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【Cayeux-sur-M】”People Think Pebbles Are Heavy, But They Can Be Light and Refined”: Former Gold Prospector in Australia Transforms Beach Pebbles into Jewelry

Jul 13, 2026

Editor’s Note

**Editor’s Note:** This piece traces Bénigne Dubois’s journey from a globe-trotting gold prospector in Australia to a jewelry artisan crafting original pieces from beach pebbles in his hometown of Cayeux-sur-Mer. It’s a story of returning to roots and finding creative inspiration in the familiar.

A Return to Roots: From Gold Prospector to Jewelry Artisan

Bénigne Dubois creates original jewelry from pebbles collected on the beach of Cayeux-sur-Mer. A native of Cayeux-sur-Mer, he spent his childhood there before moving to Paris to study art. After years of traveling the world, the thirty-something former gold prospector in Australia felt the urge to return to his roots.

The Pebble: An Inspiring Material Right Under Our Feet

Hours spent in nature observing the stones around him reminded him of his childhood on the beaches of Cayeux-sur-Mer, where he meticulously searched for “the pebble that would stand out by its color or shape.” He reflects:

Les galets de Cayeux-sur-Mer, transformés ici en boucles d'oreilles.
“Sometimes you go to the other side of the world only to realize you were at the starting point. But that whole journey allowed me to return to Cayeux, to be happy to come back, and to want to do something here.”
“When I select the pebble directly at the factory, I already visualize how I will transform it.”

In a corner of his mind, this seemingly odd idea of making jewelry from Cayeux pebbles took shape. He breaks, shapes, polishes, varnishes, and sets these unique materials in his home workshop. Bénigne sources his pebbles from a local factory specialized in pebble recovery.

Crafting Lightness from Stone
Des bagues réalisées à partir de galets de Cayeux-sur-Mer.
“For necklaces, I pay attention to size and weight. Earrings are actually a single pebble that I cut in half, polish, and they become a pair. I also like working with pebbles that have rough textures. People have this image of a heavy pebble. But in the end, they see it can be light and refined. They don’t necessarily expect so much diversity in shapes and colors from a pebble. What’s beautiful about a pebble is that it is unique.”
A Touch of the Baie de Somme

Bénigne sells his creations—jewelry and personalized decorative objects—at local markets along the Picardy coast, while explaining the importance of pebbles to the town. He says:

“When people aren’t from here, I take the liberty of explaining where the pebble comes from, why it’s important for Cayeux. It’s not just about selling jewelry; I also try to sell the story of Cayeux every time.”
La région des Hauts-de-France enregistre des fréquentations records de touristes en 2025 : la Côte d'Opale fait partie des endroits les plus prisés.

Back in Cayeux-sur-Mer for over two years, Bénigne seems to be re-anchoring himself where his roots lie. Since settling, he has expanded his activity: in addition to jewelry, he now creates sculptures, still from pebbles.

Full article: View original |
⏰ Published on: July 13, 2026