Process and Materials

Process

I make all my pieces by hand in my Bergen studio. The vast majority of my work is produced using the lost wax casting method, one of the oldest jewellery-making and metalwork techniques in the world which has remained largely unchanged since its inception (in 4550-4450 BCE!), alongside other traditional goldsmithing techniques. 

The piece often starts its life as a block or tube of jeweller's wax, which is then meticulously hand-carved: once finished, what is effectively a wax model of what the finished piece of jewellery will be like is ready to cast. This part of the process is outsourced to a small specialised family-run foundry based in eastern Norway. Once the waxes are cast and sent back to me, I finish each piece by cleaning, refining, filing, sanding, and polishing it, as well as doing any stone-setting or other finishing work required. Very occasionally, if specialty techniques are required to do justice to a particular design, I will work with a small selection of independent artisans and craftspeople based in Norway and the United Kingdom. 

Utmost care is taken during the entire process to create a finished object of oustanding quality, with the hope that it will be worn, enjoyed, well-loved, and eventually passed down. 

Materials

Guided by principles around quality and thoughtful consumption, I source the raw materials I use with special care.

The precious metals I use are recycled (identical quality-wise to newly-mined material), and I hope to one day be able to offer exclusively post-consumer certified recycled gold and FairTrade gold options. 

Precious gemstones and organic materials are sourced via a small handful of trusted suppliers. Most of the diamonds and gemstones I use are either reclaimed or completely traceable, if not to the person who mined the stone, then at least to the mine and region of origin, which is unfortunately far from being standard in industry. The companies I work with mostly partner with cooperatives/small scale artisanal miners, and are paving the way in terms of creating a standard of best practice in industry, advocating for transparency in their supply chain, safe working condition and equitable and fair pay for their mining partners, as well as putting safeguards in place for environmental protection. 

I love working with gemstones with individual character, whether that be unique patternings, visible opalescence, inclusions, and silks, or more unusual colours and cuts, and appreciate the beauty in gemstones that would fall outside of the "perfect" parameters sought in a stricter traditional jewellery setting while still remaining high-quality materials. These more unique gemstones reflect their organic origins (the earth's artistry!) and individuality back to us, and make each piece of jewellery I make feel more one-of-a-kind. I only work with natural gemstones.