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Wedding & Commitment Bands
Alex Sepkus is out! Or, as he might say, Alex Sepkus is also not so out. In a world full of designers scrambling to turn fine jewelry into an offshoot of the fashion industry -- and therefore, by nature, attuned to the fad (it's called the rag trade for a reason) -- Alex remains so focused he never feels the need to chase anything. Why should he? His picture is big, like a magnificent mosaic; the components comprise detailing so small he and his workforce require microscopes to execute it, which is only the first contradiction from this designer. <br><br> Alex Sepkus makes no sense. Somewhere between P.G. Wodehouse (of whom he is a big fan) and a worn flagstone from a medieval church floor, Alex found timeless beauty. So, perhaps he makes perfect sense. <br><br> Alex Sepkus is a fanatic; the intelligence he applies to his work is far beyond the national standard requirements of a jeweler set by the committee of national standard requirements. Which leads to the second contradiction about Alex: This obsessive approach would normally suggest an absence of humor. Instead, we see in Alex's work an irresistible playfulness, even a quirkiness, unrivalled in the world of the goldsmith. <br><br> Alex Sepkus is an intellectual eccentric, which would explain his exceptionally large hat size and his slant towards a somewhat dandy cut of suit.

Alex Sepkus
Ananda draws inspiration from natural forms, and the vibrant luminosity of natural gemstones. She strives to capture the precious quality found in ancient jewelry, while creating pieces with a modern sensibility. All of the gems used are hand picked for their unique and exceptional characteristics. <br><br> Many of her pieces contain an original painting on paper, which is set behind glass in silver or 22k gold. An important influence in Ananda's work is the powerful symbolism behind each of the subjects she chooses to paint. <br><br> Each of Ananda's pieces is handcrafted in her studio in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Ananda Khalsa
This jewelry was designed and created by Constance Wicklund Gildea in her New England studio. <br><br> She holds a B.F.A. in sculpture, which is evident in the intricate detail of each piece. <br><br> Although I keep an eye on current fashion trends, I tend to design for a woman's diverse lifestyle," she says. "Women have many different, sometimes opposite dimensions of their roles and personalities today. I design for the softer, romantic side."

CWG
EC Design jewelry is hand-forged and fabricated by artist Emily Catherine Johnson. <br><br> In 2002 Emily received her BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a concentration in sculpture. She continually draws from her fine art background to create unique and sculptural pieces of jewelry. Often described as subtle, but edgy, EC Design jewelry is a playful mix of simple shapes and unexpected details. Ms. Johnson's current collection, Cells and Windows, focuses on soft geometric shapes and quiet organic textures. These collections mainly consist of sterling silver treated with liver of sulfur and 14K pink gold, or 18K yellow gold. In addition to her collections, Ms. Johnson creates unique custom wedding and commitment rings.

EC Design
Twenty years ago Lynda Bahr switched professions from being an interior architect in San Francisco to becoming a jewelry designer in the picturesque village of San Gregorio south of the city along historic Route 1. From her years of design and technical training as well as on-the-job experience, Lynda brought with her the knowledge and visual sensibilities of an architect and applied them to jewelry. <br><br> All the work begins as simple pencil sketches but quickly develops a life of its own when translated into metal. She takes the rigid structures of architecture and combines them with nature's unlimited palette and patterns to form a perfectly balanced, harmonious style. When asked which architect has most impacted her both artistically and philosophically, without a second thought Lynda states...Frank Lloyd Wright. <br><br> Her collection includes earrings, brooches, pendants, bracelets, and rings, including wedding sets. The work is usually composed with sterling armatures that are developed with collage-like compositions of 22k, 18k, and 14k colored golds, mokume gane and sterling sliver with diamonds and pearls. The mokume gane is hand fabricated by Lynda. It involves an ancient Japanese metal working technique of layering multi colored metals such as gold, sterling and shakudo.

Lynda Bahr
George Sawyer is a Minneapolis, MN based artist who has always loved the refinement, color and subtlety of Japanese art. He works with Mokume Gane in his own refined and sophisticated way. Known for his trademarked "Mirror Image" patterns, he can create a very special set of rings that have an exclusive pattern symbolizing the uniqueness of each special bond.

George Sawyer
Jennifer Shigetomi's design philosophy of cool elegance infused with an edgy flair is showcased by the blending of clean lines, fluid shapes and a satin finish. The sculptural nature of her pieces have a softness; an almost liquid quality that seems to contradict the inherent characteristics of metal. Jennifer's collection of hand wrought jewelery is crafted in sterling silver, gold and platinum.

Matsu
California-based MD goldsmiths have developed a proprietary combination of heat, pressure, forging, and carving to produce the bold MD patterns. Their process of solid-state diffusion bonding starts with making their own alloys, including the 18K gold, as well as the dark and light contrast layers. This gives them a stable billet with crisp, clear layers of the different metals, and provides fine control of color balances. It also helps prevent melting during bonding, and delamination later. <br><br> MD Mokume patterns are unique, using up to seven alloys. Indeed, the patterns a goldsmith cuts in Mokume are as individual as a painter's identifying brushstrokes.

Michael Daniels
Located in northern California, Studio 311 is a small family owned business known for uniquely styled wedding bands and engagement rings. Each piece of jewelry is hand crafted with precious metals and stones here in the studio, reflecting the respect they have for the traditions of fine jewelry technique and ensuring a high level of quality and a consistent attention to detail. <br><br> The rich traditions of the Celtic, African and Native American cultures inspire their original patterns. The symbols and shapes are gathered from items as diverse as fabric borders, book ornamentation and ancient armor. <br><br> As hands-on owners, Eric and Krista are involved in all aspects of the company, from design and metalsmithing, to customer service on phones, to sweeping floors on Fridays. Studio 311 is an environmentally responsible company, and for years has ordered from a metal and findings supplier who is an industry role-model for low impact practices and provides recycled raw materials via their Eco-Gold program.

Studio 311
William has been designing and making jewelry for over 40 years and is most well known for his Tree of Life designs. He currently works and lives in the Hudson Valley, New York state with his wife Paula and his son Ben. <br><br> William has found that making wedding rings is a jewelry expression that means something more important to him than other forms. He likes creating a symbol and being a part of a sacred ritual.

William Scholl