Elton John Turns Knee Replacements into Gold Jewelry: A Testament to Art and Resilience
By Julia Evans, World-Today-News.com
Elton john, the iconic singer-songwriter, has revealed a remarkably unique way of commemorating a significant health challenge: transforming his removed kneecaps into bespoke gold jewelry. The story emerged in a new short documentary,”Toured by Gold,” released Monday by the World Gold Council,showcasing John’s long-standing interest with the precious metal and its integration into his flamboyant stage persona.
Following double knee replacement surgery in early 2024 – described by his surgeon as one of the most challenging cases they’d encountered – John didn’t simply accept a return to full mobility. He envisioned a lasting, artistic tribute. He requested his kneecaps be returned to him, a request that initially surprised his medical team, and then commissioned renowned jeweler Theo Fennell to craft them into wearable art.
“When I had my knees removed, first the left then the right, I asked my surgeon if I could keep the kneecaps, which rather surprised him – then I called you,” John recounted to Fennell in the documentary. He granted the jeweler complete creative freedom, stating, “do what you want with it.”
fennell detailed the intricate process of preparing the ball joints for their change. “We had to go in the oven to dry them. Then they become raw as a pumice stone,they are very porous. So we had to paint them with acetate, then polish them,” he explained, showcasing a stunning gold and diamond pendant created from one of John’s former ball joints.
The 78-year-old singer proudly displayed the pendant, identifying it as originating from his right knee. Pointing to a noticeable hole in the joint, he remarked, “My surgeon said I had the worst knees
