Shipping calculated at checkout.
Description
Definition of Freewill: The power to act without constraint; to choose one’s path.
The Freewill Pendant is a deeply symbolic piece from the Legacy Collection, crafted from hand-cut fragments of the original Robben Island prison fence. Each pendant is one-of-a-kind, carrying its own story of resilience and choice. Available in pure 9ct gold, or plated gold and rose gold, it’s more than jewellery — it’s a reflection of freedom and personal truth.
The Piece
This design holds a special place in Charmaine Taylor’s heart. As she often says, “It formed itself.”
After a long day in the studio, Charmaine needed to complete one final design for her first collection. In one spontaneous motion, she combined eight pieces of fence, and the pendant revealed itself. That moment of creative clarity became Freewill, named for the power to choose — a concept deeply woven into the legacy of Robben Island.
A Tribute to South Africa’s Struggle
Each piece in the Legacy Collection carries profound emotional weight. Wearing a Legacy Collection piece is a way to show solidarity in the ongoing global struggle for freedom and justice, honouring the resilience and determination of those who fought for democracy in South Africa.
Product Features:
-
Authentic Materials: Crafted from the original Robben Island prison fence.
-
Unique Design: Each pendant is hand-crafted, with every piece of raw fence tagged with a unique serial number.
-
Certificate of Authenticity: Supplied with a certificate, ensuring the authenticity of every piece.
-
Giving Back: A percentage of profits is donated to sustainable employment projects in South Africa.
Design
Each Legacy Collection piece is thoughtfully designed as a wearable work of art, handcrafted from the original Robben Island fence. What once stood as a barrier of oppression has been transformed into a symbol of resilience, hope, and South Africa’s remarkable journey toward freedom. Meticulously made by local artisans in Cape Town, every design reflects one of our meaningful ranges—Peace, Rights, Justice, Liberty, Grace—each carrying a story that honours the nation’s path to democracy. Our commitment to ethical craftsmanship ensures that every piece not only preserves history, but also empowers previously disadvantaged individuals, helping to build a brighter future through creativity, skill, and opportunity.
Care Instructions
STORAGE FOR PLATED ITEMS
- Keep jewellery DRY.
- Store in a saleable container or bag if possible.
- Do not store gold and silver plated items together. The different metals will cause each other to tarnish, fade and / or turn colours.
- A rest room or bathroom is not an ideal place as the humidity thins the plating.
SUGGESTED CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
- Do not clean with chemicals.
- Any alcohol-based products can tarnish gold and silver plating irreparably.
- Wipe gently. Use a damp soft cloth or a children’s soft toothbrush.
- Soak in warm water for about 10 minutes with a mild detergent. Do NOT put in hot water.
- Use a mild dish washing liquid. If the dish washing liquid reacts on your hands, do not use on your jewellery.
- Rinse in plenty of water after brushing and ensure the detergent does not remain on the jewellery.
- Leave the jewellery to dry and then use a gold or silver care cloth to polish to its original shine.
Disclaimer
The jewelry you have purchased is partly made from a rusted metal material from Robben Island, which is coated and sealed completely to prevent further oxidation. The sealing of your jewelry is made with TarBender which is a clear liquid epoxy which provides a strong UV resistant high gloss coating. Each piece could vary in color shape and size due to the unique nature of the Robben Island Fence.
Other metals used are platinum, gold, sterling silver and plated gold. Gold and sterling silver are typically a safe metal for sensitive skin types. However some skin reactions may appear as green / dark / black marks on the skin around the area of contact. As well as redness, swelling and itching. Legacy Collection does not bear any responsibility for any discoloration or allergic reactions to the skin. Sterling silver by its nature does tarnish with time, but polishing the item will remedy this, especially a jewelry polishing cloth. Plating responds differently to various skin types owing to the varying acidity levels of each individual skin. Sweat, humidity and heat may also contribute to higher skin acidity levels. While some skin types may have no perceptible effect on the plating. Individuals with a higher acidity level could affect the plating wear rate. We cannot guarantee plating as it is purely a decorative effect and not a pure metal. We highly recommend purchasing pure metals rather than plated items.
Legacy Collection takes great care to make sure that all our jewelry has been thoroughly sealed and is a high quality plating.
However, in the event that the sealing breaks down and the metal is exposed, brown spots may appear. In this event, please contact us immediately, and we will reseal your artifacts for you.
JEWELRY IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE especially rings, necklace chains and bracelets can break / snap when pulled or hard pressure placed on the soft metals. Please do not bend the jewelry as the fence may break and / or crack open the Robben Island Fence resin coating. Please do not go to strenuous exercise, rock climb, swim in a pool or ocean, and do not pick up heavy objects / suitcases with your ring or bracelets on your arms.
Any sharp ends have been rounded off to prevent any cuts. However, we cannot be held responsible for injuries sustained by negligent including accidental breakages of jewelry.
The certificate of authenticity reflects the unique item number of the associated piece. This number is an element of our audit process, which in conjunction with RIACT, ensure the sales and use of the fence is tightly controlled. Legacy Collection designer Charmaine Taylor holds the world-wide rights to create jewelry out of the Robben Island prison fence.