About Us
Our Story
CRASH Jewelry is dedicated to creating sustainable, unisex jewelry handcrafted from metal sourced from luxury automobiles, including prestigious marques such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, Audi, and Bentley.
Founded by Christi Schimpke, CRASH Jewelry was born from a unique intersection of art, craftsmanship, and automotive design. After relocating her studio to Beverly Coachcraft, a renowned Los Angeles body shop specializing in collision repairs for late-model European cars, Christi was inspired by the beautiful remnants of luxury vehicles that surrounded her. With a background in art history and newly developed skills in metalsmithing, she began experimenting with discarded automotive metal — cutting, sanding, bending, and shaping it into one-of-a-kind pieces that define the CRASH aesthetic today.
What sets CRASH Jewelry apart is the originality and story behind each creation. At first glance, a cuff or necklace might appear as striking modern jewelry — but once its source is revealed, it sparks delight and intrigue. Every piece is meticulously handmade from automotive metal that retains its original factory paint, transforming high-performance heritage into wearable art.
Each item comes with a CRASH Jewelry Registration Card detailing the car of origin and the date of creation. This commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and thoughtful design ensures that every piece is not only beautiful but also eco-conscious — a meaningful way to repurpose luxury materials and reduce waste.
Whether you’re seeking the perfect gift for a car enthusiast, an environmentally conscious friend, or someone who appreciates jewelry with a unique backstory, CRASH Jewelry offers an exceptional and memorable choice
Our Process
Every piece of CRASH Jewelry begins with metal sourced from a door, hood, fender, or quarter panel that is being replaced on a luxury vehicle — such as a Rolls-Royce, Maserati, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and others. Our artisans carefully cut this metal into distinctive shapes and styles, then rigorously sand, polish, and rivet each component by hand to ensure a beautiful, high-quality finish.
To complement our original designs, we often incorporate stainless steel from the wheel surround of a Mercedes G-Wagon, giving it a hammered texture for added depth and character. Many pieces are further enhanced with semi-precious gemstones or vintage components, creating a unique fusion of automotive heritage and timeless artistry.
Finally, each item is given a meticulous polish before being packaged and sent to its new owner. Every piece of CRASH Jewelry is completely handcrafted by our skilled artisans in our Los Angeles studio, located within a working body shop — where luxury automotive history is transformed into wearable art.
100% Made in the USA
Our products are handcrafted by skilled artisans — who happen to love nice cars — right here in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Every CRASH Jewelry order arrives in a quality recycled gift box stamped with our signature CRASH logo. Inside, your jewelry is thoughtfully wrapped in a soft satin or muslin bag and accompanied by a CRASH Jewelry Registration Card, authenticating the vehicle it came from.
Each piece is crafted from either aluminum or steel alloy, depending on the car and the specific location of the metal (for example, a door versus a hood). All paint is the original factory finish — a detail we proudly preserve to celebrate the luxury automotive heritage behind every design.
