Gold!

And diamonds too!

I've never been a huge fan of traditional gold and diamond jewelry, even before I knew about the art jewelry world.  I decided early on that it was tacky and ostentatious (although I'm sure I used smaller words back then) and avoided it.  It's neither of them alone, but something about them combined just always seemed to rub me the wrong way.  I put a good deal of blame on the current idea of tasteless bling, and the unimaginative qualities of the standard engagement and wedding ring sets.  And something of that feeling has stuck with me, under my otherwise rational look at jewelry.  (Also I think there's some measure of bitterness that I can't afford to work with these materials right now.  Some part of me automatically says, "Fine!  I didn't want to play with your stupid toys anyway!")

But I think I've hit a critical point where that's not so true anymore.  I got my issue of Metalsmith this afternoon.  Would you look at that cover piece?  It's by Atelier Zobel, and I am in love.  So after I read the article, and looked at the absolutely gorgeous pieces that went with it, I had to get online and find their website so I could covet some of their pieces (while quietly pouting at how I certainly can't afford them, yet.)  It took me on a journey through the internet, and made me take a closer look at some of my old prejudices against gold and diamond jewelry, in particular.  And wow.  I've been missing out on some really stunning pieces, lost amidst the mediocre.  (On a separate note, the Metalsmith/SNAG website was just renovated and looks awesome.)

This piece by Atelier Zobel has oxidized silver in it, in addition to the gold and diamonds, but it's definitely a background element.  It reminds me of stars, and wheat fields, and I love the detail in it so much.  Especially the transition from gold to silver, the stippling effect of the gold.  It's sleek and refined, which a lot of gold and diamond jewelry tries to be, but it succeeds where so many pieces fail.  I'm in the process of mentally laying out a big piece right now, and that transition is something I need to keep in my toolbox.  (Of course, I'm thinking of it in a fiber context for the coming piece, but that's just a different medium for the same tool.)

Alex Sepkus was another artist whose work I stumbled across today.  I'm showing you some images of his rings, in part because so many diamond and gold rings are done so badly.  This is what they should all be like.  Imagine for a moment, if you will, a world in which every marriage was symbolized by something as stunning as these pieces.  Maybe we'd put less emphasis on carat size and more on sharing a similar aesthetic with our spouses, maybe we'd converse a little more.  (Or maybe not.  Maybe everything would just be a little more beautiful instead.  Good enough for me!)