A jewellery designer is transforming teeth into sparkling rings – and she says they are “prettier” than diamond bands, having even made a keepsake for Amanda Holden with a child’s tooth.
Cait Robertson works with very unusual materials to create adornments.
From ashes to dried breastmilk, sand, a piece of meaningful fabric, umbilical cords and even a kidney stone – the 39-year-old can turn pretty much any item into a beautiful keepsake.
Her latest material of choice? Teeth.
The mum-of-two sprinkles the tiny fragments in resin to design stones that resemble opals and gemstones – and a custom ring can cost into the thousands.
Her unique pieces even draw the attention of celebs.
Speaking of her experience working with Amanda Holden, Cait told Need To Know.: “Amanda and her team were so lovely to work with!
“Everyone was incredibly kind, and the whole experience was wonderful.
“It was such a treat to hear from her and make her keepsake!
“I actually think teeth jewellery is prettier and more meaningful than diamonds.
“Diamonds are beautiful, of course, but keepsakes tell your story.
“Most people would never guess there was a tooth inside unless you told them!
“That personal meaning is what makes it so special to me.
“I even polled my followers once and asked whether they would rather have a diamond ring or a keepsake ring, and around 98% chose the keepsake ring.
“It is incredibly meaningful to me but it is also just really fun.
“There is also a funny family connection for me.
“My dad, brother, and sister-in-law are all dentists, so this feels like my own slightly unconventional way of carrying on the family legacy!”
Prices vary depending on the design, metal and stones selected.
Cait’s sterling silver and gold vermeil pieces are the most accessible and start at around $130, while the solid gold, platinum and diamond pieces are priced higher.
The founder of Milk Couture Co., who hails from Franklin, Tennessee, US, first started working with teeth after a customer asked if they could send some in.
She shared the result on Instagram, where it quickly racked up 24 million views.
She said: “Believe it or not, I usually only need one or two.
“For many of our designs, I carefully break the teeth down into smaller pieces and incorporate them.
“We also offer some styles where the tooth can remain whole.
“They are placed into the setting using jeweler’s grade resin along with our own proprietary techniques and enhancements.
“The finished result is a beautiful, unique keepsake stone.
“I know some people hear ‘tooth jewellery’ and immediately think it sounds a little strange, and that is part of the fun too.”
The business, which started with breastmilk gems, came about when Cait was searching for a breastmilk ring for herself.
She said: “I was looking for a breastmilk ring for myself after my son weaned but I couldn’t find anything that really felt like my style.
“I decided to start teaching myself the art of keepsake jewellery.
“After my two babies went to bed at night, I would head out to my garage and experiment.
“I had so much fun learning, creating, and figuring it all out as I went.
“What started as a little passion project quickly turned into the most fun and fulfilling ‘job’ I could have ever dreamed of.
“Today, we create keepsakes using things like baby teeth, cremation ashes, dried bouquet flowers, hair, fur, and really almost any meaningful material.
“I even made a piece using a friend’s kidney stone as a joke and somehow it turned out absolutely beautiful.”
For Cait, the craft is also deeply personal.
She added: “As a mom myself, especially now that my six-year-old has started losing his first teeth, I understand that feeling of wanting to hold onto these tiny pieces of childhood.
“I have also personally experienced the loss of a baby, so supporting other mothers who have experienced miscarriage and infant loss is especially close to my heart.
“At the heart of the business, that is really what keepsakes are about for me.
“They are about giving people a way to hold onto something that mattered deeply to them, whether it represents motherhood, childhood, a loved one, or a season of life they never want to forget.”
The company donates a portion of its profits to Gathering Hope, a non-profit organisation to support grieving families.
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