1. A cherished piece of jewelry with a special story

This unique bracelet came from afar: South Africa, where our colleague Rian's mother emigrated at the age of 18 and lived for about 20 years. The bracelet features the iconic "Big Five": elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. A beautiful symbol of her time there, but after years of wear, it was time for a stronger and more durable version.

2. Detaching and finishing the animals

The first step in the alteration process was detaching the individual animals. Each figurine was meticulously crafted: for example, the visible eyes on the back were removed for a sleek, finished look. 

3. Calibrating and soldering: custom work for each animal

The biggest technical challenge? Each animal had to be individually adjusted to the curve of the new bracelet. Since the bracelet has a convex shape, the underside of each animal had to be adjusted to fit perfectly. They were then soldered onto the new bracelet in the same order as the original.

4. A new base: 14 karat gold

The old bracelet was entirely made of 9 karat gold, but for the new version, a 14 karat base bracelet was chosen — stronger, heavier, and more durable. The animals (still 9 karat) remain authentic, but are now better protected against wear. A perfect combination of old and new.

5. Finishing and final result

After approximately 21 hours of work, the bracelet was ready. Everything was neatly polished, checked, and harmoniously finished. The end result is a beautiful, meaningful piece of jewelry — preserving memories, but in a much stronger, more luxurious version.

Gideon Braasem about this project:

"It was a lot of work," says goldsmith Gideon, "but also a wonderful challenge. The result is unique and powerful. And that makes it more than worth the effort."