Aldeburgh Pebbles

Hand made Solid Sterling Silver (or Gold) ‘Pebbles’ cast on the premises in our Aldeburgh Shop. Mark’s signature range.

Mark’s signature range is ‘Aldeburgh Pebbles®’. Mark uses pebbles specially selected from Aldeburgh’s beach and creates beautiful pieces of jewellery in solid silver or gold, by casting in moulds he makes from the pebbles. Each is a one off, no two are alike and you receive the original pebble when you buy any piece of Aldeburgh Pebble® jewellery. Have a look at some of our Aldeburgh Pebbles.

It is a range of jewellery, mainly pendants but also rings and occasionally bangles, earrings and cufflinks, using only recycled silver or gold. Each piece is fully hallmarked and bears the unique R&R sponsor mark.

Mark personally selects suitable pebbles and sets about making these little works of wearable art, designed by nature.

Once a pebble has been picked, the first stage is to make a mould. A layer of clay is compacted in one casting ring into which the pebble is pressed. The second casting ring is placed on the first and another layer of clay is compacted on top, totally encasing the pebble.

The two casting rings are then separated, the pebble is removed, leaving a 3D impression of the pebble in the clay.

Breather holes and a pouring funnel are cut into the clay in one of the casting rings, the two casting rings are reunited and the mould is finished.

The original pebble is weighed allowing Mark to calculate the amount of silver or gold needed for the casting process. The precious metal is placed in a crucible and heated with direct flame (Mark uses a mixture of oxygen and propane to fuel the torch) until the metal is fully moulten.

Keeping the heat on the melted metal to prevent it from prematurely solidifying, the liquid is swiftly poured into the mould. After pouring, the two halves of the mould are separated and the half containing the silver (or gold) is submerged in water to cool.

The silver (or gold) is removed from the clay and the clay is retained and re-used.

The next stage is to remove the metal remnants of the breather holes and pouring funnel. This metal is put aside and re-used. The emerging Aldeburgh Pebble® is sanded to remove excess metal whilst retaining original features of the original pebble.

A top ring is then hand soldered on (if making a pendant), the Aldeburgh Pebble® is fully polished and then ultrasonically cleaned, ready for its new home.

Each Aldeburgh Pebble® is completely unique. Only one piece of jewellery is made from each beach pebble, you literally have to ‘break the mould’ when removing the pebble from the clay. The original is given to the new owner of each Aldeburgh Pebble® meaning that a new mould cannot be made without your pebble.

You now have a properly unique piece of jewellery, personal to you, hand made by Mark in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England.

We are always happy to talk to you. Drop into our Aldeburgh shop or call us.

01728 452431