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 it’s SO MUCH MORE sustainable.
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. If required, I can also work with new gold and stones.
Have a question? Check out the Remakery FAQs
Below, you’ll find a short video of the process that goes into these remakeries, and some examples of past commissions.
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, she 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!
Attach reference or inspo images and photos of your existing jewellery that you plan on giving new life to.
Please ensure you’ve checked out the Remakery FAQs beforehand.
I acknowledge the original custodians of this land, the Cammeraygal people,
and pay respect to Elders past and present and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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