How I Create Jewellery From Real Botanical Specimens
Nature has always been central to my jewellery practice. I am drawn to the small details that are easy to miss: the texture of a petal, the curve of a succulent, the tiny structures within a flower, or the trailing form of a vine.
My Botanical Collection is made from sterling silver jewellery inspired by real flowers, succulents and botanical specimens, often paired with freshwater pearls and semi-precious gemstones.
Choosing the specimen
Each piece begins with a botanical specimen chosen for its form, texture and character. Some plants are delicate and lace-like, while others have stronger sculptural shapes. I look for forms that will translate beautifully into metal while still retaining a sense of the living plant.
Geraldton Wax flowers, succulents, Chain of Hearts vines and other organic forms have all influenced the collection. These specimens allow me to preserve natural detail and create jewellery that feels connected to the landscape.
Preserving natural detail
Casting from real botanical forms allows tiny natural textures to remain visible. The aim is not to make the plant look perfect. In fact, the irregularities are often the most beautiful part. A slight curve, a rough edge or a small variation in shape gives the final piece its character.
This is one of the reasons botanical jewellery feels so personal. No flower, leaf or succulent is ever exactly the same as another.
From plant to sterling silver
Once the form is translated into metal, each piece is refined by hand. This may involve cleaning, shaping, soldering, polishing, oxidising or adding pearls and gemstones. The process is slow and detailed, which is why each finished piece feels closer to a small sculpture than a mass-produced accessory.
Every piece is handcrafted in small batches and reflects my ongoing fascination with the patterns, textures and imperfections found in nature.
Why botanical jewellery is meaningful
Botanical jewellery often appeals to gardeners, nature lovers, collectors and people who want jewellery with a personal connection to the natural world. A flower pendant may remind someone of a garden, a season, a place or a loved one. A succulent earring may feel like a small preserved fragment of the landscape.
For me, botanical jewellery is about holding onto something fleeting. Flowers fade. Leaves dry. Vines change with the season. By casting these forms into sterling silver, I can transform them into lasting keepsakes.
Explore related pieces
The Medium Crowea Earrings are handcrafted sterling silver earrings made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. They belong to the Botanical Collection, a series of nature-inspired jewellery created from real flowers, plants and organic forms.
The design began with a real Crowea flower selected from my garden. It was carefully cast to preserve the flower’s soft petal shape, natural surface texture and quiet botanical character.
These earrings are available in your choice of hook or stud style, allowing you to choose between gentle movement from a hook fitting or a closer, more subtle fit as studs.
Worn either way, the Crowea forms keep their refined floral detail. The result is organic, quietly expressive and connected to the garden, memory and the handmade process.
Materials: Sterling silver
Process: Each pair is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. The original Crowea flower was cast in sterling silver, preserving its natural texture and structure. Slight differences in texture, shape and finish should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions: Each flower approx 2 cm x 2 cm
Explore more: View the Botanical Collection or browse more earrings.
FAQ
Q1: Will each pair look exactly the same?
A: No. Each pair is made from real Crowea flowers, so the individual flowers will not be identical. I carefully select two flowers that sit well together as a pair, choosing pieces with a similar size, shape and overall character. Small differences in petal form, texture and finish are part of the beauty of botanical jewellery cast from real natural specimens..
Q2: How do I clean the Medium Crowea Earrings?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals, and gently polish the sterling silver with a soft jewellery cloth. Because the flower form has fine, hard-to-reach details, a silver dip may be used occasionally if needed. Always follow the instructions carefully, rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
Q3: Are the Medium Crowea Earrings suitable as a gift?
A: Yes. Each piece is packaged in an Olivia Dryden Jewellery branded velvet pouch and is suited to collectors, nature lovers and those who appreciate handmade jewellery with story, detail and meaning.
The Mini Succulent Pendant is a handcrafted sterling silver necklace made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. It belongs to the Botanical Collection, a series of nature-inspired jewellery created from real flowers, plants and organic forms.
The design began with a real succulent selected from my garden. It was carefully cast to preserve the tiny rosette shape, layered leaves and natural surface texture of the original plant.
Worn on a sterling silver chain, this pendant offers a delicate connection to the garden in a smaller, more subtle form. The result is refined, organic and softly sculptural: a wearable keepsake shaped by nature, memory and the handmade process.
Materials: Sterling silver
Process: Each pendant is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. The original succulent form was cast in sterling silver, preserving its natural texture and structure. Slight differences in texture, shape and finish should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions: 1.5 cm high x 1 cm wide. 45cm length chain.
Explore more: View the Botanical Collection or browse more necklaces.
FAQ
Q1: How do I clean the Mini Succulent Pendant ?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals, and gently polish the sterling silver with a soft jewellery cloth. Because the succulent form has small, hard-to-reach details, a silver dip may be used occasionally if needed. Always follow the silver dip instructions carefully, rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
Q2: What is the difference between the Mini Succulent Pendant and the Small Succulent Pendant?
A: The main difference is the way each pendant sits on the chain. The Mini Succulent Pendant hangs from a small ring at the top of the succulent, so the plant form drops gently from the chain. The Small Succulent Pendant is suspended from either side of the succulent, allowing the flower-like form to sit in the centre of the chain. Both are cast from real succulent forms in sterling silver, but they have a slightly different balance and presence when worn.
Q3: Is the Mini Succulent Pendant suitable as a gift?
A: Yes. Each piece is packaged in an Olivia Dryden Jewellery branded velvet pouch and is suited to gardeners, plant lovers and those who appreciate handmade jewellery with natural detail and meaning.
The Medium Geraldton Wax Earrings are handcrafted sterling silver earrings made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. They belong to the Botanical Collection, a series of nature-inspired jewellery created from real flowers, plants and organic forms.
The original Geraldton Wax flower was selected from my garden and cast to preserve its natural texture. The result is a piece that feels intimate and quietly unusual: a wearable keepsake shaped by nature, memory and the handmade process.
These earrings are available with your choice of stud or hook fitting, allowing you to choose the style that best suits how you like to wear them.
Materials: Sterling silver.
Process: Each piece is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. Natural variation is part of the process, so small differences in texture and shape should be expected.
Dimensions: Each flower approx. 1.5cm x 1.5cm
Explore more: View the Botanical Collection or browse more earrings.
FAQ
Q1: Will each botanical piece look exactly the same?
A: No. Because the work begins with natural specimens and is handmade in small quantities, each piece may have slight variations in form and surface detail.
Q2: How do I clean my earrings?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals. Due to the intricate, hard-to-reach details in this piece, a silver dip may be used occasionally to clean the sterling silver more evenly than a polishing cloth. Always follow the silver dip instructions carefully, rinse thoroughly anddry completely.
Q3: Are the Medium Geraldton Wax Earrings suitable as a gift?
A:Yes. Each piece is packaged in an Olivia Dryden Jewellery branded velvet pouch and is suited to collectors who appreciate handmade jewellery with story, detail and meaning.
The Mini Succulent Stud Earrings are handcrafted sterling silver earrings made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. They belong to the Botanical Collection, a series of nature-inspired jewellery created from real flowers, plants and organic forms.
The design began with a real succulent selected from my garden. It was carefully cast to preserve the small rosette shape, layered leaves and natural surface texture of the original plant.
Small in scale but rich in botanical detail, these studs offer a subtle connection to the garden. The result is refined, organic and quietly expressive: a wearable keepsake shaped by nature, memory and the handmade process.
Materials: Sterling silver
Process: Each pair is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. The original succulent form was cast in sterling silver, preserving its natural texture and structure. Slight differences in texture, shape and finish should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions: 1 cm x 1 cm
Explore more: View the Botanical Collection or browse more earrings.
FAQ
Q1: How do I clean the Mini Succulent Stud Earrings?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals, and gently polish the sterling silver with a soft jewellery cloth. Because the succulent form has small, hard-to-reach details, a silver dip may be used occasionally if needed. Always follow the silver dip instructions carefully, rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
Q2: Is the Mini Succulent Stud Earrings suitable as a gift?
A: Yes. Each piece is packaged in an Olivia Dryden Jewellery branded velvet pouch and is suited to collectors, nature lovers and those who appreciate handmade jewellery with story, detail and meaning.
Q3: Are the Mini Succulent Stud Earrings suitable for everyday wear?
A: Yes. Their small stud format makes them easy to wear day to day, while still carrying the detailed botanical texture and story of the original succulent.
FAQ section
Is Olivia Dryden’s botanical jewellery made from real plants?
Many designs are inspired by or cast from real botanical specimens, including flowers, leaves, succulents and vines.
What is botanical jewellery?
Botanical jewellery is jewellery inspired by plant forms such as flowers, leaves, vines, seed pods and succulents.
Is botanical jewellery a good gift for gardeners?
Yes. Botanical jewellery is especially meaningful for gardeners, nature lovers and people who feel connected to flowers, plants and the natural world.
Where is Olivia Dryden’s botanical jewellery made?
Each piece is handcrafted in Adelaide, South Australia.
Written by Olivia Dryden
Olivia Dryden is an Adelaide-based contemporary jeweller creating handcrafted sterling silver jewellery inspired by botanical specimens, ocean treasures, natural history and memento mori traditions. She holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design and was awarded a Helpmann Academy Fellowship, which enabled specialist taxidermy studies in London. Her work has been exhibited throughout Australia and is stocked by selected galleries and retailers.
