The Show Room is open!

After months of prep and work, the show room is finally open! Come on by and visit us at 215 Caledonia Street in Sausalito.

Hours:

Tuesday/Wednesday --- by appointment

Thursday - Saturday  --- 12-6

Sunday/Monday  ---  shut

We will be refining things and adding fun workshops and events over the next few months.  Sign up to our email list and like us on Facebook or follow on instagram @sarahswelljewelry to stay the most up to date on happenings.

If you'd like to meet with Sarah to discuss a custom project or have a personal bridal jewelry showing, or even just go shopping on a Tuesday or Wednesday, please email us at sarah@sarahswell.com.

We hope to meet you soon!

holiday preview

I've been working hard to update the website with so many pretty new pieces!  As with most things in life, it's taking a tad longer than I had hoped, so here is a little look at what will be online in time for holiday shopping!

14k gold & diamond stargazer bar ring $725

sterling silver & diamond stargazer triple drop earrings $350

14k & diamond weathered bar necklace $650

assorted diamond weathered bands $210-$495

oxidized sterling silver diamond scale earrings $495

Anniversary

A sweet couple sent me this image taken over their wedding anniversary weekend showcasing her Flotsam & Jetsam engagement ring.  It makes my day when clients share their jewelry stories and pictures with me!  

Congrats Melissa & Todd!

image by Jessica Dean

One-Of-A-Kind Skull Link Necklace

I created this beauty for Esqueleto's two year anniversary party.  I'm really pleased with how it came out, and quite honestly if no one snatches it up, I'll happily hang on to it myself!  The skulls are oxidized silver with white diamonds connected by 14k gold rivets.  The party is happening tonight from 6-9 during which you can view all of the specially created skull themed pieces by Esqueleto's amazing array of designers, as well as Chloe Aftel's work.

The Serpent Convertible Ring/Necklace for *A Rarity*

I created this limited edition Serpent piece for Kate Ellen's gorgeous boutique Crown Nine.  Kate created an amazing project called "A Rarity" in which she asks jewelry designers to create a special piece in small quantities available exclusively through Crown Nine.  I created this Serpent ring in slightly oxidized sterling silver with a beautiful green diamond.  The best part about the piece is that it also comes with a sparkling cable chain with pyrite bead so that it can be worn as a necklace too.  I love this  design because it is a little bit edgy, but also delicate and completely wearable-in two way nonetheless!  Once these sell out....that's it!

image courtesy of Crown Nine

 I also welcomed super talented photographer/foodie/blogger Eva Kolenko in my studio space to capture how the piece was made.  Make sure you view the entire studio visit and interview too.

 images courtesy of Eva Kolenko

I also adore these shots that Kate took behind the scenes of the studio shoot (check out Eva's sweet little photo assistant, Parker).  You can see more fun outtakes on her amazing blog.  

rose gold feather ring

I love the softness of the feather ring in rose gold that I created for a proposal.

always

I recently created this sweet understated take on a mother's necklace.  The twins initials are stamped onto a silver disk with a gold bezel and pretty diamond.  I hope she will never take it off!

beauty

I adore this version of the twig ring in 18k yellow gold with diamonds nested on either side of the center stone.  Congratulations to the lucky lady that received this beauty!

how sweet it is

This ring has the most darling story behind it.  The client approached me because he knew his girlfriend would love my twig ring.  He then had the wonderful idea to make her a custom ring cast from a branch he sourced from the backyard of her childhood home.  I thought this was the sweetest idea and loved being in on the secret.  In fact, he snuck all the way down to Southern California to the house she grew up in to pull it off!  He wanted a dainty vintage feel, so we went with a beautiful princess cut diamond.  She was wonderfully surprised and he can now call her his fiancé.  I want to start offering this customization service to others as well.  Have a favorite place that you can pluck a small branch from?  Turn it into a gorgeous custom ring that she'll never forget.  Contact me if you're interested in making your very own special ring.

Guest Post for Manika Jewelry

Manika is a gorgeous jewel box of a designer jewelry store that carries my work in San Francisco.

I was honored when they asked me to do a guest post for their newly launched blog.

Head on over to Manika Jewelry to read!

Stitch and Hammer ➾ Maker/Merchant

Amy of Stitch and Hammer handcrafts the most sumptuous leather goods around. She recently asked me to be part of her Maker/Merchant series which features Bay Area based craftspeople in their workspaces. My answer was a resounding Y-E-S since I admire her work and truly enjoy seeing the workspaces of others. Why not share mine?

View the full feature and interview here

All images courtesy of Stitch & Hammer

Meet Crown Nine!

I'm so excited to announce that I am partnering with two other amazingly talented jewelers to open a retail boutique called Crown Nine: Jewelers and Makers.

If you know me personally, you know that I've always dreamed of opening my own store and that I have an undying love for the city of Oakland.

Being part of opening Crown Nine is really the perfect pairing of these two things. The store is part of the popuphood project, which is essentially a genius way of revitalizing the city block by block.

Crown Nine will feature local quality crafted goods in addition to the work of the three house jewelers including yours truly, Kate Ellen Metals, and Aiko Designs.

The space is truly magnificent, filled with streaming light and industrial details. The "heart" of the store will be a sturdy table made form reclaimed wood that will play host to a series of classes, work shops and trunk shows with the goal of involving and giving back to the community.

I'll of course be sharing more, but in the meantime I'm happy to introduce you to my lovely and insanely talented partners in the project: Kate Ellen Metals & Aiko Designs.

We would greatly appreciate your love and support! Crown Nine is slated to have a soft opening on December 2nd. Please follow us on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter.

...just in case

you missed my Refinery29 feature in one of the many other places I shared it....here it is!

Click here to be surrounded by Sarah Swell-ness!

Lovely photos by Molly DeCoudreaux

Designers By The Bay

I belong to the Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) and they recently put on their yearly event, Designers By The Bay. It is basically a showcase of all women Northern California designers open to the trade only. It was great to see old friends and meet new designers that I have long admired. Shreve & Co. hosted the event that was full of schmoozing, industry insiders, champagne and delicious treats.

On a serious note, I really began thinking about how far women have come in the jewelry industry. Really, 20-30 years ago women jewelers were virtually non-existent. It was a trade for the boys club. And, certainly no women owned and operated their own jewelry design businesses. It feels rewarding to be part of a changing industry and proud to know so many women designers that, like myself, struggle to succeed in an over saturated and predominately mass produced market. That night I felt proud for each and every one of us and realized the importance of what I'm doing. It's just jewelry, and it's not just jewelry all at the same time.

my talented neighbor, jeweler Alice Roche

no particular place to go...

This video is absolutely lovely! It's a behind the scenes montage of the recent shoot for Rue Magazine, which featured my jewelry. Look carefully and you'll spot my fossilized walrus tooth necklace (outfit with red top) and my crystal bullet charm necklace (outfit with neutral top).

Enjoy!

No Particular Place To Go from Oskari Polho on Vimeo.

backstage pass

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to outfit models for Kajan Padraig with my jewels for a charity fashion show. The production, organized by GO, raised money to fund the construction of a sustainable clean water well to serve more than 4,00 people in Tanzania.

GO (Groundwork Opportunities) has projects all over the world. In fact, my fiancé and I are considering volunteering abroad in Africa or Southeast Asia as an extension to our honeymoon next year. What, did you think we'd sit on the beach in Hawaii for 10 days? Nah....not us!

This was the first time I have ever helped out backstage at a fashion show, and it was pretty intense! All I could think about was how nervous I would be if I had to walk the runway and then rush back stage and change in about a minute flat.

I'm very excited to see the images form the actually runway show and will be sure to share them.

Cake & Patrick (from Kajan Padraig) and myself

Lovelies in my jewels backstage
killer outfit!
....and go!