Rust&bone studio

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Preez Designs

Dainty silver ring on the bench to get the week off to a peaceful start.

Back at the bench, and this was the fun "expression" that bubbled up from nearly eighteen months of not doing one of my favourite things in the world. What makes you shine the brightest?

Pegged!

9 carat hammered ring on the bench today!

I love gold. I love the warm glow it has. I’ve lingered for hours in museums looking at how different cultures have crafted their most prized art and adornment with this precious metal.

Can we recycle more gold? We do throw out 500 metric tonnes of gold per year in electronics. But, even if we managed to recover all of it, that only adds about 11% more gold to the global supply. In order to satisfy our demand for gold, we would have to recycle 300 million phones per day, which would mean we would run out of phones to recycled in 23 days, according to the BBC.

The rest of the gold that is out there is stored in sacred places like temples, is kept as reserves in government vaults, or is in precious jewelry that is passed down through generations of families. With our deep and emotional connection to these gold pieces, not many of these are likely to be turned in for recycling.

More importantly, buying only recycled gold doesn’t help improve existing mines, which are the only means of employment for millions of people on almost every continent. They deserve to earn money in a safe environment, and taking away that opportunity from them is not the answer. To really improve their lives, you need to commit to buying gold only from mines that use non-toxic, safe, and fair practices. What that does is send a clear, direct message to those mines that there is a customer base for their clean gold. It urges them to keep going, and inspire other mines to go clean as well.

As a maker of fine jewellery, decor and clothing, it is of the utmost importance to create responsibly, source mindfully, and ensure that all of the pieces are produced sustainably and ethically. Sustainability may be trending in the fashion industry right now but it’s always been a priority to handcraft my goods as sustainably as possible, particularly in an industry that has a notoriety for being slow in finding its ecological conscience.

The fast fashion industry has supported a culture of devaluing well-made, thoughtfully purchased pieces in favour of disposable, seasonal pieces which have a limited lifespan. Your style should have meaning, longevity and sentimental significance. I want you to invest in a rust&bone piece because you feel connected to not only the aesthetic of it but also to the story the brand aims to tell.

With this in mind, rust&bone will continue the journey to produce consciously, and my pledge to you is to always be transparent and to do my due diligence. I will do all I can to continue to help add to a more ecologically sustainable world for this generation and those to follow.

fashion

Played with new settings this week! Claw settings offer an alternative to the usual bezel style cabochon gemstone settings, especially when working with raw, unpolished gemstones.

The beauty of the pink chunk of rough, all natural rose quartz is greatly emphasised when set like this!

Rose quartz exudes a restful, cooling energy, which brings balance, love and wisdom, and is also linked to the heart chakra! You can literally wear your heart on your sleeve. Well, kinda. 😉

Not all that glimmers is gold as pyrite proves with its precious hues and potent protective properties. The name "pyrite" is derived from the Greek word Pyr, which translates to fire – an echo of how the light catches on the surface of the stone, or perhaps in testament to the strong masculine energy and sense of perfect passion.

Despite its illustrious name, Pyrite is actually an earth stone rich in iron sulfide – hewn from the far reaches of Namibia, the heartlands of Peru, the golden mountains of Spain and Mexico, and the icy distances of Canada. With shades of pale brass or a richer gold color, Pyrite is a pretty stone that holds its own when it comes to a dazzling metallic luster. In homage to its name, it’s one of the only healing crystals that can also strike sparks when struck hard enough.

I first set out to make a ring only with the pyrite, but something just didn't feel right. Decided on a whim to come back to the studio today and added the pearl. It is quite interesting when I read up a bit more just now, as pearls symbolises water, serenity, flow and wisdom, while pyrite leans towards fire and drive. It suddenly just feels (and looks) right. I might be wrong, but it feels kinda yin/yang. Either way, it's one of my favourites by far.

My roots lie in the wine world, and one of the things that I love about that is the emphasis on terroir & origin. Now I once again find myself in a position where I can nerd out hard on soil and earth!

With all the stones and metals used in goldsmithing, I enjoy reading up on where it may possibly come from. The stones in this particular ring is purple amethyst (discussed before) and ruby, believed to embody passion & enduring love. Even though rubies are the stuff of legends, any old hand in the trade can trace the ruby to its earliest origin — the valleys of Mogok in Burma. Higher in value than sapphires and emeralds, and second only to diamonds on the Mohs scale, the traditional Burmese ruby is poetically called ‘pigeon’s blood’.

The formation of a ruby is indeed an unusual phenomenon, marrying beauty with heritage. Scientifically, the environment must be both rich in aluminium and chrome, something which seldom occurs in nature.

Known as the heart stone, rose quartz is formed through the process of magma crystallization, making magmatic pegmatites the primary source of larger rose quartz crystals. However, this is not the only possible method of formation, as this mineral can also be found in hydrothermal veins.

It is believed that the stone owes its beautiful color to the presence of manganese, iron, and titanium, but other research suggests that the specific coloration is caused by delicate fibers of borosilicate which has since been dubbed dididumortierite.

Rose quartz meaning varies throughout cultures, but the soft pink stone is often tied to gentleness & love.

The serenely coloured aquamarine invokes the tranquility of its namesake, the sea. In fact, the name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, for the ocean.

It is calming, soothing, and cleansing, and inspires truth, trust and letting go. In ancient lore, aquamarine was believed to be the treasure of mermaids, and was used by sailors as a talisman of good luck, fearlessness and protection. It is also considered a stone of eternal youth and happiness!

Ah, the national gemstone of Scotland!

Smoky Quartz may look unassuming, but this powerful stone is a super-charged variation of the extensive quartz group of crystals, with a distinctive twist. It gets its wispy hints of brown from exposure to natural underground radiation from granite deposits.

Constellation.

Recycled diamonds are diamonds that were previously owned and put back in the diamond supply chain. Also called reclaimed diamonds, recycled diamonds can be Old European cuts, modern cuts or antique diamonds that have been recut and repolished.

For example, a recycled diamond may have been originally cut in the 1970s but has been recut to meet modern day specifications. There is no way to tell if a diamond is recycled unless it is specifically labeled as such.

You can find recycled diamonds in almost every carat weight, although they must usually weigh over 0.30 Carat to receive a new certificate. Recycled diamonds receive GIA and AGS certifications—just like diamonds that are fresh to the market. I recommend only purchasing diamonds that come with a GIA or AGS certificate.

While the diamond industry has recently made strides to reduce their social and environmental impact, many people are looking for more. Recycled diamonds are socially responsible and eco-friendly diamonds.

To extract diamonds from the Earth, massive amounts of soil need to be removed. Harm to the air, soil and water quality can occur during the mining process. Possible contamination can impact the local communities due to leakage of chemicals during mining. Recycled diamonds don’t cause any of these impacts. In fact, there is nearly zero environmental or social impact when it comes to these sustainable diamonds.

For more information or to shop this reclaimed metal & diamond ring, DM me!

Citrine is the yellow variety of quartz, and its name comes from the Old French word for lemon. Its warm colour is said to be a gift from the sun, making this golden gemstone the perfect option for brightening up a typically chilly autumnal month. Citrine has been a popular decorative gemstone since ancient times, and the vintage charm is alluring!

For some, citrine is considered a healing gemstone – calming, soothing and comforting. It is also said to spark imagination and encourage fresh beginnings and prosperity. In ancient times, citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. The Egyptians were among the first to discover the yellow stone and used the gems as talismans. The ancient Greeks carved iconic images into them and shaped them into rock crystal ornaments, while Roman priests made them into rings. Between 300 and 150 BC they were found on the handles of swords and daggers in Scotland. While thought to be added for decorative purposes, the stone was also considered as protection. Today, citrine is known as the ‘merchant’s stone’ and is associated with success and wealth.

For more information or to shop this bracelet, DM!

Green amethyst or prasiolite is a light green-colored and transparent semi-precious gemstone of the quartz mineral family. This highly effective healing gemstone is at times worn to gain spiritual serenity, better communication skills, higher self-esteem and a healthy body.

DM for additional information or to shop this hammered silver & green natural beauty!

Some silver bangles hot out the studio this week.

Rust&bone studio updated their phone number.