Niobium Care

Niobium is hypoallergenic and won’t tarnish over time
However, oil and grease can affect the colour and make it look dull.
To clean the niobium, simply wash in warm soapy water with a soft cloth or brush.
Do not use abrasives on the niobium.
Avoid wearing your jewellery whilst swimming, cleaning, or during any actives where it is likely to get dirty or damaged.

Inspired by rocks, minerals and crystals...

Alice is one of the only metal workers in the world to re-create and re-imagine mineral specimens using the technique of chasing and repoussé, making her work completely unique.

Inspired by rocks, minerals and crystals...

Forming such sharp angles and flat areas to recreate the crystal shapes is extremely difficult and time consuming, and requires specially made steel punches that she makes by hand.

Her signature sparkling diamond texture is made using diamond burrs as chasing punches, creating an imprint of the tiny shards of diamonds on the surface of the metal.

What is Chasing and Repoussé?

It is the technique of moving sheet metal from both sides by hammering steel punches into the surface of the metal, whilst supporting the work in what's known as pitch.

This ancient technique has been used amongst metal workers for thousands of years and has been passed down through generations. Using only simple tools, you can create a wide variety of styles, forms and textures.

Repoussé
Repoussé is pushing the metal from the back of the piece, usually pushing out larger areas. Rounder punches are used for this.
In this stage, Alice works from the back of the piece to push out areas for the crystal shapes with a rounded punch.
Chasing
Chasing is refining the detail from the front. This may be flattening areas, adding texture, or moving the metal in a way desirable to the design.
Once the crystal shapes have been repousséd into rounded forms, Alice works from the front of the piece, using punches with a tiny flat surface to move the metal into the flat, angular crystal shapes for which she is known.
Pitch
Pitch is the substance used to hold and support the metal in place while it is being worked on. It is soft when heated and hard when cool. The pitch is held in a bowl in order for Alice to hammer the punches at different angles.
Traditionally, bitumen is used — a type of asphalt that's used on the roads. Alice uses different pine resins as her pitch, as it is more environmentally friendly.