The Language of Materials

From timeless metals to iridescent gemstones, every material tells a story. This curated journey through our studio’s palette reveals how texture, color, intention and origin all creatively conspire to shape the artistry of JAREDJAMIN jewelry.

The art of jewelry design: Begins with understanding your materials. Whether you're crafting delicate earrings or bold statement necklaces, the materials you choose will determine not only the aesthetic appeal of your pieces but also their durability, value, and wearability. From precious metals that have adorned royalty for centuries to innovative modern alternatives, each material brings its own unique properties and possibilities to your creative palette.

Precious Metals: The Timeless Foundation

Gold, and silver, have been the cornerstone of jewelry making for millennia. Gold offers versatility in multiple karats and colors - from the warm glow of 18K yellow gold we favor to the contemporary appeal of white gold. Sterling silver provides an accessible entry point with excellent workability.

Precious Metals Collection: Gold, silver, and platinum remain the foundation of fine jewelry, each offering unique properties for different design applications. Here we bathe our brass in the first two.

Gemstones: Nature's Masterpieces

Beyond the precious classics, semi-precious stones like amethyst, turquoise, and garnet offer endless color possibilities at accessible price points, allowing for more experimental and personalized designs.

Gemstone Variety: From the brilliance of spinels to the rich colors of tourmaline and from the silver flashes of hematite to the iridescence of Labradorite, gemstones add life and personality to every design.

Alternative Metals: Modern Innovation

Today's jewelry designers have access to an exciting range of alternative metals. Copper and brass bring warmth and affordability to artisan pieces and are wonderful to plate so those are our favorites and it turns out your favorites too for all these years. Titanium we're considering offers incredible strength-to-weight ratios perfect for bold, architectural designs. Stainless steel provides durability for active lifestyles. These materials also open new creative possibilities while meeting diverse budget and lifestyle wants.

Alternative Metals: Surgical steel, brass, sterling silver and even aluminum offer contemporary aesthetics with unique properties like lightweight strength and hypoallergenic qualities.

Organic Materials: Nature's Touch

Organic materials bring a unique warmth and authenticity to jewelry designs. Pearls, whether cultured or natural, add timeless elegance. Wood and bone elements create striking contrasts and are perfect for eco-conscious designs. These materials often tell regional stories and connect wearers to the natural world in meaningful ways.

Organic Elements: Natural materials like pearls, wood, and bone add texture and earthiness, and sometimes a coastal flair, perfect for bohemian and nature-inspired designs.

Sustainable and Ethical Choices

Modern consumers increasingly value sustainability and ethical sourcing. Lab-created gemstones offer identical physical and chemical properties to mined stones while reducing environmental impact. Recycled precious metals maintain their quality through multiple lifecycles, and conflict-free sourcing ensures your beautiful creations don't come at human cost.

Sustainable Options: Lab-created and rescued gemstone beads and recycled metals offer ethical alternatives without compromising on quality or beauty.

Choosing the Right Materials

Selecting materials requires balancing multiple factors: the piece's intended use, your client's lifestyle, budget considerations, and your artistic vision. Everyday wear pieces need durability, while special occasion jewelry can prioritize beauty over practicality. Understanding each material's properties helps you make informed decisions that result in successful designs which can lead to a lifetime of satisfaction.

Mastering jewelry materials is an ongoing journey of discovery. Each material you work with teaches you something new about design possibilities, technical challenges, and creative solutions. Whether you're drawn to the classic elegance of precious metals and semiprecious gemstones or excited by the possibilities of modern alternatives, remember that the best material choice is always the one that serves both an artistic vision and our client's needs. The world of jewelry materials is vast and ever-evolving - embrace the exploration, and let your creativity guide you to stunning results.

Designer's Toolkit: A well-organized workspace with quality materials and proper tools is essential for bringing creative visions to life.

Ready to Start Your Next Jewelry Project?

Explore our curated collections of premium jewelry-making materials, from precious metals to stunning semiprecious gemstone beads.

Everything you need to either find your next fulfilling fashion jewelry accessory or to bring your creative vision to life from the materials we use everyday below!

18K Gold Plate

A radiant finish prized for its warmth and luxe appeal, 18K Gold Plate adds richness to jewelry, hardware, and custom findings. Our plating is calibrated to match the fashion hardware of other major designers—making it ideal for stacking, pairing, or blending across collections. Whether worn solo or styled with mixed-brand accessories, it delivers cohesion and visual harmony.

AGATE

A banded form of chalcedony, often translucent with layered color. Durable and versatile, agate appears in many of our beaded bracelets and adds grounding, earthy energy to the collection.

STERLING SILVER

A luminous metal prized for its cool-toned sheen and timeless versatility. Sterling Silver adds elegance and clarity to our designs, often used to frame gemstones or create sculptural, minimalist pieces. Its durability and polish make it a staple in both classic and contemporary jewelry. Its beads are particularly alluring especially when faceted.

FRESHWATER PEARLS

Organic yet refined, freshwater pearls offer soft iridescent or creamy luster and timeless appeal. Each pearl bead is unique, adding subtle texture and sophistication to both minimalist and ornate designs.

QUARTZ

A core gemstone group—clear quartz, rose quartz, and smoky quartz—prized for clarity, durability, and symbolic depth. Clear quartz amplifies energy and intention; rose quartz evokes compassion and emotional healing; smoky quartz grounds and protects. Together, they offer a versatile energetic palette, often anchoring our gemstone-driven designs.

JASPER

Jasper is an opaque gemstone with rich, earthy tones and distinctive natural patterns. Beyond its visual warmth, it’s often associated with grounding, protection, and emotional resilience—believed to nurture stability and inner strength. We design with jasper beads for their raw elegance and natural texture—qualities that mirror the stone’s reputation for emotional steadiness.

TIGER'S EYE

Tiger’s Eye brings bold visual texture and a warm, golden palette to statement pieces and beaded designs. Its layered surface catches light and attention, adding dimension to silhouettes that balance power with precision. In our designs, Tiger’s Eye stands out for its golden striations and tactile depth—often evoking strength and clarity.

LABRADORITE

Labradorite is a moody, iridescent gemstone from Lake Labrador that flashes with blues, greens, and grays—adding intrigue to designs that evoke movement and mystery. Known for sparking creativity and clearing mental fog, its energy can overwhelm after it inspires.

HEMATITE

A sleek, metallic stone with a gunmetal sheen. Hematite is prized for its weight and grounding properties, often used in bold, modern styles that balance edge with mercury-like elegance.

ONYX

A striking gemstone known for its deep black hue and smooth, polished surface, Onyx brings bold contrast & refined drama to designs, often used in sleek, modern settings or paired with metals for a timeless, high-impact look.

BRASS

A foundational metal known for its strength and warm undertone, Brass serves as the base for most of our plated pieces. Its surface responds especially well to 18K Gold Plate, offering consistent tone and lasting durability across our jewelry and custom findings.

Shop Jewelry designed from Gemstones