AuTerra

From Trash To Treasure

If you’re searching for the perfect way to give a unique gift, or hey... Even looking for something special for yourself (go on, you deserve it!), Let us introduce you to minimalist, hand-crafted jewellery like you’ve never seen it before. If, like us, you’re also wanting to make sure it’s special and not mass-produced or leaving a huge carbon footprint on the environment, we'd like to introduce you to AuTerraand the designer behind this brilliantly ethical brand, Ashley Heather.

Q: What sparked your journey into jewellery design?

I stumbled into jewellery making quite by accident. I had always discounted it as an option for myself because of the environmental and social issues associated with mining and precious metals. Then, one day I was visiting a friend and she just happened to be melting a crucible full of silver, I was completely spellbound by its shimmering viscosity. I signed up for a part time course the next day and one lesson in- signed up for a full-time jewellery design and manufacture course. Armed with technical metalworking skills and a background in Fine Art, I knew the only way to bring together my dual passions of sustainability and crafting precious metals was to go it on my own, and so, AuTerra jewellery was born.

Q: And how was the name AuTerra Born?

‘Au’ (pronounced just as what it is- ‘ore’), the atomic symbol for gold and ‘Terra,' Latin for ‘earth,' roughly translates to golden earth. This name encapsulates everything we stand for- a deep love for this planet and our craft.

Q: What are some of the inspirations behind the aesthetic of your pieces, and what is your favourite piece for the season?

Our pieces are inspired by the details in the world around us, from the tiny form of a seed to the sweeping angles of mountain ranges. I don’t have a favourite seasonal piece, in fact, one of my favourite aspects of jewellery is how well-made pieces transcend seasonal trends and can become timeless pieces to be treasured by this generation and the next.

Q: Which materials do you utilise to create your collections, and how does this impact your company ideals?

All of our designs are handcrafted in silver and gold reclaimed from electronic waste. E-waste is the fastest growing municipal waste stream in the world, placing mounting pressure on our landfills and releasing toxins into the soil and groundwater. It also contains both silver and gold, a sustainable jewellers dream! Precious metals are remarkable in that they can be recycled almost indefinitely without losing any of their properties. We believe that while some metal mining may always be necessary, ultimately, our most important extraction operations should be taking place in scrap yards and recycling centres, rather than in sensitive ecological areas and ancestral lands.

Q: It all seems very intricate, to create delicate fine jewellery out of e-waste! How do you do it, give us insight into the unique processes in producing such stunning pieces?

Our refining process begins by manually dismantling the waste electronic products. All the components are then sent their separate ways for recycling. The circuit boards are run through a shredder before being fed into the furnace. This results in two materials, the slag which is a by-product (it gets a second life in the construction of roads) and a mixed metal mass. This mass is a combination of copper, gold, silver and, depending on the type of e-waste, a few other metals. Next, the most technically challenging aspect of the recycling process, the precious metals are separated out into solutions before being melted again in the final stage to ensure a pure, high quality material. The recycled gold and silver begin its new life in our Cape Town studio where it is alloyed and meticulously crafted into easy-wearing jewellery

using age old goldsmithing techniques.

Q: Who is part of the magic of your creative process? Do you collaborate with anyone?

Over the years we have grown into a small team of passionate hands, both in the jewellery studio and within our partner refinery. We work closely with our refinery partner to ensure full traceability and transparency as well as high quality recycled metals. We believe that the quality of a piece lives not only in that piece itself but also in the quality of the lives of everyone involved in the process of creating it.

Q: Tell us a bit about the current AuTerra collections, do you create pieces for all genders, and occasions?

Our collections consist of earrings, rings, bangles and necklaces. We make pieces for both men and women as well as many unisex pieces. All our pieces are designed to be easy wearing and timeless, just as suited for a day walking in the bush as for a night out with friends.

Q: Can you give us a sneak peek into what’s next for AuTerra?

We have a few exciting new designs on the bench as we speak, all rings, but there are some real sparkling beauties amongst them. The prototyping stage is the most gratifying but also the most frustrating as every fraction of a millimetre needs to be considered (and reconsidered!) to get a design just right. The launch date isn’t set yet but keep an eye on our Instagram for details.

Q: Where can we find your stunning jewellery, both in store and online?

Our physical store is attached to our studio at the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town. Our online store ships worldwide and you can virtually pop in via www.auterra.co.za

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