gemstone buying: needle in a haystack

February 1st, 2012

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When we tell people that we’re headed to Tucson for gemstone buying in February the response is often “That sounds like so much fun!”. And it’s true, it is SO much fun. Pouring over gemstones, looking for what will inspire a year’s worth of collections – it is one of the adventures of our work. What I struggle to communicate is how vast a task this is. The first year we attended the gem shows in Tucson we had no idea how huge a task it would be. I think a visual always helps.

These photos are essentially a panoramic of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) show, a flagship Tucson show, that we attended yesterday. We will walk and shop ~ 10 of these shows in the 5 days that we are here this year. We are looking for the best, most beautiful, most inspired gemstones in all the world. Akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. We can’t wait to share them with you.

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technology in the studio

November 13th, 2011
USB Typewriter, Underwood

USB Typewriter for iPad, Underwood

 

I’m a firm believer in having technology that makes your work easier. We’re pretty geeky here at the kdJ studio, and we love our Macs. This beauty seems like the perfect hybrid, combining the indispensable efficiency of an iPad with the timeless beauty of an Underwood (available via Anthropologie). The next time we’re due for a technology upgrade, we’re looking right here.

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emerald birthstone jewelry :: re-envisioned

September 8th, 2011

The mission for this custom design project, for our client Becky, was to take a number of birthstone keepsake jewelry pieces, and using the emeralds and gold, create a bold and timeless statement piece. The gold from various rings and earrings was mixed karat of 14k and above, and would create contrast with a stainless steel band. There were a variety of emeralds to work with – they were all close in size, and varied in color.

 

Emerald Trio

before

 

Becky described herself as having an asymmetric, architectural, and unadorned aesthetic. She loved our tension-set rings, but as emerald is too soft a stone to withstand the pressures of tension-setting, we devised a ring design to visually mimic the lines of a tension-setting while keeping the delicate emeralds protected. The recycled gold was used to create a raised channel to protect the emeralds, and hammer textured to add depth. We translated these lines onto an asymmetrical pair of earrings as well. Paired with contemporary stainless steel these birthstone mementos are refreshed to their status of cherished adornment.

 

emeralds :: re-envisioned

after: emerald ~ channel-set in recycled gold and stainless steel

This piece will be on exhibit at The Green Show: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse at the Epic Center . Kalamazoo, MI . September 9-30. Opening reception Friday, September 9th . 5:00-8:00p.

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sweet 16 keepsake :: recycled

September 8th, 2011

Our client, Erin, had a gold and diamond pendant she had been given as a sweet 16 gift from her grandparents. They themselves, had recycled a diamond and some of their gold jewelry from various pieces and had a pendant cast to give to their granddaughter. While Erin cherished the family pendant, it just wasn’t a piece she could see herself wearing. She described her style as classic, earth-friendly, and bold. She also sited the practicality of the piece as important; she wanted this new piece to be one she could wear everyday without worry.

gold pendant with diamond upcycled to tension-set diamond ring

Out of our design meeting came a tension-set diamond ring, with the recycled gold as an accent. The stainless is clean and contemporary, the diamond is classic, and the hammered, oxidized gold lends an earthy organic feel. This piece did indeed become an everyday staple for Erin, and the first piece of her kara | daniel collection.

This piece will be on exhibit at The Green Show: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse at the Epic Center . Kalamazoo, MI . September 9-30. Opening reception Friday, September 9th . 5:00-8:00p.

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wedding bands :: renewed

September 8th, 2011

One of the greatest honors for us as jewelers is being asked to create wedding/engagement/commitment rings for someone. This includes being asked to renew a set of original wedding rings. George and Judy have been married 39 years this year (**applause**) and decided that to commemorate this anniversary they would redesign a new wedding band set using elements from the originals.

ArtCarved Wedding Band

before: artcarved wedding band

 

Their original bands were ArtCarved bands (some of you remember those don’t you?) of 14k yellow gold over 14k white gold. George and Judy wanted to preserve the feeling of the original bands while stepping into a cleaner and more contemporary design. In our collaborative design process we arrived at excerpting a single flower section of the carved yellow gold, and moving it into a stainless band as the primary focus. The remaining carved gold was then melted down and recycled into gold wire, which was included as a hammered accent band on the stainless ring. The set retains the sentimentality of the original bands, while becoming something that will again be worn for decades to come.

 

Recycled Art Carved Gold & Stainless Steel

after: recycled artcarved gold & stainless steel

This piece will be on exhibit at The Green Show: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse at the Epic Center . Kalamazoo, MI . September 9-30. Opening reception Friday, September 9th . 5:00-8:00p.

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diamond earring :: revived

September 8th, 2011

We all have them. The traditional, safe pieces of jewelry that, while they’re fine and lovely, we just don’t wear. They’re not us. They’re not this decade, or epoch even. They don’t say anything about us stylistically, at least not anything we’d want to broadcast. You know…that gold snake chain, the gold heart with your birthstone set in it, a traditionally set diamond stud. That’s what Judy had – a pair of diamond studs. The diamonds were beautiful, but you’d never get a real sense of that in these settings.

 

original diamond earring

before

 

Now you have to understand…Judy has great style. She knows how to layer. She loves asymmetry and creating new arrangements by linking various pieces together. She and a girlfriend often split pairs of kara | daniel earrings so they can wear a single with their other fun and funky adornments. So, these diamond studs weren’t doing Judy any justice, they needed a new home. So Judy met with us.

We took one diamond and it became part of a ring trio that you can see here. It was decided the other diamond stud would become part of a pendant. Judy wears a lot of kara | daniel stainless steel, including our chains, and loves things long. So we designed a clean cylindrical pendant that would lend good weight to a longer chain, but wouldn’t compete at all with the fire of this diamond. Out of the gold prongs and into the spacious stainless setting the diamond appeared much bigger, and had gorgeous light. It now shines as an attention grabbing pendant in a way it never did in its previous gold prong setting.

 

hammer-set diamond in stainless steel

after: hammer-set recycled diamond in stainless steel

This piece will be on exhibit at The Green Show: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse at the Epic Center . Kalamazoo, MI . September 9-30. Opening reception Friday, September 9th . 5:00-8:00p.

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fall 2011: silver gate collection

August 23rd, 2011

Silver Gate Collection

Last year, about this time, we were packing into our little orange Element for a cross country adventure. A friend was working for the season in Yellowstone, and it was an opportunity for an insiders visit that was not to be missed. As we drove cross country (Michigan to Wyoming) over the span of a few days we watched the palette of the earth and the culture shift and transform. After a tour of Yellowstone we continued on south to the Tetons. Here the flavors of the Southwest had migrated north; naturally tanned and dyed leather, turquoise in it’s nugget form, bright hand-dyed and woven textiles. After sighting one particularly fabulous pair of cowboy boots we knew that the seed for a gemstone collection had been planted. This fall we present the Silver Gate Collection… turquoise, ruby, silver and gold meet rustic deerskin and hand-embossed sterling. May a piece of this collection accompany you on your next adventure.

ruby nugget

raw ruby nugget

chryscolla nugget

chrysacolla in the rough

Corral Ladies Deer Tan Cowboy Boot in Golden Tan w/ Fancy Teal Embroidery

corral cowboy boot, where it started

Find the Silver Gate  Collection online in the kdJ Shop or at your nearest kdJ retailer today.

 

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kara | daniel’s name in lights: we need your vote

April 3rd, 2011

 

kara | daniel's KIA Billboard Entry

hand-forged stainless steel & natural gemstones

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts – Billboard Art Contest
your vote counts!


kara | daniel JEWELRY is happy to announce that they have been chosen as 1 of 20 semi-finalists in the KIA Billboard Contest. 10 winners will have their artwork featured on a billboard in southwest Michigan for a year. Voting is open to everyone and happens online at the KIA website. You can vote as often as you like between now and April 11th, and you’ll see the standings once you vote. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm for our work!
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Go pick your favorite 10, vote now and often!
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kara | daniel JEWELRY emerges from the contrasting aesthetic sensibilities of Kara Aubin & Daniel Juzwiak. Their technical approach originates with Daniel, an architect in jewelers clothing, while Kara – a dancer by training brings an eye for color, movement and asymmetry. Stainless steel, raw diamonds, and sapphires converge in modern & rustic designs.

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tension-setting: what you need to know

January 24th, 2011

kara | daniel jewelry ring: raw diamond cubes tension-set in stainless steel

there’s something magical about a tension-setting. the gemstone is seemingly suspended in air. you can see all sides and facets of the stone. the gem is allowed more light to play and refract in. so is this setting right for you?

for starters, tension-setting is actually a misnomer. it isn’t tension that’s holding that stone in place, it’s compression. the metal wants to close in on itself, and there is something that is stopping it from doing that, the gemstone. for this equation to work you need two things.
1) a strong metal, like stainless steel that has adequate spring tension.
2) a gemstone strong enough to withstand the compression of said metal. sapphire (including ruby) and diamond are good candidates here.

this setting requires that we be very precise. sizing of the client is critical; tension-settings cannot be made larger, and only in limited situations can be made smaller. the setting must be carefully calibrated for the chosen gemstone; not enough compression the stone could come loose, too much compression the stone could fracture. with careful attention to detail a jeweler who specializes in tension-setting, like kara | daniel, can create a setting that is stunning and secure. the beauty of your gemstone is in full view, there are no prongs to worry about, you have a ring setting you can live in! you can find more examples of tension-settings in our ring gallery.

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refresh for the new year: Happy 2011!

January 14th, 2011

it always feels good to refresh for the new year, and that’s exactly what we did for this great renew/refresh/recycle custom ring project.

gold pendant with diamond becomes a tension-set diamond ring

a client approached us with the pendant pictured above. it was a family piece, and while it had sentimental value, it was a piece that she just wasn’t going to wear. enter kara | daniel! we specialize in creating jewelry you can live in. we discussed her style, what she wanted the piece to “do”, what elements she wanted to carry forward into the new piece (the diamond, the gold, or both). we came to a tension-set diamond ring, with the recycled gold as an accent. the stainless is clean and contemporary, the diamond is classic, and the hammered, oxidized gold lends an earthy organic feel. we’re thrilled with the final piece, and so was she.
you can check out more of our custom rings in our ring gallery. what’s in your jewelry box that needs an update this year?

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