materials & craftsmanship

I make all of my jewelry using a variety of real gemstones and precious metals. This page describes some of them in more detail. If you want to know more about the materials from which a particular piece is made, feel free to contact me.

craftsmanship

Most of the pieces I make are unique and one of a kind. Even if I make two items of the same style, there are small differences between them because every gemstone is different. Additionally, I use my hands and a variety of tools to create the pieces, so there will always be variations. Although I design and make all my own work, some pieces contain elements that I buy from others, such as silver beads or lobster clasps.

My goal is to make jewelry that is beautiful, but can stand up to the rigors of being worn regularly. I usually test out a new design by wearing it to see how it feels, judge whether the length is right, and determine whether parts of it catch on anything (clothes or skin). Although any piece can be broken, I try to create durable designs. I hope my jewelry can be worn frequently instead of being saved for only special occasions.

cultured freshwater pearls

I use a lot of cultured freshwater pearls in my work. These lovely pearls come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and provide a beautiful look for a reasonable cost. I most often use pearls that are white, peach, mauve, and light, or dark grey; however, pearls in an unusual color (e.g., gold or brown) can be very dramatic. Natural pearls are often treated to make them whiter or give them unusual, eye-catching colors. For many designs, I can use Tahitian or South Sea pearls instead of freshwater pearls if you would like to order something particularly special.

colored gemstones

I love the briolette cut and use it in many of my designs. I incorporate a variety of real gemstones such as peridot, citrine, topaz, iolite, and garnet. I also like the sparkle that faceted rondelles can add to a piece. Sometimes I will use a smooth stone for a more clean look. Many natural gemstones are treated, for example using heat, to enhance their beautiful colors. If you have a question about a particular gemstone, please contact me.

Argentium sterling silver and fine silver

Sterling silver is a beautiful white metal, that is a mixture of pure silver and copper (the added copper makes the alloy harder). Over time, however, sterling silver has the problem of tarnishing. Argentium sterling silver is a new alloy that uses germanium instead of some of the copper in the alloy. The metal has a nice silver color and is much more tarnish resistant than regular sterling silver. In pieces that I have tested, some dish soap and warm water brings back a nice sparkle to jewelry that is a little grey and dirty looking (no need to use the silver polish). For more information, go to http://www.argentiumsilver.info.

Fine silver is 99.99% silver, and is a beautiful, pure metal. It is softer than sterling silver, so I usually use it only for some of my woven hand-made chains.

gold, gold-filled & vermeil

For some pieces, I want to incorporate gold. To keep the cost of my pieces down but still have the look of gold, I use 14/20 gold-filled or vermeil. 14/20 gold-filled wire, clasps, etc. have a thick layer of 14 karat gold bonded to jeweler's brass. It is a much thicker layer than gold plated material. Vermeil is gold plated over silver. Therefore, when the gold plating wears off, the silver color shows through. I do make pieces that incorporate 18 karat gold, either all gold or using some as an accent. I can custom make any of the items shown on my site in 18 karat gold upon request.