Mixing Metals + Crystals Stepping Out of a Comfort Zone

When I first began making jewelry, I was focused on stage or pageant jewelry.  The more crystals, the better. My clients needed glitz and sparkle, so I focused on maximizing the sparkle.  That meant that I shied away from incorporating pearls, natural stones, and metal beads into my jewelry designs.  Creating casual, everyday jewelry wasn’t on my list of things to do until fate stepped in and opened my eyes to the idea of creating classy, casual jewelry that would work for business or evening events.

I received a request for a custom copper metal necklace and earring set that had rich burgundy colors as well as a “hint of sparkle.”  This meant I had to step outside of my crystal comfort zone and try something new. I wasn’t sure how well this would work since I focused on ‘heavy sparkle’ with each jewelry piece I created. Would I be able to step away from the stage focused jewelry and create a piece that my client would love? I didn’t want to disappoint my client, so I agreed to try.  After asking a few focused questions, I understood that wardrobe versatility was the priority since my client would be traveling for work and needed something that she could wear for daytime meetings as well as fun nighttime events with co-workers.  She was packing light, so all items had to pull double duty. I really had to control the glitz factor on this project and stay on trend with current jewelry styles.

I began looking through my jewelry supplies for possible options.  I decided that mixing metals (copper, gold plated, and silver) would give her the most versatility when pairing jewelry with a particular outfit and if I focused more on the chain/circle style, I could avoid adding unnecessary beads. By using the three metal colors (gold, silver, copper) I avoided this piece clashing with the jewelry she wore every day like her wedding ring and birthstone ring and special bracelets.  Next, I needed to select a few accenting pearls and smaller sized crystals for a hint of glitz.  To keep things on a more casual side, I added several metal spacer beads in gold-toned finish.  A longer necklace style allowed my client to wear the necklace with an unbuttoned suit jacket as well as a sheath dress for the evening dinner parties.

No necklace is complete without a matching pair of earrings. I created a beautiful pair of complimentary earrings that used the same chain and beads as the necklace.  Overall, the results were fantastic and the set garnered lots of compliments.

My suggestion: don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things.  You never know when you will create a new trend!