Jen Banks Jewellery

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Jen Banks Jewellery

Hand made, nature inspired, precious metal jewellery. Jen studied in both Auckland at Workshop 6, and in Brisbane at the Goldsmiths School.

Jen Banks was a city girl who needed too get out of town as often as possible; then 10 years ago she met a city boy who felt the same. They’d both lived in many cities and in several countries between them, when their need too escape the congestion and social disconnectedness of city life led them to find a relaxed and friendly town on the north coast of New South Wales. Jen has loved jewellery an

d anything to do with the arts since she can remember, but it wasn’t until 2002 that she discovered the thrill of working with precious metal. A weekend class to ‘make a ring’ was the beginning of a passion to continually learn new techniques and increase her skill in creating stunning, wearable impressions of the world around her. Being a member of the Jewellery and Metal Collective ‘Hammer and Hand’ in the Arts and Industry Park in Byron Bay allows her to work closely with others who share her work and life ethic. Jen finds her inspiration in the world around her – anything from a mossy branch to a window frame can start her creative cogs whirling. Nature is always original, as is each and every piece Jen creates. No two pieces or even two earrings in a pair are exactly the same - the jewellery technique ‘piercing’ - using a tiny saw to cut out shapes - is one that plays a major part in the creation of many of her pieces. It is often assumed that her pieces are laser cut, but it is working by hand from scratch and creating an original piece, that for her is being true to herself and those who buy her work. Re- and up-cycling is very important to Jen and she sources all her metal from an Australian firm who manufacture their metal solely from recycled materials on new machinery that uses significantly less chemicals and water - which itself is recycled and none reaches the waterways.

19/06/2026

Very excited to release the fifth installment in my new collection!

Antique Chinese Mother of Pearl Gambling Counters.

Information is sparse, but it seems these beautiful objects were originally created from the 1700s for the Chinese to Europe porcelain export industry. They appear to have been used as a type of payment receipt system. Originally they were blank but then one side would be carved with the family crest etc that was to be painted onto the porcelain dinner sets (often of more than 300 pieces!) forwealthy European customers. Over time many, many tokens were produced and became more and more intricately designed and were then used as gambling chips - think games of whist or piquet.

These fabulous fish had to be a pair of earrings, and with one being a little shorter than the other, I added a small pearl drop - a little air bubble as the fish swims on by. I have left their backs open to allow both sides to be admired and for their translucency to be fully appreciated. They are framed with 1.5mm square sterling silver wire, and are delicately held in place with sterling silver claws and bails.

More pieces to be released soon!

12/06/2026

Very excited to release the fourth piece in my new collection!

Antique Chinese Mother of Pearl Gambling Counters.

These beautiful objects were originally created from the 1700s for the Chinese to Europe porcelain export industry. They appear to have been used as a type of payment receipt system. Originally they were blank but then one side would be carved with the family crest etc that was to be painted onto the porcelain dinner sets (often of more than 300 pieces!) for the wealthy European customers. Over time many, many tokens were produced and became more and more intricately designed and were then used as gambling chips.

As with the previous pieces, I have left the back open to allow both sides to be admired and for its translucency to be fully appreciated. It is framed with 1.5mm square sterling silver wire, and is delicately held in place with 9 carat gold claws and bails. I love how the light plays with the gold in the shell, reflecting the gold in the claws.

More pieces to be released soon!

05/06/2026

Very excited to release the installment in my new collection!

Antique Chinese Mother of Pearl Gambling Counters.

Information is sparse, but it seems these beautiful objects were originally created from the 1700s for the Chinese to Europe porcelain export industry. They appear to have been used as a type of payment receipt system. Originally they were blank but then one side would be carved with the family crest etc that was to be painted onto the porcelain dinner sets (often of more than 300 pieces!) forwealthy European customers. Over time many, many tokens were produced and became more and more intricately designed and were then used as gambling chips - think games of whist or piquet.

These beautiful circular chips felt very 'earrings', and I've added some amber beads to dangle delicately below to reflect the warm orange tones in the iridescent mother of pearl. I have left the back open to allow both sides to be admired and for its translucency to be fully appreciated. It is framed with 1.5mm square sterling silver wire, and is delicately held in place with sterling silver claws and bails.

More pieces to be released soon!

29/05/2026

Very excited to release the second piece in my new collection!

Antique Chinese Mother of Pearl Gambling Counters.

My life was definitely the poorer for not having seen these beautiful, iridescent, intricately carved pieces before, but thanks to the generosity of the fabulous , I have a new creative obsession 😁

Information is sparse, but it seems these beautiful objects were originally created from the 1700s for the Chinese to Europe porcelain export industry. They appear to have been used as a type of payment receipt system. Originally they were blank but then one side would be carved with the family crest etc that was to be painted onto the porcelain dinner sets (often of more than 300 pieces!) forwealthy European customers. Over time many, many tokens were produced and became more and more intricately designed and were then used as gambling chips.

I have left the back open to allow both sides to be admired and for its translucency to be fully appreciated. It is framed with 1.5mm square sterling silver wire, and is delicately held in place with sterling silver claws and bails.

More pieces to be released soon!

22/05/2026

Very excited to release the first images of a new collection!

Antique Chinese Mother of Pearl Gambling Counters.

My life was definitely the poorer for not having seen these beautiful, iridescent, intricately carved pieces before, but thanks to the generosity of the fabulous , I have a new creative obsession 😁

Information is space, but it seems these beautiful objects were originally created from the 1700s for the Chinese to Europe porcelain export industry. They appear to have been used as a type of payment receipt system. Originally they were blank but then one side would be carved with the family crest etc that was to be painted onto the porcelain dinner sets (often of more than 300 pieces!) for the wealthy European customers. Over time many, many tokens were produced and became more and more intricately designed and were then used as gambling chips.

This first pendant, I have left the back open to allow both sides to be admired and for its translucency to be fully appreciated. It is framed with 1.5mm square sterling silver wire, and is delicately held in place with 9 carat gold claws and bails. I love how the light plays with the gold in the shell, reflecting the gold in the claws.

More pieces to be released soon!

15/05/2026

May babies got enviously lucky with their birthstone - Emerald 💚 😉

Said to enhance intellect, improve communication skills, and boost creativity, emerald has you covered whatever you do.

I've set this gorgeous little urchin shell with a hydrothermal emerald - one that is made in a lab and is identical in its make up to a stone which was mined from the ground.

Go glorious in gorgeous green 💚 💚 💚

08/05/2026

Ridges and Crags

Recent trips away have reminded me of my love for mountains and all their craggy glory. Sculpted into shape over millennia they remind me that our time is fleeting and precious, because ultimately, this too shall pass.

Sterling silver sand cast rings available at

20/03/2026

Autumn coloured stacking rings. Definitely giving crisp mornings, russet, deep gold and cinnamon crunching under foot, wood fires and mulled wine vibes. Delicious.
Individually or together, these will look amazing with your hot chocolate and cardi.

27/02/2026

Green, orange, and blue - foliage, sunflowers, and the sky; or perhaps frogs, butterflies and cornflowers. Or, in this (gorgeous) case, tourmaline, citrine and kyanite.

Coincidentally I'm wearing exactly those colours today! As solitaires or stackers, these rings will definitely bring a smile to your heart.

Available now at

23/01/2026

Stacker Set Friday!

Whenever I'm between projects and not quite sure what to make next, I'll reach for my stone stash and start putting shapes and colours together.

Today's play created this little group - blue-green tourmaline (rose cut), salmon-pink tourmaline (sugar loaf cut), and a lilac quartz (rose cut). All set in sterling silver on 2mm square sterling silver bands.

Available now from

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