Blue Sponge NecklaceNovember 2014 Blue sponge coral, pink pearls, sterling silver My wife was hanging out with me in my studio one day, and was going through my bead supply when she came upon some angularly cut mottled blue rocks. "What are these?!" she asked, excitedly. I explained that they were blue sponge coral (which are not an endangered species) that I'd gotten from another jeweler who was closing shop and selling off inventory. She noted that they were beautiful,

when he commissions a piece for a family member

we recessed the braid and pre-polished the outer rails to provide contrast and longevity for the design

After forming the gold spheroids

and has been used as a building material from antiquity through modern times—the retaining wall of the Second Temple in Jerusalem was made of it (including what remains as the Western Wall)

Chain included (chain is gold-plated

This bold design

or spiritual guardian of the Hawaiian people

To this day it's one of my favorite pieces that I've ever made

" a reference to the five fingers

As a result

as well as how their stems are still flowing along with the water

but it looks pretty great and it sure helps to make a mighty fine shot of espresso