Craftsmanship and Standards
Made by Hand and Made with Love
I love creating beautiful things!
My mind is always thinking, seeing and wondering about new ideas, designs and what could be. Usually, most of my jewelry ideas start with the focal stone or a unique item, and the ideas blossom from there. Sometimes, the inspiration comes from something I see in nature, or an architectural sight that strikes me as unusual or unique. I never know! I keep a sketchbook handy for such times when that random idea comes along...so I can create an interesting piece of wearable art.
100% Handmade
I use traditional metalworking techniques in all my jewelry designs. I endeavor to bring quality and craftsmanship to my jewelry by only working on a limited number of pieces at a time, so I can focus on making each piece of jewelry special and unique.
All jewelry listed on the website is made by my own two hands, in my own studio, giving you a 100% handmade and individual piece of jewelry made using time honored techniques. Each piece is unique in both stone and craft, for that special individual, and because each piece is handmade, no two are ever exactly alike!
Nothing makes me happier than sharing my craft with you! When you own a piece of Chrissi Harmon Jewelry, you own a piece of my heart.
Silver Metals
Sterling Silver
Metal quality is very important in my designs and work. I only use high quality sterling silver that is at least 92.5% pure silver. and sourced from reputable American suppliers Whenever possible, I will recycle my silver scraps by melting them down, and pouring them into an ingot and rolling them out for reuse. Any scraps not suitable for reuse in my shop, are sent in to a refiner to be reclaimed and recycled. The same goes for our silver dust. Being committed to recycling practices is paramount. Metals such as silver and gold are finite resources and care must be taken to use them carefully and responsibly.
Argentium Silver
Argentium silver is a newer alloy of fine silver (99.9% pure silver), copper and germanium that arrived on the market in the late 1990’s. Peter Johns of Middlesex University is credited for the development of this metal.
The silver content of most Argentium used in jewelry is 93.5%, which is higher than traditional sterling silver. By adding in germanium, this increases the resistance to tarnish and gives a brighter metal appearance. When using Argentium silver, it fuses together really well, which helps eliminate the need for using solder in most projects. I have many clients with nickel or metal allergies that can wear Argentium silver instead of traditional sterling silver. If you have an allergy to metal, please contact me, and we can try a sample of Argenitum silver to see if this is a good fit. Search under the Argentium category to see all our available designs made with this metal or contact us to have us create something special for you.
Whenever you see any designs that are called “Kuem-Boo”. The base is Argentium Silver and the 24K gold layer is fused to the Argentium silver. Mokume-gane designs feature a combination of Argentium silver and copper fused into layers that create a pattern for a very dramatic effect.
Gold
I only use solid 14kt gold or higher in my designs. I will not use gold plated or gold filled, as I feel the metal quality deteriorates over time. Like sterling silver, I only source my gold metals from reputable American suppliers, and all scraps and dust are recycled. Kuem-Boo designs use a 24K fine gold leaf applied with heat to an Argentium silver layer, which just “kisses” the metal with a gold touch for a beautiful result!
Gemstones
Nature provides an amazing ray of colors and patterns in natural gemstones. I love finding stones from sellers that cut and polish their stones for the enjoyment and craft of it. Nearly all of the gemstones I use in my work are sourced from independent lapidary artists that cut and polish the gems themselves for the love and craft of it. Giving you not only a unique gem, but a very special one at that!
Many of the gemstones used in my collection have also been collected during my travels to New Mexico or other areas. I feel the gemstones tell a story, and I love being able to share these beautiful stones with all of you. I seek out ethically sourced gems and gems sellers that are committed to providing gems that have been sourced in the most responsible ways and that can trace back the gems mining or discovery origin.
Diamonds
Every diamond we use has been 100% ethically sourced. I follow the Kimberly Process which regulates the mining and dealing of natural diamonds to ensure that conflict diamonds are never used. Many of the diamond cuts used in my work are not eligible for grading like you would see with engagement rings, but still make wonderful statements on their own. Rose cut, mine cuts and briolettes are gorgeous and are fun to use in my jewelry designs.