Looking to commission a new piece of jewellery? I’m sensitive to the connection and meaning that jewellery can embody and enjoy sharing the process of making unique commissioned work.
One of the things I love to do is to refashion tired and broken jewellery into new heirlooms. It’s fun to do and means less gold’s dug out of our precious planet. Inherited jewellery is often stored, hidden from view, filled with the memory of loved ones but never worn because it’s not to our taste. It’s such a waste to have these memories and materials locked away. I can help you use your existing gold and gemstones in a new way, creating new memories and meaning.
Yes, I also do repairs! Often people don’t realise that their jewellery can be repaired, or they’ve taken it to a tradition jeweller who has said, ‘it’s not worth it’, or ‘throw it out’ or ‘we can’t help you’. I like a challenge and believe that most things can be repaired or if not, may be able to be made into something new. As well as helping out on simple costume jewellery repairs at the Repair Cafe Sydney North, I undertake jewellery repairs at my workshop.
Below are some examples of commissions and remakeries. I can also work with new gold and stones if required.
A very special and unique way to propose to your partner – 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).
- old unoved hollow gold bracelet
- gold prepped and ready to melt
- stamping stamping
- And it’s done!
A recent remakery for an 18th birthday – 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!
- the old gold
- some of the tiny old emeralds
- about to melt the gold
- forming the shape
- the finished gold and emerald pendant
I call this my ‘Covid’ remakery – 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!
- burning the wooden and gold pandora beads
- checking ring sizes of the bands made from old gold
- working on settings
- playing with the parti sapphires
- the finished salt and pepper diamond ring
- finished parti-sapphire ring
My first remakery of 2020 – an unloved 18ct gold chain becomes a simple, creamy gold organics bangle. Now that gold will be worn again! All the ‘organics’ bangles are slightly wonky with their own personalities. I try not to work them too much but to let the making process dictate the shape.
- About to melt the 18ct gold chain
- The finished 18ct gold bangle
‘New’ white and yellow gold ‘organics’ bangles – white gold can be a bit tricky to melt and rework but a solution was found!
- The original gold jewellery
- unsetting the gemstones -they needed a bit of a clean and one was a bit damaged but we worked around that
- ready to melt the yellow gold
- Where to place the stones?
- Finished organic style bangles with ‘making’ marks to honour the handmade process
Two matching silver rings – my first ‘instagram’ remakery. All done by post and many messages via social media!
- melting part of the chain
- silver bar
- drawing out the silver wire
- two rings – still needing a bit of polishing
- Some silver left for more remakeries!
- the finished rings!
A couple of ‘organics’ bangles – with a sprinkling of repurposed emeralds, sapphires and diamonds – all made from existing unloved jewellery
- Unsetting the emeralds
- Melting after testing the gold
- Nearly there!
- The finished bangles with a rough hammered surface
A new ‘ancient’ 18ct gold pebble ring – hand fabricated with gold granules. I’d love to make one of these in gold if there’s anyone out there with enough gold to let me loose with it!
- gold bar after the melt
- working out the size of the gold balls
- starting to join all those little gold balls
- gold ball ring
Embellishing a gold chain – the client wanted to add some elements to her existing gold chain to give it a new life. Some of her old gold was metled down and rolled thinly to create organic shaped elements that we wrapped around the chain.
- ready to melt
- remelting some of the offcuts to reuse
- the final image
A special 21st birthday – This client brought in some of her mother’s old jewellery, wanting to transform it into a pendant for her granddaughter’s 21st birthday present. The finished product was a very meaningful gift for a milestone birthday!
- An old gold bracelet and diamond ring to be remade
- Melting down the bracelet – after taking the entire thing apart by hand!
- Measuring and planning the stone setting
- Forming the gold pendant; almost ready to be set
- The finished pendant
- Completed and hanging on a delicate gold chain
A transformation – This client once purchased a pendant from me, and had since decided they would like to have it as a ring instead! A simple, structured gold band was added to the chunky, organic face.
- Protecting the face of the ring with sand prior to soldering on the band
- The finished product…
- Packaged up and ready to go!
Stacking rings – The client’s old gold was melted down to make three delicate stacking rings. 5 small diamonds added detail to the stunning simplicity of the design.
- Old gold items
- The melting process begins…
- The delicate result!
Lots for Lea! – This lovely lady brought me HEAPS of old gold; so we could start a few different projects! Firstly, we melted down the rose gold, removed the diamonds from some old rings and created some delicate stacking bangles.
- Old rose gold jewellery for melting
- Removing the stones from these diamond rings
- Perfecting the organic forms
- Finished rose gold and diamond bangles
Next, the old yellow gold was melted down. Some of this gold was refined into wire, which was then made into one of my ‘weave’ bangles.
- Old gold for melting
- Wire made from the melted gold after a lengthy process of rolling, flattening and reshaping
- Final weave bangle
Still plenty of old gold and stones left! The remainder was made into a chunky gold ring with one of the client’s old pear-shaped diamonds set into the band.
- Melted down gold in ingot form
- Ring form. Melted gold bent into band shape, ready for soldering
- Ring ready for stone setting
- Finished ring!
Organic rethinking – Old gold was melted down to make a more natural organic shaped ring. Diamonds from an old ring were added to the organic design for detail.
- Beautiful old jewellery, some broken, for the remakery
- Melting the gold into ingot form
- Organic gold band, prior to stone setting
- Finished gold band set with diamonds
New Styles – Plenty of old gold that was melted into a pendant and bangle that reflected the owner’s updated, more modern style.
- Old gold for melting
- Melted fragments and loose stones
- Preparing the pendant for stone setting by marking locations for the stones
- Finished gold bangle with stone detail
- Finished pendant – so much bling!
Signet change – This client no longer wore or used this signet ring. The gold was melted down and the stone re-purposed to make two pendants, which could be worn together or separately on gold chain.
- The original signet ring
- Two pendants made from the old gold and stone
- Pendants and a delicate chain
Ring full of bling – As an avid gardener, this client wanted her old gold and diamonds remade into a ring with flower-like detail. No holds barred when it came to size and sparkle!
- Old gold for melting
- Face and band to be put together
- Getting there..
- Final product! Diamonds set with little petal-like stamps.
Commitment rings – a pair of similar but not identical wedding rings from inherited gold.
Rose Gold Earrings – A pair of shiny and bold rose gold earrings, with a floral hammered pattern, were made from inherited jewellery
- final stamped gold earrings
- about to melt!
- two similar sized round ingots
Memories of Mum – a large slightly organic weighty gold ring with an undulating edge with randomly sprinkled inherited diamonds.
- The final ring using diamonds from the original jewellery
- The big melt!
- Testing to make sure the metals are gold
Women Power – 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.
- Completed earrings
- Idea – 3 small pebbles
- In progress, drawing down wire and making the main elements
- Melting gold
- Using existing gold
4 Generations – This darling woman brought in her mother’s and grandmother’s wedding and engagement rings to have a series of four stacking rings made using the gold and diamonds, to represent her grandmother, her mother, herself and her daughter.
- The finished rings
- Nearly ready for setting the diamonds
- soldering some pebbles
- The start of the stack
- Pouring the ingot
- Melting and alloying to white gold
- Heirloom jewellery and some unloved additions
A Special Birthday – an elegant bangle was made for a younger family member to celebrate a special birthday. The young lady did a lot of physical activity so she wanted something that was simple and not too delicate.
- The finished 18ct gold bangle
- Finalising the shape for soldering
- Almost there!
- Starting to form the bangle
- The big melt!
- Unused and broken jewellery
- Original inspiration – a bangle that I had made earlier from inherited gold
A jewellery update – This lovely lady had quite a few pieces of jewellery that she’d been given over the years by relatives. She wanted them remade into a number of rings that were more her style.
- Existing gold and gemstone jewellery
- Three new rings!
‘weave’ bangles – I’ve made a few of these now. The first one was for a lovely lady who used some of her old gold to make a gift for her granddaughter’s 18th birthday.
- Finished Weave bangles in 18ct gold and sterling silver
- 18ct gold weave bangle
- 9ct gold and silver bangle
- 18ct Gold woven bangle almost finished
- Adding the final touches
- Wire made from old gold
No sparkles please! – This client inherited some gold jewellery but never wore gold because it was too sparkly. She liked big tribal necklaces. So I made some organic medallions that could be strung on some of her beads to make a statement neckpiece and a pair of earrings.
- Plus a pair of earrings!
- Two finished medallions
- Medallions in progress
- Separating out chain elements prior to melting
Some other examples…..
- A gift for a daughter
- A pair of rings for two sisters, one natural and organic, one shiny and round
- A solid gold bangle made from a mother’s gold, to keep her close to her daughters heart
- Earrings handmade for a clients mother from gold nuggets he’d panned as a child on family outings
- Medallion made from gold chains given by an ex-boyfriend recently passed. To be gifted to his son
- Clients vintage diamonds and amethyst
- Commission for an orange ‘diamond’ ring using ‘old’ gold and silver