I’m very aware of the stories and emotional connections jewellery can hold. I love working closely with people to create pieces that feel personal, meaningful and made to be worn. A big part of my practice is remaking old, broken or no longer loved jewellery into something new. It’s creatively rewarding, emotionally rich and a much more sustainable way of making.
Inherited jewellery often sits tucked away, full of memories but rarely worn because it no longer suits our lives or tastes. Using your existing gold and gemstones, I can help you reimagine these pieces into new heirlooms that honour the past while fitting comfortably into the present. New materials can also be incorporated if needed.
Remakeries are conversations, not templates.
Sometimes that means refining a piece into something classic and polished, and other times it’s about preserving texture, marks and a sense of age. I work with rings, earrings, pendants and small fragments of jewellery, often reusing existing elements rather than melting everything down. By listening closely to both the material and the story it carries, I reimagine what’s already there into something that feels wearable, meaningful and true to you.
During the remaking process, I share progress photos so you can see your piece come to life along the way.
If you’d like to know more, the Remakery FAQs explain how the process works.
Below you’ll find a short video showing the remaking process, along with examples of past commissions.
While I’ll admit photography isn’t my strongest skill, listening closely and translating ideas into pieces people truly love definitely is. Some of my production series work can also be remade using your own materials.
This remakery brought together a collection of rings into a new set of organic, pebble-style stacking rings. The brief was clear: a bit of bling, stylistically organic, but no yellow gold. Using her existing pieces, it was refined then alloyed down to a soft, creamy white and worked with rounded, tactile forms that feel natural and easy to wear. She’d followed my work on Instagram for some time and made the journey down from Brisbane to bring this remakery to life, resulting in a set of rings that feel both considered with a sense of quiet luxury.
This remakery was a collaborative making process with a fellow artist. She wanted a 22ct gold bangle that was low key and highly organic, a piece that almost didn’t read as gold at first glance. Using gold from her existing jewellery, the metal was refined through my refiner, then we worked side by side in the studio to shape and form the bangle. The result is a quietly tactile piece, pared back, raw and deeply personal.
Caroline wanted a contemporary statement ring. Design-focused, organic, a little unconventional and ‘arty’. Something with presence, but not shine.
The featured stone is iolite, sometimes called water sapphire, a stone historically linked to navigation and finding direction. That idea became the framework for the design.
The iolite sits as the focal point, with diamonds arranged organically across the surface, referencing stars or a celestial pattern. Ideas of past, present and future, growth, and new directions are embedded in the layout rather than spelled out.
Caroline wasn’t a ‘gold girl’ so we reused her existing gold in an understated way.
The ring face is intentionally irregular, with a soft, organic edge and a lightly textured finish. It’s designed to feel substantial, comfortable, and contemporary without being overly refined.
A one-off piece, created to be worn often and lived with over time.
These earrings were made using leftover gold from another remakery. Rather than letting those small amounts go to waste, the metal was formed into softly domed discs, with posts repurposed from an existing brooch pin. A simple, considered pair, made entirely from what was already there.
Converted from two small gold vessels, sitting unused in a cabinet, the metal was alloyed down to a buttery 18ct gold to reflect my client’s aesthetic, and then forged into three chunky ‘organics’ bangles that can now be worn daily. The middle bangle was finished with a linear hammered texture but I forgot to take a pic!
This design could also nicely work as stacking rings 🙂
Created in collaboration with another artist, this ring began with broken silver – gathered, fused and reshaped rather than melted away. An emerald is set upside down at its centre, a quiet and intentional choice that held personal meaning for its wearer. This piece is a reminder that remakeries don’t erase the past; they work with it, allowing materials and stories to evolve into something new, wearable and deeply individual.
Remakeries aren’t just about rings.
Sometimes the most meaningful transformation comes from working with what’s already there – inherited elements, well-worn details, familiar forms. These inherited cufflinks were carefully reworked into earrings, keeping their original character intact while giving them a new life and purpose.
This photograph was taken mid-remakery, at a moment where the gold still carried every mark of its transformation. I’m always struck by pieces like this – textured, imperfect, and full of history, as though they’ve surfaced from another time.
While this particular ring continued on to become something more classic and refined, I’m very drawn to this raw, elemental stage. If you’re dreaming of a piece that embraces this kind of character – honest, tactile and a little bit wild – I’d love to talk with you about making something just like it.
A granddaughter came to me with a silver bird brooch inherited from her grandmother. It was a piece filled with love and memory, but not something she could imagine wearing. Through the remakery process, we transformed it into a piece that felt true to her own style, allowing her grandmother’s presence to become part of her everyday life rather than something kept away. (tech note – the white areas are elements of solder that need to be removed to reduce the metal contamination)
These rings were made to celebrate a long and shared life together. Each ring was designed with its own form and character, while a scattering of rubies creates a quiet connection between them. Different, but deeply related, the rings reflect a relationship shaped over time – distinct, intertwined and held together by choice rather than symmetry
This was a second remakery for a couple I had previously worked with on their engagement rings. Using the remaining gold from that first commission, I created a slim wedding band. A handful of fine, textured lines were added by hand, catching the light and holding the memory of the making process. A simple piece, rich with connection, shaped from what was already there.
Not every remakery begins comfortably, but each one deserves to be approached with care. This wedding ring was made from a band of gold teeth belonging to a dearly loved grandfather. What began as an unusual material became a deeply personal way to carry family, memory and continuity into a new generation.
Sarah loved gardening, and she arrived with a small collection of gold cufflinks inherited from her father – pieces rich with memory but no longer worn. Over a series of private remakery sessions, we worked together slowly and thoughtfully, allowing ideas to unfold over time. Drawing on botanical forms and the rhythm of growth, the cufflinks were reshaped into a softly sculptural, floral-inspired brooch. What emerged was not just a new piece of jewellery, but a layered story, of inheritance, care, patience, and a love of the natural world, brought into bloom once again.
Being involved in the making of your wedding ring can add a powerful layer of meaning. For Georgia, this ring began as an existing gold bracelet, which she carefully reworked with my help into a new form for daily wear. Alongside this, her partner participated in a private wedding ring workshop, where he carved his own ring in wax, which was later cast in gold. A square sapphire was added to Georgia’s ring as a quiet focal point, bringing the two processes together – one rooted in reimagining the past, the other in shaping something new by hand.
This kind of shared making is something I offer through intimate wedding ring workshops, where couples can take part in creating rings that truly reflect their story.
Three rings, made for a mother and her two daughters. Each daughter had a hand in shaping the design of her own ring, contributing to a shared story told through form rather than words. The mother’s ring became a small pinky ‘pebble’ ring, with three softly rounded elements sitting side by side, a quiet symbol of herself held between her daughters, connected, distinct, and always close.
From this collection of sentimental items, a pair of unwearable silver clip-on earrings were remade into drops, a matching missing earring was made so a favourite pair could be worn again, a sentimental broken watch was transformed into an everyday silver and brass bangle, and a gold textured ‘organic’s bangle was made. It was so satisfying to bring these items back to life.
Stacking rings are a thoughtful and cost-effective way to rework jewellery that’s no longer worn. Using existing gold and stones, they can be created as a small series and worn individually or layered together, offering flexibility, longevity and a way for one piece to become many over time.
This client works in the arts, as does his partner. He came to me with an inspo drawing, something simple and contemporary but with a point of difference. So we used a big Salt and Pepper Diamond to make a statement. Salt and pepper diamonds offer a more considered alternative to the classic white diamond. Salt and pepper diamonds offer an alternative to the classic white diamond. Naturally imperfect and unmistakably individual, they appeal to those drawn to character, depth and something a little unexpected. Celebrated for their natural inclusions and individuality, they value character over perfection, a perspective that sits comfortably alongside more mindful, lower-impact ways of making and choosing jewellery.
An elegant way to reuse your old gold is to make a bangle you can wear every day. The ‘organics’ range allows the making process to partly dictate the shape so while it’s round, it’s not 100% round – so you know it’s handmade! This bangle has a round profile to the wire, which takes a little longer to make than the square profile bangles. I add a little bit of sacrificial silver wire to the end, to fully utilise the gold. Otherwise there would be some wastage where the teeth of the drawtongs grab the metal when drawing down the wire to the desired shape and thickness.
This signet ring was brought in with some other old jewellery. It had some lovely engraving on the side which would have been a shame to lose. Instead of melting it to make a new ring, it was built up slightly to make it a little more substantial, and a sprinkle of diamonds were added for a bit of a difference.
The ring was for an interstate artist who’d previously purchased one of my ‘coming from nothing’ limited series (just 3 are made each year) and followed me on Instagram. A painter, the ring needed to be able to withstand everyday use, be tough, with a rustic and handmade look. Coincidentally, Justine was having a show in Sydney, so I made the time to visit, chat and gather inspiration from her work. It took a little longer than planned but it was a joy to let the creative making process dictate the end result.
It was important to use the black stones in the rings and pendants as they had great sentimental importance. After testing all the metal, some was plated steel and other costume jewellery (sometimes that happens). There was still enough to make a series of everyday stacking rings, a pendant for her daughter, plus a bonus pair of pebble studs with the leftovers!
An opal, a sentimental ring, and lots of gold to work with. One of the things I love about making new from old, is meeting interesting people and the stories behind the jewellery. M’s husband had Scottish heritage and there was sentimental meaning in the patterned element of one of the rings. This redheaded motorbike riding dynamo hadn’t yet pierced her ears but it was something she’d always wanted to have done, so earrings were to made! The opal was a beauty with flashes of red. The brief was to make sure NOT to have matching earrings. The shapes of the earrings echoed the opal. With enough gold to also make a pair of two-in-one earrings (they can be worn as studs or larger earrings) which could be worn together or with either the opal or ‘tartan’ earring.
White gold can be more challenging to reuse than yellow gold. On remelting it can become more brittle and is difficult to manipulate without cracking. With careful use of a small and hot flame, the three rings were fused and melted together to create a chunky ‘cigar band’ style ring with a row of diamonds echoing the flowing element of the ring shape.
Peter wanted this to be a surprise. This was a gorgeous and creative project. The brief was to use the large centre diamond of an inherited ring and an unusual Australian Parti Sapphire. The search was on! It took a while but one was sourced from a small miner in Queensland. We also used the existing gold to form part of the shank of the engagement ring. The ring was to be sturdy but not too chunky. Whilst this commission took a bit longer than expected, it was a great outcome!
Whilst some of the heirloom jewellery supplied for these remakeries turned out to be gold plated (which can’t be used for remakeries), there was still plenty left to make an 18ct gold bangle, a silver bangle (which I forgot to take a pic of!), pebble studs from the remaining gold, and a pair of diamond and silver rectangle stud earrings.
.Heirloom jewellery often carries very special memories. This lovely customer wanted to remember her mum by having a single ring made that she could wear daily. We also converted an inherited strand of pearls into some jewellery that she’d wear more often.
….but not have it look like an engagement ring? This lovely lady had been back a couple of times for various remakeries and we still had some gold and a few diamonds left to work with, including one larger ‘solitaire’. The end result, a version of my starry night’ series.
Liana had quite a bit of gold, but alot were chains which can sometimes create an alloy which is more challenging to work. We used part of an existing ring to make the outer circular element and shortened an existing chain that belonged to her grandmother. The best quality gold was separated to make the bezel for setting the diamond and then, all the rest plus offcuts were melted into an ‘organics’ bangle.
Inspired by another remakery, Felicity wanted to create a contemporary and natural set of white gold and diamond stacking rings from her rings that she no longer loved to wear. White gold can be more challenging to reuse, but not impossible. Three stacking rings were made, one each with a soitaire diamond, and the rest with a sprinkling of smaller diamonds.
Sally wished for something she could wear every day to be made with her mother’s wedding ring. The brief was ‘simple’ and ‘minimal’. A small bean shaped nugget was made, (the shape conveying personal meaning. And an existing silver ring, worn daily, was reworked so that the gold snuggled nicely within the silver.
Rhonda, a mixed media artist, wanted to have made a ring each for herself and her daughter, from jewellery she’d inherited from her mother. The yellow and white gold was split up and cleaned, with the gemstones removed. Two rings were designed to be similar, but not the same. White gold can be a bit tricky to work with in remakeries as some of the elements in the alloy can melt out leaving it brittle so this needs to be taken into consideration in the design. See Remakery FAQs
For these earrings existing gold was used as well as new 18ct gold purchased. Originally the client requested a polished finish. As the making process evolved, I felt that the earrings would work better with a soft burnished finish which would also set off the gemstones nicely. The assymetrical settings provided a further unique element to the handmade look. Was super happy with how these turned out, and so was she!
This was a super fun commission. Firstly I helped pick out a ‘key’ gemstone for the client and helped him make a ‘keeper’ ring with a difference. He then proposed with this keeper ring and made a time for them both to come in and design the ring together. Both of them work in creative industries and it just made sense to have them part of the design process and select other gemstones that she could relate to. It made for an even more meaningful engagement experience (and ensured that she’d be happy with the end result as well!).
Jess was inspired by a set of my stock emerald pebble stacking rings. we used her exisitng gold and some existing gemstones to make her own white and yellow gold version. The rings can be worn alone or stacked together or with other rings. A great way to give new life to unloved jewellery!
After making a couple of ‘remakery’ rings for this Canberrian there was still some leftover gold. The brief for this stylish artistic lady were for a pair of gold and diamond stud earrings that weren’t too blingy and could be worn every day. So a pair of ‘understated’ organic gold stud earrings were made with three of her own diamonds assymmetrically set for a point of difference.
The brief was for a nature inspired ring with an organic aesthetic for his partner, she’s a bioligist he said! Using an existing stone which has special meaning. Casting actual wood, a gold twig ring was created with the setting detail of an element wrapping around the gemstone.
Selina loves contemporary jewellery and had received numerous items of traditional gold and diamond jewels over the years from family. She wished to combine these various gifted jewels into a pair of stud earrings as well as a pendant that matched her aesthetics and could be worn more regularly.
I wanted this ring commission to embed the idea of 50 years of a marriage, the ups and downs, how it develops and enriches over the decades. Old gold was melted down into a disc. I drilled a hole in the centre, then hammered and stretched 50 times. Annealed the metal to resoften it and repeated the process until the ring was complete. After each 50 hammers, I took a photo. A slideshow was created showing the evolution of the ring. This was presented to the client alongside the ring itself.
A quantity of gold jewellery collected over a lifetime (including a gold filling!!), was converted into two classic soft edged rectangular profiled bangles to be worn every day. Before melting, the solder joins were removed. This can take time (particularly when chain is involved) but results in a better quality material to work with.The finish was a soft satin, which will gently burnish with time. Much better than leaving jewellery locked away and unloved in a jewellery box!
It was an honour to be trusted by an art teacher/farmer from WA, to remotely remake two rings for her from family jewels. The brief was something understated and elegant, no fine delicacy, but rather a piece that was organic, solid and geometric. The existing emerald was chipped but this was able to be neatly hidden in the end result. The second ring was to remake a treasured heirloom, with a more solid band and replace the CZ’s with green parti-sapphires.
Made from existing old gold, a cabachon opal and two small emeralds that were slightly damaged and a gift from an old relationship it was time for something new! Erin’s brief was for a rough, chunky organic ring that oculd be worn every day.The chips in the emeralds were hidden by using a rub over setting.
Salt and Pepper diamonds are in a class of their own. Unlike regular white diamonds, each one is unique. They’re a terrific option if you’re looking for a unique looking stone, think imperfection is beautiful, want to stand out with your choice and aren’t someone who conforms to society’s norms. These more affordable diamonds contain inclusions as a standout feature, providing the durability of a diamond.
Using an unworn charm bracelet chain from childhood and some hand stamping to create a hand held object to represent the moment of proposal. (I also hold private workshops where you can make these special gifts yourself with your own stamping and mark making).
Made using existing gold and gemstones from family inherited jewellery, the emeralds were quite worn. An ‘ancient organic’ style seemed to suit the patina of the gemstones. The client, and her daughter, were very happy with the pendant and I heard it’s been worn every day since it was gifted!
This commission for a pair of engagement rings was initiated at the end of 2019, then the couple went back overseas with plans to return for Easter. Well, we all know what happened next! This whole job was completed remotely, primarily using Facebook messenger with many pics and videos of progress. Made from old gold including pandora beads, the final rings were nervously internationally couriered to the recipients during the height of the pandemic. They arrived safely and all went well!
A pair of tiny earrings made for a lovely lady passionate about permaculture. She wanted to transform some unloved jewellery into a simple pair of organic style earrings. The three small pebbles at the bottom represent three women in the family… and there’s a special personal story behind the making of the work.
In the form below, let me know what you’re thinking!
Please attach reference or inspo images and photos of the existing jewellery that you plan on giving new life to.
Please ensure you’ve checked out the Remakery FAQs beforehand.
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