Old pieces. Past versions of you. Let's make something you'll actually wear.
How The Jewellery Recycling Initiative Works
Share Your Pieces
Send photos of your jewellery along with any ideas and inspiration. No need to post anything yet.
Zoë Reviews Everything
You'll recieve personalised feedback, design direction and options - including whether to resue, redesign, or credit makes the most sense.
Your Piece Is Made
Each piece is handcrafted in Sydney using the process that best suits - sandcasting for an organic finish, or lost wax casting for more refined designs.
Recycle Your Old Jewellery Into Something You’ll Actually Wear
Most of us have jewellery sitting in a drawer somewhere. A ring you don't wear anymore. A piece that doesn't feel like you. Something tied to a chapter of your life you've already moved past. It sits there because getting rid of it feels wrong, but wearing it doesn't feel right either. The Jewellery Recycling Initiative is built for exactly that. Instead of letting it sit there doing nothing, we melt it down and use it — either to create something completely new for you, or to put toward a piece you'll actually want to wear. No guilt. No waste. Just turning what you already have into something that fits the person you are now.
From old to actually worn.
See how clients have turned old, unworn and inherited jewellery into pieces they reach for every day.
What Can You Bring Zoë
What jewellery recycling looks like
It doesn't have to mean melting everything down and starting over. Sometimes it does — and sometimes it's smaller than that.
It can look like redesigning an old piece into something new, reusing the gold or silver from jewellery you don't wear, resetting a sentimental stone into a new design, or trading in what you have for credit toward something else entirely.
There's no single way to do this. It depends on what you bring in, and what you want moving forward.
Common pieces clients bring in
If it's old gold or silver, there's a good chance it can be reused — even if it doesn't look like much right now.
I regularly work with old engagement rings and wedding bands, broken chains and single earrings, jewellery that's gone out of style, inherited or gifted pieces, and jewellery from relationships that have ended.
If you're not sure whether what you have counts — bring it in. I'll tell you.
Remake it, redesign it, or start fresh
Some clients want to hold onto part of what they have. Others want nothing to do with it. Both are completely valid.
That might mean melting your jewellery down and creating something entirely new, keeping a stone you love and designing something around it, reshaping or repurposing the structure of a piece, or simply moving on from it altogether and starting from scratch.
And if your jewellery isn't suitable for reuse, I'll tell you straight away — and we'll figure out a better option together.
Trade it in for credit
You don't have to reuse your old jewellery to make something meaningful from it.
A lot of clients choose to trade in old gold or silver for credit, then put that toward a new custom piece. This tends to work well when the jewellery no longer feels like you, when you don't want to carry the past into something new, or when you just want a clean start.
Many clients choose to trade in their old gold or silver for credit, and use that toward a new custom piece.
This works well if:
- The jewellery no longer feels like you
- You don’t want to carry the past into something new
- You simply want a fresh start
Is this right for you?
It probably is if you've got jewellery sitting unworn, your style has changed, you've outgrown what you own, you want something that actually feels like you, or you're ready to let go of pieces tied to the past.
If any of that sounds familiar, this is exactly what the Jewellery Recycling Initiative is for.
Sydney & Australia Wide
Based in Sydney? Come visit the studio by appointment. Everywhere else? The whole process can be done remotely, start to finish.
Made in Sydney. Not mass produced.
Every piece is made with intention — no generic designs, no production line.
Most pieces are sandcast, which gives them that raw, slightly imperfect texture you won't find in anything mass-produced. Each one comes out a little different, because that's just how the process works.
Sometimes a piece calls for more precision or a different kind of finish. When that happens, I work with a trusted CAD designer and use lost wax casting instead — whichever process suits what you're after.
Either way, everything is designed, overseen and finished by me, from the first conversation through to the final piece in your hands.
There's no single "right" way to make something. The process gets chosen to suit the piece — not the other way around.
Ready to see what your jewellery could become?
Submit your pieces and I’ll guide you through what’s possible.
Part One
How I work out your credit note.
Part Two
Using clients sentimental gold to create new rings.
Common FAQs
How do you work out the credit value?
The value of the credit note is based on the metal karat and gram weight of the items that you send to me and will be issued once the item has been inspected in the studio.
What type of jewellery do you accept?
I only accept solid silver or gold jewellery pieces (no base metals like brass or copper, or filled items).
What if I don't know what my jewellery is made from?
Most precious metals should be hallmarked with a karat stamp. I can help you find this. If your piece isn't stamped, I can test it in my studio using an acid scratch test.
Will the jewellery I send you be used to make my new piece?
If you have enough metal, I can certainly use all of it to make your piece. I use the sand casting method to make jewellery (especially when using customers metal), because once the metal is melted down and poured, it sets in it’s final form. Sometimes old gold or silver can be full of solder or rhodium plating (especially white gold), and if you try and re-work it too much into something completely new, it can get quite brittle. The sand casting method can limit the design possibilities, so to speak, but it’s the best way to reuse your gold.
What if I don't have enough metal to make a new piece?
That's ok! If you don't have enough metal to complete a new piece, I will add already recycled metal to your piece.
What happens to my metal if I only have white gold to recycle but I want to use my credit for a yellow gold piece of jewellery instead (for example)?
All metal that I receive that doesn't go towards your specific piece, gets melted down and used to create a new, one-of-a-kind item for someone else to love.
What if my jewellery has stones in it?
I can unset your stones (all care no responsibility) to use the metal for recycling. The stones need to be unset to accurately weigh the metal for credit. I will always check with you first if you're happy for me to unset your stones.
Can you reuse my gemstone?
Depending on the stone, we can discuss the option of reusing it in a new piece for you. Sapphires and diamonds can be used for sand casting (the process where molten metal is poured directly into a mould and the stones are cast into place) but if you have other types of gemstones, there is always the option of having these traditionally set after I have cast your piece - especially if you would like to use your old metal.
What if I once I've sent my old pieces to you and you've quoted my credit note, I don't want to recycle them?
It's completely ok to change your mind! If you're not happy with your credit note quote and you no longer what to recycle your jewellery, I will send your piece/s back to you (you will just need to cover the cost of shipping).
How long does the process take?
After I've received your pieces, it will take me about a week to work out your credit note. From there, once we've decided on the new piece of jewellery that you want made, the turn around time is generally 4-6 weeks.
“I am so grateful for your hard work on this gorgeous piece, it complements all of my other pieces of yours so nicely. Always love your work and dedication, can’t express enough how in love with it I am!!
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“I reached out to Zoe through her recycling program and she made this stunning Aluna Ring for me as a result.
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It is totally unique, handmade, and fits perfectly. She also created a beautiful, custom fit ring with an heirloom aquamarine I had been given. It is so individual and meaningful. The number of compliments I have had on each of my ZA pieces has been overwhelming!
“Use this text to showcase a review from one of your customers. A great review is honest and speaks to the concerns of your customers.
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“Hey Zoe! Absolutely love your work. I have a baby on the way and am looking for a signet ring with a small birth stone inset. I think the style of your work is awesome, and so would love to chat about getting something custom... I have some old gold jewellery I'd like to trade in too.
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Not ready to enquire just yet?
Sometimes it helps to browse first. Take a look at our Ready to Ship and Made to Order collections - every piece is handmade in Sydney, and many are made using recycled gold. If something catches your eye, or sparks an idea for your own recycling project, you know where to find us. You can also start from scratch with a fully custom piece.