Repurposing old unwanted or damaged jewelry is a fun way of recycling! Jewelry materials are usually valuable so nothing goes to waste, and then there's a NEW piece reborn from the old. This ring is made from 18k gold scrap and a re-cut lapis lazuli cabochon, in a setting referencing Early Renaissance Jewelry.
Dramatic combination of light and intense blue sapphires brightened by the white pearl center, framed elegantly in pure palladium and diamonds- made specially for a lucky client. Palladium glows bright red as its welded under intense heat seen here in the progress shots. 100% recycled palladium and client's gemstones
These earrings were a larger project than they appear: Simple sterling droplet shapes appear to be "sprinkled" with the client's mine-cut tiny diamonds, yet every stone was an asymmetrical shape and each had to be custom fit and set securely into the silver. The result is a lovely subtle glittery twinkle like stars in the night [...]
Reclaimed Silver was forged and fabricated to the client's specifications incorporating a lovely tourmaline for this lovely gift. You can see here the "before and after" shots how the metal can be formed by hammering to the graceful curves of the abstracted starfish- this like so many gifts were developed at the end of the [...]
I am honored to have been chosen as one of the "Stars of San Diego" by San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine in the January 2016 issue! Lovely article by Mark Hiss, great studio shot by Martin Mann, featuring beautiful jewelry images by Robert Weldon, and fashion shot of wearable sculpture by Andrew Casey and Nick [...]
One lucky client at Stuart Benjamin & Co is now in possession of this elegant hand fabricated 18k palladium white gold Radiant Jellyfish Pendant set with her very own white diamonds recycled from her jewelry box. What a beautiful "update!" Process shots included below:
Color is everything: to draw out the full spectrum in a "Black" pearl, just add Red or Green. Here the side stones of natural Spinel bring out the Blush of pink in this beautiful Tahitain pearl! And of course its set in (100% reclaimed) 18k gold.
I am demonstrating some fabrication techniques for the San Diego Chapter of WJA at Cogent Builders, Thursday the 25th at 7pm: Demo Night (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm) Click here for tickets WJA San Diego will host our annual Demo Night where we will watch and learn from three talented and award winning Makers: § Mirjam Butz-Brown will demonstrate [...]
The San Diego Chapter of Womens Jewelery Association newsletter recently featured me with a few good questions:
Thanks to Barbara Wheat Lipatapanlop of Gemalytics, Ethical Metalsmiths Jewelry Exhibition and Auction at the fabulous Linhardt Design in NYC received a great deal of attention in the press! It was a successful evening of "FUNdraising" to grow the reach of the organization and to support already successful endeavors (such as bringing Fair Mined Gold to [...]
