Behind the Scenes: Cast to Finish

Take a look at the rough cast in this yellow gold ring, compare it to the finished piece and you get a little  taste of the labor involved in making fine jewelry.

j.ALBRECHT's favorite designer.

We're often asked who our favorite jewelry designers are. If you're familiar with our design aesthetic and love of technology,tradition, and modernism, then it won't come as a surprise to you the designs we covet. German design house Niessing, which has been designing and fabricating jewelry since 1873.

Love these Niessing rings. LOVE them. Hawk loves them so much he's looking for a second job just to fund his Niessing obsession. In fact, we're the only jeweler in Colorado who represents the Niessing line... while we don't stock a ton of their jewelry, we can order anything from them, and love to do so.

It's not hard to recognize Niessing jewelry. Each piece contains a simple idea/basic concept, and what appears to be complex is simple at its core. However, these rings are extemely difficult to manufacture and many of their techniques are proprietary. They have an extensive traditon with precious metals, namely the interplay between expert crafstmanship, contemporary technology and the reconciliation of form and function in harmony with the material used.

To wit: the tension ring

Developed for Niessing by the artist Walter Wittek in 1979, it's been recognized with numerous design awards and on display in such museums as MoMA in NYC. The "floating" diamond, securely held by the tension of the forged precious metal, is an icon of modern jewelry culture.

Don't be Afraid!

Don't be afraid. Don't. We know that many of you are scared to wear yellow gold. We know it and we get it... your diamond engagement ring and wedding band are platinum, your diamond stud earrings are set in platinum and your watch is stainless steel. We know this because we've helped you design all of them and along the way you just might have mentioned that yellow gold is eighties and that it reminds you of your mother, and that you would never (gasp) mix metals.

Well, we have some thoughts on this. Let us address point by point.

1. Your diamond engagement ring and wedding band look AMAZING in platinum/white gold. Absolutely amazing. Nothing shows a diamond off like platinum! Yellow gold engagement rings are not for everyone. If you want a yellow gold engagement ring you have a certain kind of style... very traditional (yay!) or very fashion forward (double yay!)

2. Yes, there was a lot of brassy yellow gold going on in the eighties... it's true. But there was also Madonna, and the Rubix Cube, and Sixteen Candles... and how awesome is all of THAT? Consider.

3. We don't know what sort of issues you have with your mother, but we're sure she loves you. Very, very much.

4. Yes mixing metals is a bit like wearing white after Labor Day or like wearing black patent Channel ballet flats with a chocolate Hobo satchel... it takes putting a toe in the water... feeling the temperature... and debating. Can you take the plunge? You know it will be a shock at first, but you know that once you get over the initial jolt, it starts to feel totally normal. Those old "rules" are just that... old. It's 2010 and it's okay to mix it up a bit!

Some of our most sassy and chic clients have all SORTS of jewelry... white, yellow, rose, modern, vintage, real, costume, and the most fabulous change it up and keep it interesting by mixing and matching and being fearless!

So. In honor of ALL of our wonderful clients, we have designed a darling little line of yellow gold and gemstone earrings. We think these are just PERFECT for everyone. A bit vintage (see the filigree on the sides?) and a bit modern (see those clean, simple bezels?) and not too much yellow (we've sandblasted it to soften it up a bit) but just enough to keep it current. They're a great price ,too! $350-$500. We wish we had a fabulous name for them... but we're too crazy busy with Mother's Day deadlines and we've had too little coffee today to sit around and brainstorm a cute and quirky name. Thoughts, anyone??