

• Explore our Portfolio of Redesigned Jewellery
• Discover our Custom Jewelry Redesign Process
• Book Your Free Design Call to transform your old jewellery into a design you'll love wearing every day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Melting Old Gold

Can all old gold jewellery be melted into a new design?

Not always. Gold pieces that contain solder—such as chains or rings that have been resized - may introduce impurities when melted, which can weaken the new casting. Additional factors that will determine if we can melt your own gold to create new jewellery include gold karat & colour and the weight of your gold.

Why is solder a problem when melting gold jewellery?

Solder is a metal alloy used to join jewellery parts together. In older jewellery, solder may contain lead or other metals that can cause porosity, brittleness, or rough surfaces in a new casting.

Can impurities be removed from melted gold?

Yes, but removing impurities requires a refining process that separates pure gold from other metals. Refining small quantities of gold is usually expensive, which is why jewellers often recommend using clean gold instead.

What should I do with soldered jewellery I no longer wear?

You are welcome to trade in your old gold for credit to offset the price of your new jewelry. We’ll then create a new jewelry design with the gems from your old jewels.

Is redesigning jewellery with old gold still possible?

Absolutely. When the gold is suitable for melting (the right karat and colour, sufficient quantity and minimal solder seams), we can transform your gold into a brand-new design while preserving the sentimental value of your original jewellery.