Christi Schimpke, the founder of CRASH Jewelry, came up with the idea to create fashion jewelry from the metal of exotic cars when she moved her studio into her husband’s Los Angeles body shop, Beverly Coachcraft, which specializes in collision repairs for late-model European cars. Schimpke, who has a background in art history, discovered her passion for jewelry fabrication after taking metalsmith courses over a decade ago.

The vision for CRASH materialized when Schimpke observed the gorgeous cars that arrived at the shop for repair and wondered what happened to the cast-off metal. After many months of experimentation, she discovered her own unique process of shaping the scrap metal, and CRASH Jewelry started to take form.

Every piece of CRASH Jewelry begins with metal from a door, hood, fender, or quarter panel that is being replaced on a luxury car such as a Rolls-Royce, Maserati, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. The metal is cut into different shapes and styles which are then rigorously sanded, polished and riveted. All paint is original factory paint. To complement original designs, stainless steel from the wheel surround of a Mercedes G Wagon is often used, giving it a hammered texture. Other designs include semi-precious gemstones or vintage components. The last step is to add a laser-etched CRASH tag and give it a final polish before sending it out to a customer. CRASH Jewelry is either aluminum or steel alloy, depending on the car and the location from which it came, and all the jewelry is completely handcrafted by artisans in the CRASH studio based out of a Los Angeles body shop.

It wasn’t long before Schimpke was asked to transform parts from her client’s beloved vehicles into jewelry. Stunt-car driver Susan Purkhiser lost her BMW “Sophie” in the 2018 Malibu Woolsey Fire, and her friends secretly arranged to have a CRASH cuff made from the charred metal. “Because it was made from my car, and I loved that car, it was literally the most meaningful gift anybody has ever given me,” said Purkhiser.

Other requests followed. Australian restorer Ron Goodman provided metal from a Porsche 356 and commissioned auction items and gifts. A young writer for Automobile Magazine sent in the fender from his father’s prized Mazda Miata. The father had recently passed, and he wanted jewelry made for his mom so that her husband could always be with her. Schimpke partnered with former IndyCar racer Lyn St. James to make a commemorative bracelet for her and for Women in Motorsports North America.

Kelly Colbert, a client of CRASH, said, “I love that Christi Schimpke can see beauty in a slab of wrecked metal. Her imagination and craftsmanship are extraordinary…her pieces are unique and make a statement. Be prepared to chat if you wear them. People always inquire, introverts be forewarned!”