Ice Skating Jewellery is only ever made from precious metals — sterling silver, 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold, and gold vermeil. But there is a lot that happens before those materials become a finished piece.

We've always been interested in where the materials we use come from, how they are made, and what happens to them afterwards. So, rather than making broad claims, we wanted to simply explain what we know about the materials we use, and the choices we have made.

Recycled Precious Metals

The majority of Ice Skating jewellery is handcrafted in sterling silver, which is an alloy of 92.5% fine silver and the rest is pure copper. The copper gives the alloy the strength needed for making jewellery.

A small selection of the raw materials used in Ice Skating jewellery, including silver sheet, wire, chain, cufflink backs and ear scrolls.

The main silver materials used in Ice Skating Jewellery are sourced from an established UK bullion dealer. The silver sheet, wire, ear pins, ear scrolls, solder and casting grain are made from 100% recycled precious metals and manufactured in the UK by the same supplier. The same casting grain is used by the UK casting companies that make some of our jewellery. The silver chain used is manufactured in Italy, made from 100% recycled silver.

There are some components we use that don't have the same recycled-content information. The sterling silver cufflink backs are manufactured in China, and the silver bolt rings that are occasionally used for bespoke chain lengths on necklaces are manufactured in Italy.

Packaging

Packaging is another important part of Ice Skating Jewellery that we have spent many years researching and refining.

It needs to be practical and robust enough to protect the jewellery, but as the first thing a customer sees, it also needs to be beautiful, stylish and thoughtful. We have tried to keep things simple and choose materials carefully, balancing practicality, recyclability and appearance.

The packaging we currently use is predominantly paper and cardboard, with recycled content or responsibly sourced materials where available. We choose FSC-certified products where suitable and, wherever practical, use materials that are widely recyclable.

The packaging includes:

• Postal boxes – cardboard.
• Shipping labels – FSC-certified paper.
• Jewellery boxes – FSC MIX-certified cardboard with a PET/rPET insert. The manufacturer states that these are 97.67% recyclable.
• Tissue paper – acid-free paper.
• Postcards and printed materials – uncoated paper.
• Business cards – FSC-certified paper.
• Paper bags & Paper stickers – paper printed with water-based inks.

We are also continuing to look at alternatives, including ribbons made from Tencel and recycled cotton, and other ways of wrapping jewellery that could reduce the use of virgin materials without compromising its presentation or protection during transit.

Giving Jewellery a New Lease Of Life

Old jewellery can sometimes be given an entirely new purpose.

Customers have sent us old rings, inherited gold and jewellery that was no longer being worn to be transformed into something new.

Unworn rings have been made into a 14ct rose gold ice skating necklace, an old watch case was transformed into a personalised 9ct gold necklace, and a much-loved ice skating necklace was given a new life as a personalised silver charm for a bracelet.

Personalised 9ct and 14ct gold Ice Skating necklaces created from clients' unworn gold.

Where appropriate, existing precious metal can sometimes be melted and worked into new sheet, wire or other forms for use in another piece of jewellery. Alternatively, it can be sent for refining, where the precious metal is recovered and made available for use again.

There is something almost like alchemy in that process. Something that has been discarded, forgotten or broken can become something beautiful again, while retaining a connection to where it came from.

Precious metals can be recycled repeatedly without losing their inherent qualities. A piece of silver can have a history long before it reaches our workbench — and one day, it can have another life after it leaves it.

Made to Last

Ice Skating Jewellery makes jewellery to be worn and treasured for many years.

As a small independent jewellery business, much of our jewellery is made to order or produced in small batches, rather than manufactured in large quantities and held in stock. This allows us to make according to demand and avoid producing pieces that may never be sold.

Each piece is handcrafted in the UK, and the designs are intended to be timeless rather than driven by short-lived trends. A well cared-for piece of precious metal jewellery can last for decades — long after skating has become a memory and the boots and blades have been hung up.

We believe that jewellery should become part of someone's story rather than something that is simply replaced when fashion changes.

There is always more to learn and improve. We can ask questions about where our materials come from, choose them carefully, re-use precious metals where possible and avoid unnecessary waste.

Most importantly, we like the idea that something precious doesn't have to have just one life. A piece of silver or gold can become one thing, then another, and another. For us, that is one of the most rewarding things about working with precious metals.

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