While in college, Carly Morris wanted a class ring that was a bit different than the traditional styles offered, so she set out to design her own. She loved the process and product so much that she pursued her graduate degree in Gemology from the Gemological Institute of America and opened ECM Gems. For the last seven years, Carly has designed custom jewelry pieces for a growing clientele. Over time, people began to trust her with sentimental pieces and jewelry that had been handed down through family to be redesigned into heirloom pieces.
“Heirloom redesigns involve taking a piece of jewelry you've inherited, and you want to honor the history of that piece, but you don't wear it, or you're unable to wear it, as it is currently,” explains Carly. “So we take it apart like a little puzzle and put it back together in a way that commemorates who it's from and what it was in the past while also creating something that you're proud to wear now.”
When helping clients decide how to redesign heirloom jewelry, Carly takes into consideration the history of the original pieces and any information that will help inspire the new design. “I want to know about the piece, how they got it, if they know anything about the person that owned it before them, and how they came to be the owners. All that information is important for the design that we create because usually, people want to give a little nod to the previous owner to honor them,” shares Carly. “So knowing about who owned the piece before is just as important as looking at how the piece looks now.”
There are lots of options when it comes to redesigning jewelry. Carly can take multiple pieces and combine them into one new design or take a single piece and create several new pieces. “For example, if a piece has a lot of stones, we can break it up into multiple pieces and create a suite,” explains Carly. “Or if someone is coming in with their sisters and they want to make sure that everyone gets their own piece from the heirloom, we can do that too.”
Heirloom designs use more than just stones. Metal can also be melted down and recast to be used in new pieces. “My engagement ring is the wedding band metal from my late grandmother on my dad’s side,” says Carly. “My aunt wanted to use some of the small diamonds in a necklace and when I was taking the diamonds out, I realized that the metal was platinum, which was crazy for the 1950s. So I asked her if I could use it and I recast it to hold my stone. It’s my favorite thing to talk about with my ring.”
Carly can also add special touches, like inscriptions, to pieces. “If we're recreating a piece from your grandmother and you have a sample of her handwriting, we can include that on the piece,” says Carly. “Those personal touches is why I love custom work so much.”
Wearing heirloom redesigns means that each piece has a unique story waiting to be told. “With heirloom redesigns, you want people to ask you about the piece. Then you can share the story of the history behind it, who it came from, how it came to be, and how it is now,” says Carly. “Hearing the stories is my favorite part of what I do. Looking at diamonds, gemstones, and people's heirloom pieces is very fun, but the best part is getting to know my clients and their stories and weaving those personal details into their piece so it truly reflects them.”
For those who are unsure about the value, integrity, and stability of inherited jewelry, pieces, Carly offers Jewelry Box and Safe Assessments. “If you've inherited jewelry, I can use my gemological tools to do gemstone identification and metal testing. I can provide guidance on whether you should leave pieces as they are or use the pieces for something new,” says Carly. “Sometimes pieces are worth more in their current state, especially if they are a signed designer antique piece. If something is costume jewelry, I’m able to identify that as well.”
Carly is truly honored each time someone chooses her with designing jewelry, especially heirloom pieces. “The trust that is given to me in order to steward these pieces into its next life is not lost on me,” shares Carly. “It is something that I hold to the highest level.”
To connect with ECM Gems, shop ready to wear collections, or schedule a consultation for a custom design, visit ecmgems.com or email carly@ecmgems.com.
Photoshoot Credits
Jewelry: ECM Gems
Floral + Produce Arrangements: Camille Farm Flora
Antiques: Valerie Youngren, 1 Oak Vintage
Model: Phoebe Haygood
Photographer: Brooke Macko, Macka Photography