SoMa Jewelry Collection Expands to Include Hammered Multiple Link Chain
October 30, 2006 by John S. Brana
Filed under Events
I have recently been working on expanding my very popular SoMa Collection to include multiple link chain necklaces. The pictured necklace is handcrafted in 14K gold filled and features three different sizes of handmade rings.
This collection was named after the South of Market Street district of San Francisco. SoMa’s character has been shaped over the years by the cycles of boom and bust…going from an edgy alternative art and music scene of the late 1980’s, through the soaring rent inflated internet start-up days of the late 1990’s and subsequent bust, to its present revitalized day of a mix of trendy restaurants, swank hotels, and high-rise condo’s. It’s also the home of the San Francisco Giants, and several engrossing museums including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Sleek and contemporary with a surprising bohemian undercurrent, the SoMa Collection features matching sets of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in hand-forged fine silver, 14K gold filled, or 14K gold. The result is that each piece feels like a hidden treasure. This versatile line is as appropriate at swank nightspots as it is at trendy coffee shops.
Stay tuned for more handcrafted necklaces, earrings, and bracelets in multiple link chains and multiple strands set with semi-precious gemstone beads later this year.
A New Addition to the Sonoma Jewelry Collection – Merlot
October 29, 2006 by John S. Brana
Filed under Events
I just finished working on this complete set of handcrafted 14K Gold Filled Chainmail featuring three sizes of Garnets. This set, along with individual sets in Amber, Amethyst, Pearls, and Serpentine can be found on my portfolio site under the Sonoma CollectionHere are some interesting factoids on Garnets:
Color: Red, Pink, Green, Orange, Yellow, Brown, Black
Birthstone: January (Modern & Traditional), May (Alternate)
Anniversary: 2nd, 6th (Alternate)
Occurrence: Worldwide
Rarity: Common
Temperaments: Love, Courage to Live, Stamina
Healing: Garnet regenerates the body. It stimulates the metabolism. Treats spinal and cellular disorders, purifies and reenergizes the blood, heart, and lungs, and regenerates DNA.
Attributes: Transparent or translucent crystal, often small and faceted or larger opaque piece.
Psychological: Garnet sharpens your perceptions of yourself and other people. It dissolves ingrained behavior patterns that are no longer serving you and bypasses resistance of self-induced unconscious sabotage.
Mental: It helps you let go of useless or old or obsolete ideas.
Emotional: Garnet removes inhibitions and taboos. It opens up the heart and bestows self-confidence.
Jewelry Designer John S. Brana Releases New Fall Jewelry Collection – Barbary Coast
October 18, 2006 by John S. Brana
Filed under Events
New for fall, John S. Brana’s most lavish and wild collection is the Barbary Coast Collection. This vibrant collection of unique and one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, and bracelets is reminiscent of the buoyant feeling during the California Gold Rush.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 18, 2006 — New for fall, John S. Brana’s most lavish and wild collection is the Barbary Coast Collection. This vibrant collection of unique and one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, and bracelets is reminiscent of the buoyant feeling during the California Gold Rush.
Featuring gold vermeil, 14K gold filled, and 14K gold (no silver to be found here) these pieces are perfect for those who want to have fun and make a statement with their jewelry. Completing the look, the pieces are set with dynamically shaped and textured semi-precious beads.
Other John S. Brana’s women’s collections include:
• The Monterey, evoking the magic of the sea with hand-forged metal filled with delicate Italian mesh ribbon.
• The Pacific Heights, featuring comprehensive swirls of 14K gold-filled wire accented with precious gemstones.
• The Sea Cliff, bold in scale and accented with dramatic sea creatures, unusually shaped beads, and precious gemstones.
• The SoMa, sleek and contemporary with a surprising bohemian-urban undercurrent.
• The Sonoma, an epitome of relaxed sophistication.
Selected John S. Brana’s jewelry is currently available at Residents Apparel Gallery (R.A.G), Porcelynne boutique in San Francisco and Marlowe & Company Jewellers in St. Helena. For online orders, please visit John S. Brana
For Hi-resolution images and media requests, please contact Leena@theprcafe.com or phone 415.205.7094.
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The Jewelry Weblog – John S. Brana Unisex Jewelry
October 16, 2006 by John S. Brana
Filed under Press
Four of my Men’s Collections were recently featured on the Jewelry Weblog by Tammy Powley. Tammy is a freelance writer and jewelry designer that maintains and writes the About.com Jewelry Making website since 1997.
John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry
October 4, 2006 by John S. Brana
Filed under Events, Press
I am finally proud to announce the completion and launch of John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry. You can now preview my online gallery of premium custom handcrafted jewelry, wire sculpted jewelry, and fused silver and gold jewelry for both men and women, and locate a retail store near you where you will be able to view and purchase my jewelry.
Selected collections are currently available at Residents Apparel Gallery , Porcelynne Boutique & Gallery in San Francisco and Marlowe & Company Jewellers in St. Helena. For the remainder of 2006, I will be expanding my retail distribution throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and nationally in 2007. If you would like to be notified of store openings, upcoming trunk shows, or new collections, please feel free to add yourself to my Contact Form
John S. Brana
New Jewelry Designer John S. Brana’s premier collections honor old-world artistry and California’s surrounding beauty.
October 3, 2006 by John S. Brana
Filed under Events, Press
Bay Area native John S. Brana, former Charles Schwab VP of Finance launches his first jewelry collections for men and women inspired by the Bay Area’s natural beauty. The result is a collection of distinctive and meticulously handcrafted jewelry of the highest caliber.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 3, 2006 — Bay Area native John S. Brana, former Charles Schwab VP of Finance launches his first jewelry collections for men and women inspired by the Bay Area’s natural beauty. The result is a collection of distinctive and meticulously handcrafted jewelry of the highest caliber.
Whether I’m driving down the coast or strolling through a park, the creative combinations of colors, textures, shapes, and symbols are endless, and California is the perfect place to start.
“Nature is my primary source of inspiration, ” says Brana. “Whether I’m driving down the coast or strolling through a park, the creative combinations of colors, textures, shapes, and symbols are endless, and California is the perfect place to start.”
John S. Brana’s premier women’s collections include:
• The Monterey, evoking the magic of the sea with hand-forged metal filled with delicate Italian mesh ribbon.
• The Pacific Heights, featuring comprehensive swirls of 14K gold-filled wire accented with precious gemstones.
• The Sea Cliff, bold in scale and accented with dramatic sea creatures, unusually shaped beads, and precious gemstones.
• The SoMa, sleek and contemporary with a surprising bohemian-urban undercurrent.
• The Sonoma, an epitome of relaxed sophistication.
John S. Brana’s premier men’s collections include:
• The Redwood, a tribute to the natural awe-inspiring giants.
• The Reptile, capturing the primal power of all things wild.
• The Sierra, moved by the formidable Sierra Nevada’s grandeur into a spare, yet powerful abstract.
• The Tonga, motivated by the remarkable artistry of ancient Pacific island tribes.
• The Wave, inspired by the soothing lull of the Pacific Ocean and the tranquility embodied in spare, graceful design.
As a child, John S. Brana traveled extensively and learned from his father, an accomplished artist and teacher, how to perfect techniques in metal and resin casting, fabrication, and woodworking. While John had the opportunity to expand his father’s award-winning three-dimensional stained glass business, he chose to pursue a more “practical” career in Finance. After graduating in 1990 from University of Michigan with an M.B.A. in Finance, Brana moved to San Francisco and worked his way up in corporate finance to vice president of The Charles Schwab Corporation. It was his father’s death in 2003 that made Brana re-evaluate his priorities and rekindled his childhood passion for artisan crafts and jewelry.
Bold in scale, unique and precious, John S. Brana’s pieces are perfect for those who enjoy interesting jewelry design and are seeking to make an unusual statement. Brana’s specialty is in fine silver, gold, and gold-filled wire combined with fresh-water pearls, Swarovski crystals, Venetian glass and precious gemstones—all carefully hand-selected during John’s frequent trips to Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States.
Selected John S. Brana’s jewelry is currently available at Residents Apparel Gallery (R.A.G), Porcelynne boutique in San Francisco and Marlowe & Company Jewellers in St. Helena. For online orders, please visit John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry
For Hi-resolution images and media requests, please contact Leena@theprcafe.com or phone 415.205.7094.
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