Onyx and Gold Earrings — A Gift Reimagined

The main challenge lay in the original construction of the cufflinks. The onyx stones had been set in such a way that dismantling them risked cracking the stones or creating more work than was practical for the budget. At the same time, we couldn’t apply any heat near the onyx, as it would almost certainly cause the stones to shatter. After some careful consideration (and a fair bit of patience), we identified a small area at the back of each cufflink where we could safely drill a hole. This allowed us to feed through a gold jump ring without disturbing the settings. We then created a pair of hand-fabricated gold domed discs to provide visual balance and intention to the design. These were soldered to slender, graceful wire hooks, giving the earrings soft movement and a refined finish. The result was a pair of elegant, articulated 18ct gold and onyx earrings — timeless, thoughtful, and completely transformed from their original form. We were delighted to see how pleased his wife was when she received them; there’s something quietly rewarding about giving a piece new purpose, especially when it carries such personal meaning.