THE PROCESS
PHILOSOPHY
It starts with the stones
Well-cut Gemstones are simply remarkable. The scintillation in a high-quality faceted mineral, along with brilliance and color, naturally entreats the imagination and inspires the design that showcases the beauty it will reflect.
Each piece is an example of wearable artistic prowess, and best visualized using the same lens as one would use while gazing upon an originally painting.
Everything JGD creates is produced in-house, and all designs are one-of-a-kind, just like the gemstones they showcase. Each piece is unique and never reproduced.
When a design is complete, the piece is titled and catalogued. The quality and uniqueness of the pieces that are produced in the Studio is of higher value than the quantity and therefore, JGD only produces a limited number of designs per year.
Finished designs are not always immediately available for purchase as certain pieces continue to deeply inspire and are retained as artistic installations germane to the Studio itself.
SELECTION
Each stone is hand-selected for the Studio out of hundreds viewed. A stone is chosen for its intrinsic features, color and shape.
All the gemstones that make it into our collection are natural minerals that are produced by mother nature, or under specific lab conditions that allow the mineral to grow into the necessary size to cut a beautiful stone.
Most of the gemstones on the market are treated with either geothermal heat or radiation designed to illicit a specific color in the mineral base, and virtually all of the designs we produce incorporate natural, lab and heat-treated gems. The process used to produce the color in the stones accepted into our collection is always disclosed in the description of the piece.
If a gem makes it into the Studio, it is special. Since each one is unique, it often takes time to combine it with the right components to objectify its beauty and tell its story.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
All designs are produced in 14k gold, 14k gold fill, 18k gold or platinum vermeil, or gold over bronze or brass. All vermeil is produced in house.
Each piece is crafted for wear and longevity. Our designs are guaranteed to arrive free of workmanship defects. All designs come with appropriate handling instructions and will last for decades if properly cared for.
Gemstones are much softer minerals than diamond and can scratch or chip if carelessly treated. Each piece is best stored in their original box or hung or placed in a jewelry box separate from other items.
