From family heirloom to future heirloom: A bespoke 18th birthday bangle
The bangle with various colours of diamonds encrusted.
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to share with you what I hope will be a moment of pure inspiration. I am Militza Ortiz, a Wimbledon based jeweller and this particular project has brought me much joy.
Turning at 18 is a true special birthday day, a coming of age. There is so much wrapped up in this milestone, that it touches on all aspects of a young persons life. There is that beautiful expectation of a life that will be built by finishing high school, setting off into the world: be it by doing a gap year, going to uni or starting a new job. At 18, you can now vote and participate in civic life, legally drink and drive (though not at the same time). You can even join the military if you so desire. Basically you make all the life transitions that coincide with adulthood.
So, when my clients B&A, contacted me to help them create a gift for their daughter’s upcoming 18th birthday gift I was delighted to help them mark such an important occasion.
An assortment of old inherited jewellery that my clients were not using.
The Brief: A youthful bangle bracelet with organic details
The clients found me through my website, and were immediately drawn to my organic design style. They wanted to create a solid bangle—choosing the security of a closed band over a delicate chain—using "old gold" jewellery they already owned.
The most important element of the brief was the inclusion of a dark blue sapphire from a paternal grandmother’s engagement ring. This sapphire brought back many happy memories and was an important element of their family history.
The design approach: A bangle inspired by the sea
As a jewellery designer, I am deeply inspired the sea and its coral reef formations are a huge inspiration, I love the intricacies of coral reefs and that is the look I was aiming for when I designed this bangle. To be able to take such a noble metal like gold and turn into an organic form is a true privilege and to be able to add precious stones and let them take me on a creative journey is the cherry on top.
Following the client’s brief I suggested:
Security and style:
A closed bangle for maximum security. Having young daughters myself I know how easily they can lose jewellery. A closed bangle is offers peace of mind for daily wear.
Harmonious colours:
To bridge the visual gap between the bright white diamonds and the deep, almost black sapphire I suggested adding salt and pepper diamonds. They soften the contrast creating a more harmonious feel to it that is ideal for the organic aesthetic,
The craftsmanship:
Gemstone polishing:
The sapphire was not looking its best. It had been worn on a daily basis as an engagement ring so the stone was very matt and in much need of some tender loving care. I took it to my trusted gem carvers in Hatton Garden to give a good polish, restoring it to its former glory.
Wax carving and Hallmarking:
I used the ancient technique of wax carving and casting for this piece, this involves sculpting a design in wax first, allowing for the coral like textures that define my work. Once cast and having set the gemstones, the bangle is sent to the London Assay office for hallmarking and verification, a vital step to verify the purity of the gold and ensure it meets the UK standards for fine jewellery.
The beautiful bangle!
The result
Seeing the clients’ reaction to the transformation was incredibly moving. It wasn’t just a piece of jewellery; it was the physical manifestation of their family history, reimagined for the next generation.
“We worked with Militza on an enormously personal re-imagining of some precious inherited jewellery pieces. Militza was expert, imaginative, sensitive and transparent through the whole process where she created a beautiful, bespoke bangle for our daughter’s 18th. The finished product is not only stunning, it’s perfect for her to remember her grandparents and just shows how jewellery can be sympathetically handled to create new and personal pieces.
Militza was an absolute joy to work with, she has a huge passion to connect with the customer and also the brief, and great expertise to execute it perfectly. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her!
”
The final result!
Find out more about the jewellery remodelling process here.
If you have been inspired by the transformation of my client’s old jewellery and you would like to work with me on a transformation of your own. I am now scheduling projects and would love to hear from you. Just drop me a line and I will be delighted to explore more.
Jewellery designer and maker, based in the Wimbledon, London, UK. Envisioning and hand crafting future heirlooms for 20 years.
