She first found me online and connected with the stories and sentiment reflected in my work. From her home in Florida, she initially reached out by email, followed by a thoughtful phone conversation about a very special piece of jewelry. The bracelet held tremendous emotional value for her. It had been handmade by her son when he was a little boy. Now grown with a family of his own, the bracelet had become a meaningful reminder of an earlier chapter in their lives. With an important family memorial approaching for her late husband, she wanted to be able to wear the piece once again. Her original idea was to recreate the bracelet entirely in gold or silver. However, after listening to her story and understanding the significance of the original piece, I felt the better approach would be to preserve the existing identification plate itself and incorporate it into a newly redesigned bracelet. In doing so, we could maintain the authenticity and emotional connection of the original creation while making it wearable again. I presented several options for chain styles and clasps, and together we selected a classic silver curb link bracelet paired with a toggle clasp for both comfort and ease of wear. The greatest challenge was preserving the original plate while preventing further scratching and wear. To protect it, I carefully coated the surface in a clear acrylic resin, helping to stabilize and preserve it in its current condition for years to come. Projects like this are a reminder that meaningful jewelry is not defined by the value of its materials, but by the memories it carries. Preserving those memories is often the most rewarding part of the work.
- Materials: Sterling silver and base metal
- Client location: Fort Meyers, FL
