Environmental awareness as a master goldsmith

If a master goldsmith decides to independently produce her own jewelry from recycled silver, that can only be a good decision.

Jewelry made with heart and by hand (The Well-being Maker website).

Chantal started selling her jewelry at various design markets in 2016. Just recently, in October, she expanded her sales channels by launching her own online shop .

Handmade jewelry made from recycled 925 sterling silver

Chantal makes her jewelry from recycled 925 sterling silver. She cuts small pieces from a sheet of metal, which are then processed. These pieces come in various sizes and can be ordered. Chantal explains that she usually orders one large piece and then cuts smaller pieces from it. The silver scraps are collected during the sawing process and sent back to the refinery. Chantal is then compensated for these scraps, and the silver is recycled.

Conventional goldsmithing is not environmentally friendly

Chantal explains to me that conventional goldsmithing isn't exactly environmentally friendly. For example, many acids are used in pickling (a layer forms on the metal after soldering, which can be removed by pickling). Chantal uses citric acid for this. While the process takes longer, it's just as effective as conventional acids. Chantal also uses soap instead of chemical solutions to clean and polish the jewelry.

Key experience in Indonesia

For Chantal, 2015 was a pivotal moment that definitively showed her how important environmentally conscious practices are, especially in goldsmithing. At the time, Chantal was traveling in Indonesia and taking a surfing course on Lombok. She told me that the water there had a strange color and a shimmering quality. A local then explained that there was a gold mine nearby that was releasing toxins into the sea. From that moment on, Chantal knew she had to do something about it and decided to use only recycled silver and no newly mined raw materials.
You can find even more information about Chantal on her website and her social media channels ( Facebook and Instagram ).