Sea Cliff | Handmade Jewelry Blog by Jewelry Designer John S Brana

New Textures Added to the Sea Cliff Jewelry Collection

October 19, 2007 By John S. Brana 2 Comments

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with various textures and techniques to perfect my skills at anticlastic raising. This bracelet was done in sterling silver using traditional anticlastic raising techniques. I tried to pay particular attention to minimizing marring by the forming hammer, sanded using 400, 700, and 1000 grit sandpaper, then buffed to a mirror finish.

The next texture I tried was chasing. Chasing is a technique that is used to groove, furrow, channel , or indent utilizing the plasticity quality of metal. In this case, I used copper. Chasing is a relatively slow process, but with lots of practice can result in a continuous surface of metal essentially of the same thickness and texture. This is the exact opposite of the previous technique where you try to minimize marring.

Chased Anticlastic Copper Bracelet

This bracelet uses the same chasing technique, but instead of a chasing hammer, I fashioned a custom hammer by cutting groves into the face of a flat hammer (similar to a meat tenderizer), then fished off the bracelet by raising it.

Texturized Anticlastic Copper Bracelet

The last application was to texturize the copper using a traditional ball-peen hammer.

Hammered Anticlastic Copper Bracelet

For a great resource article on Anticlastic Raising by Michael Good, check out Jewelry Artist Magazine July 2007 AdornmentCraft

Carlyn Galerie – “Autumn Jewels” features John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry

September 14, 2007 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

Carlyn Galerie

September 13 – October 7, 2007 – Carlyn Galerie, (Dallas, TX) presents “Autumn Jewels”, a collection of jewelry for all tastes: Sterling Silver, Gold-filled, Glass, Semi-precious and Precious Stones, Pearls, and Mixed Metals. Along with twelve other artists, Carlyn Galerie is featuring selected pieces from my Monterey, Barbary Coast, Pacific Heights, and Sea Cliff collections.

Copper Unagi Bracelet

A portion of all jewelry sales during this exhibit will be donated to CERF (Craft Emergency Relief Fund). “Craft Emergency Relief Fund is committed to supporting the careers of craft artists throughout the United States. Through business and career-strengthening programs, emergency relief support, advocacy and research CERF helps professional craft artists strengthen and sustain their careers so that they can thrive and, thus, contribute to the quality of life in our communities.”

New Fold Formed Additions to the Sea Cliff Collection

June 28, 2007 By John S. Brana 4 Comments

Fold Formed Fan Coral Copper Bracelet

Fold Formed Fan Coral Fine Silver Earrings

Fold Formed Fan Coral Pin with Akoyz Pearl

Fold forming is a relatively new method of metal working that synthesizes the Japanese art of origami with traditional techniques of metalsmithing. Hundreds of forms and shapes can be derived using just a rolling mill, a few hammers, a knife, an anvil, and a couple of stakes. The technique relies on skilled control of the hammer and the natural tendencies of the plasticity, ductility, and elasticity of the metal used. These featured pieces include a copper bracelet, fine silver earrings, and a copper pin set with a 10mm Akoya freshwater pearl.

Anticlastic Raising – New Bracelets for the Sea Cliff Collection

May 29, 2007 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

Copper Unagi 2 Bracelet

Copper Unagi Bracelet

I have recently been experimenting with anticlastic raising using sinusoidal stakes to add an extra dimension to forging. The stake resembles a tapering wavy line, or what I like to refer to as the "Devils Tongue." Metal can be forged into a concave curve along its face while the opposing curves can be formed at the same time. It’s great for forming a bangle, ring, or necklace. A sinusoidal stake can be made from wood, steel, or plastic, as can the wedge-shaped hammers. Anticlastic raising is a labor intensive process, but the final product is definitely worth the effort. Each of the pictured bracelets took on average around 5 hours to form.

A Special Offer for Mother’s Day – 20% Off

April 29, 2007 By John S. Brana 1 Comment

I would like to extend to you a first sale special and a wonderful opportunity to stock up on my one-of-a-kind couture jewelry at www.johnsbrana.com

All Shopping Cart items will be discounted (20%) in celebration of Mother’s Day. This special sale starts May 1 thru 13^th and features 4 collections:Barbary Coast: Colorful and festive, these pieces are perfect for those who want to leave a lasting impression.

Sea Cliff: Perfect for Sea lovers with a fondness for pearls

SoMa: Sleek and contemporary, the ideal “basic” collection for everyone

Pacific Heights: Sheer opulence, bold and sophisticated. Many of these designs are regularly featured in local, national, and international magazines including JCK (Jewelers’ Circular Keystone), JQ (International Jewelry Quorum), Jewellery World Review, City Magazine, and 7×7 San Francisco Magazine.

Mother’s Day is less than two weeks away and supplies are limited, so act now!

7×7 San Francisco Magazine – March 2007 Edition

March 3, 2007 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

7x7 San Francisco Magazine Features John S. Brana - Distinctive Jewelry

7×7 San Francisco Magazine 7x7sf.com is currently featuring my Pearl of the Sea Ring in the March 2007 Edition.

Catwalk to the Moon – From Head to Toe, Spring’s Hottest Styles Have a Flashy Coat of Gold or Silver by Chloe Harris highlights the hottest new Spring 2007 styles and trends….big oversized rings! The “Pearl of the Sea Ring”, along with many other sea creatures can be found in my Sea Cliff Collection

The article begins on page 126 and highlights accessories and fine metallic fabrics that combine contemporary elegance and futuristic flair from designers Viktor & Rolf, Jean Paul Gaultier, Chado Ralph Rucci, Stella McCartney, and Pollini.

Fine Silver Seahorse Pin Added to the Sea Cliff Collection

January 28, 2007 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

Made of pure silver, this Seahorse is set with a 3*4 mm faceted Pear shaped Sapphire and measures 2 1/2 in length. Blue sapphires come in a wide range of shades of blue. Titanium and iron inclusions within the Aluminum oxide result in various shades of blue. Some stones are not well saturated and show tones of gray. About 90% of all sapphires are heated to a temperature of up to 1800°C but usually a little less in ovens for several hours. Stones are also heated in nitrogen deficient atmosphere ovens for a week.

Fancy sapphires are any sapphire other than blue or red. Purple sapphires are lower in price than blue ones. These stones contain the trace element vanadium and come in a wide variety of shades. Yellow and green sapphires have traces of iron which gives them their color. Pink sapphires are have trace element of chromium and the deeper the color pink the higher the value as long as the color is going toward red of rubies. Color shift sapphires are blue in outdoor light and purple in indoor light. Color changes may also be pink in daylight to greenish in fluorescent light. Some stones shift color well and others only partially, in that some stones go from blue to blue purple. White sapphires usually come out of the ground as light gray or brown and are then heated to make them clear. However in very rare circumstances they will be found in a clear state.

This Seahorse pin, along with other sea creatures can be found under my Sea Cliff Collection. I plan on adding a few more critters to the collection over the next month. Stay tuned!

Jewelers’ Circular Keystone features jewelry designer John S Brana’s “Pearl of the Sea Ring” in What’s New in Jewelry – December 2006

January 16, 2007 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

JCK – Jewelers’ Circular Keystone – www.jckonline.com - is currently featuring my “Pearl of the Sea Ring” in the “What’s New in Jewelry” December 2006 issue. The monthly section of “What’s New in Jewelry” features new designs and upcoming jewelry designers in the Fine Jewelry industry. John S. Brana’s “Pearl of the Sea Ring” from the Sea Cliff Collection is featured on page 88.

The Sea Cliff Collection features unique pieces that are bold in scale and accented with dramatic sea creatures, unusually shaped beads, and precious and semi-precious gemstones. Because each piece in this line of marine-themed necklaces, rings, and brooches is fashioned from hand-selected elements, no two are alike. The result is striking jewelry that truly makes a splash. Click here to see more of the Sea Cliff Collection.

JQ International Jewelry Quorum features John S. Brana’s Hidden Pearl Ring – November/December 2006 Issue

December 18, 2006 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

JQ – The International Jewelry Quorum – is currently featuring my Hidden Pearl Ring in”Pearls – The Quintessential Accessory,” an article by Deborah A. Yonick, in its November/December 2006 issue.

The article focuses on how pearls have diverged in two distinct directions – fashion and luxury. “The fashion direction plays with the versatile and chameleon qualities of pearls, with designers exploring fancy shapes and colors to the max, and mixing pearls with a variety of other materials” while “the luxury direction focuses on the glamour and voluptuousness of pearls, with big pearls or pearl clusters set in precious metals richly embedded in diamond and gem pave.”

John S. Brana’s “Hidden Pearl Ring” from the Sea Cliff Collection is featured on page 32 of the magazine. The Sea Cliff Collection features custom handcrafted unique pieces that are bold in scale and accented with dramatic sea creatures, unusually shaped beads, and precious and semi-precious gemstones. Because each piece in this line of marine-themed necklaces, rings, and brooches is fashioned from hand-selected elements, no two are alike. The result is striking jewelry that truly makes a splash. Click here to see more of the Sea Cliff Collection.

Starfish Ring Added to the Sea Cliff Collection

November 20, 2006 By John S. Brana 1 Comment

Found over 20 years ago off the west coast of Florida on the beach at Sanibel Island, I ran across this little starfish the other day and decided to turn it into a ring. Handcrafted in Fine Silver using PMC(Precious Metal Clay), the ring is set with a 4mm faceted Peridot and finished with a patina to enhance detail.

Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August. According to folklore, Peridot brings its wearer success, peace, and good luck. Peridot has been found in Egyptian jewelry dating as far back as the early second millennium BC and was mined from the volcanic island of Zebirget, or St. Johns Island, in the Red Sea. Native Hawaiians referred to Peridot crystals as the tears of Pele, their goddess of fire.

This ring, along with other sea creatures can be found under my Sea Cliff Collection. Keep watching for more critters over the next few weeks.