From Old to New – The Art of Transformation at Lukali & Co

At Lukali & Co, every custom piece begins with a story. Sometimes it’s a brand-new chapter written in fresh gold and rare stones. Other times—like this project—it’s a continuation of a story already told, breathing new life into something deeply personal.

The photo you see here captures that rare moment right before creation begins. It’s not staged, not polished—just the raw, honest state of a jeweler’s bench right before the magic happens. In this single image, you can see every element that will become part of a customer’s new piece:

• The stones – carefully selected for their brilliance, cut, and compatibility with the design.

• The wax model – the vivid red shape is the hand-carved prototype, a guide for casting the new piece in precious metal.

• The customer’s old ring – a piece with history, sentiment, and memories, soon to be transformed.

• Old gold and old diamonds – salvaged from past jewelry, ready to be refined and reimagined into something fresh and breathtaking.

The Process of Renewal

The transformation begins with a detailed consultation, where our team learns the story behind the original piece and the vision for the new one. In this case, the customer wanted to keep the soul of their original jewelry while giving it a new life—something wearable, modern, and entirely their own.

The wax model you see here is a crucial step in that process. Carved with precision, it allows us to perfect the proportions, stone placement, and overall flow before the metal is poured. This ensures the final piece will feel balanced, comfortable, and visually striking.

The old gold is melted down and refined, its imperfections removed while preserving its intrinsic value. The diamonds from the customer’s previous jewelry are inspected, cleaned, and carefully reset to sparkle like new. This blending of old and new is one of our favorite parts of the craft—it’s a sustainable, meaningful way to honor the past while creating for the future.

Why We Love Projects Like This

There’s something powerful about taking materials that have already lived a life—gold that has been worn for years, diamonds that have celebrated milestones—and weaving them into a new design. It’s not just recycling; it’s storytelling through metal and stone.

When the new piece is finished, it won’t just be beautiful. It will carry the weight of memories, the glow of craftsmanship, and the excitement of a fresh chapter.

From Bench to Beauty

Moments like this—when everything is laid out and the vision is clear—are why we love our work. At Lukali & Co, our bench is more than a workspace; it’s where sentiment meets skill, where old treasures become new heirlooms, and where our customers’ stories are forged into something they can wear for a lifetime.

This is what we mean when we say every piece is custom, personal, and unforgettable. And this bench photo? It’s proof that the magic starts before the metal even meets the fire.