Asheville jewelers: Sharon Bailey and Joan Bazzle, fine silver

Designs in silver by Asheville jewelers Sharon Bailey and Joan Bazzle, now at Van Dyke Jewelry.  

Heart of Hearts Pendant, Sharon Bailey

Vibrant red translucent Bakelite set in patina silver with heart designs set into the background.

Summer Tree, Joan Bazzle

Enamel tree design set in polished silver with seed pearls and agate.

Baby ball in cage earrings and pendant set, Sharon Bailey

Patina silver with a loose silver bead in the center.  Sharon also makes these with colored Bakelite beads.

Druzy rings, Joan Bazzle

Druzy quartz rings set in decorated silver.

Exceptional silver jewelry by Asheville jewelers Joan Bazzle and Sharon Bailey.  Visit Sharon at her studio this weekend at the Weaverville Art Safari.  May 7th and 8th.

 

Pocahontas

Pocahontas is a running joke around the shop.  It's our latest estate piece and weighs in at over 72 grams of 14k. gold.

I promised Chris I'd take a picture of it after he decided to carry it, so here she is.  

Now is the right time to sell if you have pieces like this.  Gold is at record highs, so even if you can't sell it outright, it may be worth melting it down.

Better yet, turn it into a new piece of jewelry.

Asheville jewelry, estate jewelry and crafts at Van Dyke Jewelry.

Asheville jewelry on Etsy

Here are a couple of  Etsy shoppes selling affordable Asheville jewelry:

Misty Ridge Designs by Heather Lewis.  Very affordable wired wrapped and sterling jewelry with semi precious stones.  She has some nice copper earrings that are great for fall.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mistyridge?ref=seller_info

The Nesting Nomad.  Very cool antiquey style jewelry made from beads and found objects.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NestingNomad?ref=seller_info

Jennifer Kelting Studios.  Beaded jewelry inspired by nature.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenkelting

For more Asheville artists on Etsy an excellent resource is the Asheville Etsy Street Team blog:

http://avletsy.blogspot.com/

Happy hunting!

Is Bigger Better? When Bold Jewelry is Best

Chris Van Dyke's dad Terry packed up his Yamaha 250 from Bloomsburg, PA this summer to bring us a collection of large handmade pendants. All of them are real statement pieces, with multiple gemstones and precious metals. They are a beautiful addition to our collection of fine Asheville jewelry.

We love the large pendants, and Chris' latest opal pendant is a testament to that. If you like larger jewelry, a pendant should be the top on the list. As an accessory, nothing makes a statement like a bold pendant for a night on the town.

Here is a article on choosing and wearing chunky jewelry:

Is Bigger Better? When Bold Jewelry is Best

via Handcrafted Fine Jewelry Blog by John S. Brana on 10/5/10

Jazz Up a Simple Outfit with Bold Jewelry Big, bold jewelry isn’t for everyone, and it certainly isn’t for everyday wear but sometimes a bit of bling can be just what the fashion doctor ordered to jazz up a simple outfit and take it to a whole new level. The Little Black Dress is a [...]

Tips on buying pearls

Buying pearls can be confusing, with lot's of different names for them and an endless range of prices.  From wiki, here is what jewelers look for when determining quality:

The value of the pearls in jewelry is determined by a combination of the luster, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry that are appropriate for the type of pearl under consideration. Among those attributes, luster is the most important differentiator of pearl quality according to jewelers.

All factors being equal, however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large, perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued. Teardrop-shaped pearls are often used in pendants.

We like to use mainly cultured pearls for our fine Asheville jewelry.  They are the most affordable and have a consistent luster on par with most saltwater or wild pearls.  They give the most bang for the buck.

With all the different brands floating around, it's easy to feel like you have to spend a fortune to get the best name.  This just isn't true.  Unless you have a lab to do testing on them, you really won't be able to tell the difference between cultured saltwater or freshwater pearls.  Look for the size you like, good symmetry, and a nice iridescence in the color you prefer.

The exception to that is the black pearl, still relatively rare and difficult to produce.  A nice black pearl can get expensive.  Here is more on the black pearl from wiki:

Black pearls, frequently referred to as Black Tahitian Pearls, are highly valued because of their rarity; the culturing process for them dictates a smaller volume output and can never be mass produced.^[

citation needed] This is due to bad health and/or non-survival of the process, rejection of the nucleus and their sensitivity to changing climatic and ocean conditions. Before the days of cultured pearls, black pearls were rare and highly valued for the simple reason that white pearl oysters rarely produced naturally black pearls, and black pearl oysters rarely produced any natural pearls at all.

 Black cultured pearls from the black pearl oyster – Pinctada margaritifera – are not South Sea pearls, although they are often mistakenly described as black South Sea pearls. In the absence of an official definition for the pearl from the black oyster, these pearls are usually referred to as "black Tahitian pearls".

One of the most valuably types of pearl is the wild South Sea pearl, which must be dived for, and comes in different colors depending on the host.  Sometimes black pearls are mislabeled South Sea pearls, further adding to the confusion.  The harder they are to harvest, the more valuable they become.  Before culturing pearls, three tons of oysters would yield only 3 or 4 pearls.

Pearls are another one of those heavily marketed industries that make you feel like you need to spend a fortune to get good quality.  This just isn't the case, if you arm yourself with some good information.

Here is a natural cultured pink pearl pendant set in yellow gold by Jim Charneski.  

For the full article from wiki, click here.

Opal, Octobers Birthstone

We are especially fond of the Australian opal, which happens to be the birthstone for this month.  There are many fine local artists using opal in Asheville jewelry, and our most recent piece happens to be a pendant using Australian boulder opal.  We have at the shop right now some beautiful designs with opal by Jim Charneski and Chris Van Dyke.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are buying opal:

1.  Look for warm colors, reds and yellows are more rare.

2.  Look at the stone in every direction.  The more consistent it is the better the stone.

3.  Over 90% of opal comes from Australia, and usually the best specimens.  It doesn't hurt to ask where it's from.

4.  If you can't see the piece stone from the side, ask if its boulder opal or a doublet, or backed opal.  Doublets have less material and are less expensive then a solid stone.

5.  Pick a shade and color combination that looks interesting to you.  If it's vibrant to you that probably means it's a better quality piece to others as well.  

Below is a pendant by Jim Charneski, a beautiful specimen Australian opal with tons of reds and yellows.  It's not too well represented in the picture, but you get the design idea.  The opal is set in yellow and rose gold.

Buying Loose Gemstones Requires Due Diligence

Here is an article on buying loose gemstones. He mentions that you should see them before you buy, which is important, but above all trust your judgement. Pick out what looks good to you in regards to color, shade, and inclusions, if any.

It's fun to create a piece of custom designed jewelry starting with the stone. That way you get to be involved each step of the way.

Buying Loose Gemstones Requires Due Diligence

via Handmade Jewelry Shops by andrew on 9/13/10

Gemstones are natural formations of minerals found in the earth, and have been treasured for their beauty for centuries.  Sapphires, emeralds and rubies are the most commonly thought of gemstones, but many varieties such as topaz, garnet, and tanzanite loose gemstones are very popular, also.  With more than forty commonly recognized varieties to shop for, how do you decide what to buy?  Of course, the overall look and appeal of a stone is important, but there are other things to look for when you shop.

Loose Gemstones:  Quality is the Name of the Game

All gemstones are not created equally, and you will certainly get what you pay for when you go to buy one.  You will quickly see there is a wide variety of quality available in the loose gemstone market.  You can pay $10 for a certain gem of lower quality, and a superior quality gem of the same type will cost $10,000.  The difference between them is all about the color, clarity, cut and carat weight.  Those last four terms are commonly referred to as the “4 C’s” of gemstones, and you should memorize them along with a few facts about them before you shop for any loose gemstones.  Just because the stone you are looking at is huge doesn’t make it valuable – low quality stones can be large, yet not very valuable. Also keep in mind that just because the stone is part of a handmade jewelry set does not mean that you should pay top dollar.

Color is the most important factor when judging colored gemstones.  Very vivid and saturated colors are preferable.  Some gemstones have a muted, less vibrant color and will generally be worth less, even though they may still be perceived as very attractive.  Always look at gemstones in various types of light, not just the bright store lights.  Clarity is also very important.  Clear stones with no visible inclusions are preferable, and usually it is very rare to find such stones.  Emeralds almost always have visible inclusions, for example, but if there are none visible to the naked eye, they are considered flawless and will be very expensive!  The cut of a gemstone does not necessarily make a stone cost more or less, but definitely affects the way a stone looks.  A poorly cut stone will not let as much light into it, and it will look darker.  Well cut stones look brighter and more “lively”.  Large natural stones are quite rare, so generally are worth more, but the quality of the color, clarity and cut has to be high for them to be very valuable. Gemstones are measured in carat weight.  One carat equals 1/5 gram in weight.  Loose gemstones are minerals, and vary in weight depending on the mineral they are made of.  So, a one carat sapphire will be a different size than a one carat tourmaline, and a one carat topaz will be a different size than the sapphire or tourmaline.

Choose Your Loose Gemstone Jeweler or Retailer Carefully!

As above, quality counts when choosing where to purchase a loose gemstone.  Generally it is preferable to buy gemstones where you can see them before you buy.  Ask to see the stones up close, not in a package or plastic, and look at them in different types of lighting.  Also, ask to see appraisals and certificates that should accompany loose gemstones.  If you are refused, do not buy anything there!  Don’t be taken in by a dealer who tells you a stone is worth much more than they are asking you to pay.  A reputable, honest jeweler/dealer will talk to you and answer all of your questions.  Remember, you aren’t going to get a gemstone that is worth $1000 for $100!

Just by knowing a little about loose gemstones, and keeping in mind the 4 C’s, color, clarity, cut and carat weight, you will greatly improve your chances of finding and buying a good quality loose gemstone.  When you are shopping for cheaper jewelry, such as cubic zirconia rings, or any fashion jewelry like sterling silver hoop earrings, you don’t need to be as cautious as you do when you shop for quality gems.  Find a great jeweler, and you will definitely end up with a beautiful stone to add to your collection!

Cleaning Custom Designed Jewelry

I came across this article about the care and cleaning of your fine jewelry.  Custom designed jewelry, if properly designed for wear, requires very little maintenence overall, but you will want to inspect it periodically for loose stones and have it cleaned once in a while.  You can perform a quick test yourself by pressing lightly on both sides of the stones in your piece with a pair of thin tweezers.  If they wiggle at all bring it in to a jeweler to have the stone re-set.  This shouldn't be a substitute for having a trained eye periodically inspect the piece, but it's a good habit to get in, in-between inspections and cleanings.

Here are some more tips from www.barbieinablender.org:

Training Your Fine Jewelry:

The first thing you should do is to give your fine jewelry its own little space for when it is not being worn and train it to stay there. Jewelry items do not live or party well together. Much of the damage, other than wear, that is done to jewelry happens in jewelry boxes. Stones scratch each other and the metals around them.

 

Cleaning Your Fine Jewelry:

The best way to clean your fine jewelry is with a soft (used) toothbrush and a mild dish detergent. If the pieces are very dirty, you can soak them in detergent and water.

 

Any competent jeweler can polish items on occasion, but this process also removes small amounts of metal and so should be used sparingly.

 

Checking for Wear and Tear:

Over time, gold and silver will wear down. This can happen over months or years. This can be a problem for people who do certain kinds of work. The solution to this type of problem is the use of heavier metal in the prongs, the use of platinum for the setting or the use of a bezel setting to secure the stone. Prongs should be checked occasionally and if thin they should be replaced.

If you invest in quality made pieces you will have very little maintenance to worry about, aside from the occasional cleaning.  It's worth investing in better work simply for the piece of mind.

Here is an excellent video on cleaning your jewelry from Youtube.

 

The Richmond, by Chris Van Dyke

Here is the latest custom ring design by Chris Van Dyke.  14k gold, huge natural peridot, and diamonds circling the stone and on the side.

 

Suzanne Evon Fine Jewelry

Fine Asheville jewelry by Suzanne Evon.

Suzanne Evon is a fine metal jewelry artist and member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.  She makes beautiful jewelry with different layers and shapes, often with a mix of metals.

To quote Suzanne:

While attending Parsons School of Design I discovered my greatest skill was in wax carving. With this skill, and a passion for medieval metalwork and architecture, Q Evon Design was born.

In 1992, I began as a small production business that grew to several hundred gallery and catalog accounts worldwide.

My work has always reflected a love for ancient metalwork and architecture. My current collections combine both gold and silver with an emphasis on texture. Reticulation, anti-clastic raising, acid etching, granulation, roller printing and the ancient art of keum-boo are combined to create rich metal tapestry.

Currently living in Weaverville, NC, Suzanne has lived and worked all around the country, first as an actress and model, and later working with jewelry under master jewelers and at school.  Her work is featured at galleries throughout the country and the Asheville area.

You can see her work, as well as many other fine Asheville jewelers, at the next Southern Highland Craft Show, October 21-24.

Visit her website at :http://www.qevon.com

 

"Temporal" by Chris Van Dyke

Here is the latest custom designed Asheville jewelry by Chris Van Dyke.  Temporal was just finished  using a large piece of boulder opal that we've had just waiting to be set.

You can clearly see the influence of his dad in this piece, where Chris began learning the jewelry trade.

Representing at least 20 hrs. of work to make from the ground up, Temporal includes a large amount of white and yellow gold, a 32.8ct. boulder opal, and 2 round diamonds at .2 and .21 ct.

This piece reminds us of a sundial and represents the value of time.  Temporal seems fitting.

A Better Sterling Silver

Finally, we have a true tarnish resistant sterling!

Sterling silver is traditionally 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, hence the traditional number we see on most silver, 925.  Argentium is a new type of silver patented by the Argentium Silver Company located in the UK, that replaces some of the copper with germanium while still keeping 92.5% silver.  Keeping this amount of silver in the metal allows it to still be called sterling.

Argentium sterling is far more resistant to tarnish, a drawback of silver that has plagued jewelers and buyers since it's been used for decoration.  This is a true breakthrough for ease of use and maintenance free wear.  

With the price of gold being through the roof, we now have a great silver option that's almost as easy to own.

New York 2 By Terry Van Dyke

Chris' dad Terry brought us some beautiful work down from Bloomsburg, PA a couple of months ago.  We were finally able to take some pictures that do the piece justice.  All of Terry's work is completely hand made with impeccable detail and has an extravagant look.  Wow, now we know where Chris gets it.

This piece makes a statement with an opal onyx doublet, mother of pearl, 28pt. diamond and five other cabochon gemstones.  All of this is set with a mix of white and yellow gold.

We have it hung on a gold strand necklace made in Germany.

Custom Design Jewelry

Sapphire Pendant, Chris Van Dyke

Custom design jewelry is a fun way to save some money and get and new design that's uniquely your own.  That ring you have had sitting around since the 70's can be made into a nice pendant, or take some links out of a bracelet to do the same.  We recently had a customer come in that found an estate piece she liked, a bracelet, that was too big.  One option we gave her was taking some of the links off to make a matching pendant, something that is easily done with a very little amount of gold and labor.  For just a little more then the price of the bracelet she would have a matching set!

Another option for custom design jewelry is trading in some of your old gold jewelry to add or enhance some of your other pieces.  With gold being at over 1000/oz., the price of gold jewelry gets up there fast.  If you trade some of in you can offset this cost, and even come out ahead if you look into estate or work that was done some years ago.  Jewelers, like every other retailer, want to move their older inventory and make room for new inventory.  This includes custom design jewelry that's been made and sitting in the case for a few years.

Opal Ring, Chris Van Dyke

You can also use the credit from your gold trade in to add some fresh work to an existing estate piece.  The possibilities are endless, and its fun to help design a unique piece custom design jewelry yourself.  There is something about knowing that what you are wearing is  created by you and a trusted jeweler. You never know, you might just start getting interested in different stones or the virtues of various types of metal.  You could be the only one you know who knows what a rutilated quartz is!

Leaf Collection, Sharon Bailey

Here is the oak leaf set from Sharon Bailey's Bakelite earrings in silver. She forms the leaves in a traditional cast and hand wraps each acorn in silver wire. Each piece is detailed by hand to an exacting finish. She then applies liver of sulphur to give them a slight patina, which brings out the depth of each set of Bakelite earrings.

Sharon has introduced this nature collection after being inspired by the plants near her home near the Blue Ridge Parkway in north Asheville. In addition to her Bakelite earrings in oak she has matching pendants, bracelets, and a variety of other plants found in the mountains near here. The acorns are a smokey looking mustard yellow and are available in silver as well as the vintage Bakelite.



Here is the silver version of oak leaf earrings. More of her Bakelite earrings in silver include Black-eyed Susan, Cherokee Rose, Sassafras, and Tulip Poplar.

Bakelite Heart Necklace

Heart jewelry never goes out of style. This silver Bakelite necklace by Sharon Bailey is one of her heart jewelry line that shows how vibrant Bakelite can be. I can't think of a better material to make a red heart then this one. Well, affordable material, that is. Its a deep, opaque red that shines next to the handmade patina silver.

Its interesting to note that Bakelite is not made any longer. All Bakelite used is from vintage stock that is getting harder to find. Jewelry like this Bakelite necklace are gaining in popularity while the material is diminishing. The first synthetic plastic, Bakelite was first made in the 20's and put into almost anything. Now, with cheaper production methods and materials it has disappeared from use, except for use as an art form, where its vibrancy and durability are still valued.

Sharon's red Bakelite necklace is an example of the beauty possible with this material. Below are more examples from her Bakelite heart collection.


"Pierced Heart" Bakelite neckace


"Key to My Heart" Bakelite bracelet

Rubellite Pendant

Jim Charneski recently brought us this rubellite pendant set in gold. Tourmaline comes in a wide variety of colors, but only when its a red/pink does it get a special designation. We have quite a few good specimens of tourmaline, many of which are bi-color and have a range from green to yellow to pink, but seeing this bright faceted gem you understand why they decided to call it something different. True natural rubellite is a raspberry color, which varies in the amount of pink or red and will have a bit of peach, depending on the light.

Most rubellite will have some heat treatment, which doesn't really affect the value, but unless you can spot it you will want to ask if the stone has been irradiated. This adds color to the stone that wouldn't naturally occur, and diminishes the value.

This natural rubellite pendant is a bright raspberry color with just a hint of peach, cut in a trillion shape. Set in a variation of Jim's signature "J" design, the rubellite pendant highlights the beauty of the stone. We now have this and more of Jim's line of handmade gemstone jewelry available to see in the store.

Affordable Jewelry

What are some affordable jewelry options right now?

Gold is really high. Everyone is talking about the slow economy. But you still want something new and different to wear on your next evening out.

You still have a few options in affordable jewelry if you think a little creatively. Silver is still very reasonable, semi precious stones are colorful and have a great sparkle, and you can always bring in your old pieces and have them cleaned and re-set. If your set on gold you can always look to older and estate pieces, which most likely have been on inventory since gold was less and sellers are more motivated.

Silver is a great option if you like white metals. You can easily get a whole set for the price of one nice gold piece, so even if you don't own much its not out of range. I like silver because you can get something with some handcrafted detail and design, set with a nice vibrant gemstone. If you bought the same piece in gold it could cost you over 4 times as much, with the same center stone.

Another option for more affordable jewelry are re-vitalizing your old pieces. Bring them in to a good trustworthy bench jeweler and have it cleaned. You'll be surprised at the difference. You may be able to change the stone, add or subtract from the piece to your vision, or just cash in for your next treasure.

And finally look for older, estate pieces. Often these pieces have been on inventory for a while and were purchased when gold was more reasonable. This gives the buyer more wiggle room on the price. Its fun to look at estate pieces, and it can help you think outside the box with your style. Enjoy the hunt!

Sharon Bailey Fine Silver

Sharon Bailey helped us open the new store and has had her work on display here since the first day. A resident of Asheville since 2001, she learned her craft in Atlanta at an art center and then Georgia State. In 2003 she was excepted into the Southern Highland Craft Guild, which Chris is also a member of. She makes sterling silver jewelry with accents in gold and Bakelite.

Bakelite is the first synthetic plastic introduced in the 20's and used extensively in the 30's and 40's. It's extremely durable and rich in color. To quote Sharon, "It feels warm and heavy, inviting the touch and giving it a sex appeal not found in later plastics." This makes it ideal for handmade jewelry and since production virtually ceased in the 60's, a collectors item. Sharon collects the unused old stock for use in many of her pieces, from her "ball in a cage" series, the "chicklets", and the "Nature Collection."

The Nature Collection is a more recent addition to her work. Started in 2009, the collection features silver jewelry inspired by her nine acres in North Asheville next to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The collection started with oak and maple leaves and since then she has added other leaves common to the area, including tulip poplar and sassafras.

From her bio: "The leaves, branches, and blossoms are made using the lost-wax casting technique. I hand finish the castings, then combine them with other cast or fabricated elements to make the finished pieces of jewelry. As a final step, I oxidize and burnish each piece."

We love Sharon's jewelry here and are amazed at the detail that goes into each piece. From the hand carved Bakelite to the finely soldered gold accents, no two pieces are exactly alike. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.