Two on Tuesdays...In Rare Form

Who: Amy Buettner
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Portland, OR
Web: http://www.amybuettner.com/index.html
Why: One of the joys of studying gemology is discovering the beauty of more esoteric materials. It's easy to marvel at a plush royal blue Sapphire or a sizzling canary yellow Diamond, but in my eyes Boulder Opal, Turquoise, Moonstone and the like are just as marvel-worthy. In some cases they are rarer than Diamond, and the color spectra and complex patterns they reveal can be just as breathtaking!
Amy has a similar appreciation and the talent to do these gems justice. Amy and her studio partner Tucker Glasow design and create 18K, 14K and sterling pieces that evoke archetypal themes and feature these and other exotic gems such as Variscite, Druzy Quartz, Meteorite and Jaspers that dance with life. The settings themselves have depth and character and they virtually praise these truly one-of-a-kind stones. No piece can ever be repeated exactly again, so wearing it will make you feel rare and special too!

Who: Jacob Albee
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Burlington, VT
Web: http://www.jacobalbee.com/
Why: Monolithic in form, yet tranquil in design. Grain-streaked Gibeon Meteorite slices set in high karat gold, platinum, fine and sterling silver, countered by crisp and colorful ethically sourced gems make up just one of five fascinating collections by award-winning metalsmith Jacob Albee.
Gibeon Meteorites are named after the area in Namibia where they were first discovered. That supercool streaking is called a Widmanstätten pattern, formed by heat and speed as a meteor enters the Earth's atmosphere, and it is a highly collectible quality in meteorites. Jacob uses it well, balancing it thoughtfully with gold and bold gems such as rose-tinged Pink Tourmaline, pale green Meralani Garnet, deep teal Indicolite Tourmaline, and glowing golden Yellow Sapphire. Strikingly gorgeous jewelry!
Gibeons are so fun to work with...they bring out the best in those qualities we prize in collectible jewelry. Rarity, character and a provenance you just can't find here on Earth...literally!