Soma | Handmade Jewelry Blog by Jewelry Designer John S Brana

Collections Coming Soon to www.johnsbrana.com

June 8, 2008 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

SoMa Collection – Watch for hammered silver and bronze rings set with faceted colored gemstones and cabochons – July 2008.

Nob Hill – Matching rings and pendants in sterling silver, vermeil, and 14K – 18K yellow gold – August 2008.

Muir Woods – NEW – Inspired by the natural beauty of Muir Woods, this collection will feature patinaed silver, copper, and bronze earrings, rings, and pendants in multicolored earthtones…just in time for fall – September 2008.

John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry – Now Available at Art People in the Crocker Galleria, San Francisco

May 21, 2008 By John S. Brana 4 Comments

Art People - Fine Art Gallery - Crocker Galleria, San Francisco CA

John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry is now available for purchase at Art People, 50 Post Street Suite 41, on the second floor of the Crocker Galleria. Handcrafted designs from each of Brana’s seven women’s jewelry collections, all inspired by eclectic San Francisco themes, are showcased. Art People is the forth bay area gallery or retailer to carry Brana’s 14K-18K gold, silver, copper and gemstone jewelry collections.

Art People hosts monthly art and wine tasting parties open to the public where guests may enjoy creations from resident artists, including John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry. The next party will be held Wednesday, May 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Brana will also be featured as the artist of the month later this year. Opening reception information will be announced soon.

Among the nearly 40 one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces available in the gallery, selections from the Barbary Coast, Sonoma, Seacliff and SoMa collections are exhibited in Art People’s storefront window. Additional collections available include Monterey Italian mesh jewelry, Pacific Heights gemstone jewelry and Nob Hill filigree jewelry. Necklaces, cuffs, earrings, rings and bracelets are available for purchase.

To view each of John S. Brana’s – Distinctive Jewelry collections, visit www.johnsbrana.com.

For upcoming events and media requests, please contact Karri Ann Frerichs, Altitude Promotions, at karriann@altitudepromotion.com or 402.490.2579

Barbary Coast, Sea Cliff, and SoMa Colleciton in front window of Art People Gallery in the Crocker Galleria, San Francisco, CA

Sonoma Collection at Art People in the Crocker Galleria, San Francisco, CA

Natasha Bedingfield wears Hammered Copper Earrings with Aquamarine from John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry

December 12, 2007 By John S. Brana

Natasha Bedingfield wears jewelry from John S. Brana

Hammered Copper Earrings with Aquamarine

Natasha Bedingfield wears Hammered Copper Earrings from John S. Brana

Natasha Bedingfield at Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

New York, NY – November 28, 2007 -Natasha Bedingfield at Rockefeller Center – Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony wearing Hammered Copper Earrings with Aquamarine from John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry – SoMa Collection.

Click Here to Buy These Earrings

John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry now at Monkey on Chestnut – San Francisco, CA

December 12, 2007 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

For those readers that live in San Francisco, you can now find selected pieces from my Monterey, Pacific Heights, SoMa, and Sea Cliff collections at Monkey on Chestnut in San Francisco’s famous Marina District. Monkey on Chestnut, named after a Monkey seen gathering jewelry from the ruins in Cow Hollow after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, is located right on Chestnut at Fillmore (2025 Chestnut). The store includes the works of over 100 local jewelry designers and vintage dealers. Come by and you’re in for a treat!
SoMa Jewelry Collection

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!

Bold and delicate treasures from John S. Brana – Dazzling New Spring/Summer 2007 Collection Unveiled

April 2, 2007 By John S. Brana 2 Comments

Inspired by the Bay Area’s natural beauty, jewelry designer John S. Brana presents exciting new additions to his distinctive Monterey and SoMa jewelry collections. Carefully handcrafted with the utmost precision and care, John’s designs evoke the sensual and ever-changing elements of nature.

For the Monterey collection, John features Italian mesh, an extremely fine brass wire that is meticulously woven to resemble a filigree net. Nickel-free, waterproof and heat-resistant, this delicate ribbon is of the highest quality in the world.

A lovely example is the new Mint Leaf earrings, which reminds one of fresh leaves dancing gracefully in the springtime air. Whether you are in a garden or walking along the ocean, John’s designs are a meditation of nature in action.

Aquamarine Italian Mesh Metal Earrings

Copper Italian Mesh Metal Earrings

Purple Italian Mesh Metal Earrings

New SoMa designs introduce warm, earthy tones of copper with the cool glints of fine silver. Not only does copper impart healing properties (old-world beliefs suggest wearing copper for pain relief), each piece has a modern touch, mingled with bohemian nuances.

Chased Copper Cuff Bracelet

Hammered Copper Earrings with Aquamarine

Chased Copper Earrings with Amazonite

All of the above featured jewelry can be found in my SoMa and Monterey Collection’s along with many other selections in hammered fine silver, copper, 14K Gold Filled, 14K, and 18K Gold.

Bold and delicate treasures from John Brana -
Dazzling New Spring/Summer 2007 Collection Unveiled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Contact:

Leena Lim Leary

415.205.7094

leena@theprcafe.com

Bold and delicate treasures
from John Brana

Dazzling New Spring/Summer 2007
Collection Unveiled

San Francisco, CA (April 2007) – Inspired by the Bay Area’s natural beauty, jewelry designer John Brana presents exciting new additions to his distinctive Monterey and SoMa jewelry collections. Carefully handcrafted with the utmost precision and care, John’s designs evoke the sensual and ever-changing elements of nature.

Pairing the raw texture of copper with elegant gemstones, it draws out the inner goddess beauty from its wearer.

Monterey and SoMa pieces retails from $55 to $200.

About John Brana

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, Marlowe & Company Jewellers in St. Helena, and Tahill Galleries in San Mateo. For an online portfolio, please visit www.JohnSBrana.com.

For Hi-resolution images and media requests, please contact Leena@theprcafe.com or phone 415.205.7094.

Aquamarine – March’s Birthstone

March 19, 2007 By John S. Brana 3 Comments

Hammered Fine Silver Earrings with Aquamarine

Hammered Fine Silver Necklace with Aquamarine

Aquamarine means “sea water” in Latin, alluding to its color. Most natural colored aquamarine is a light blue-green or even light green variety of beryl. Prior to the 1900’s this was the preferred color for aquamarine. Today, aquamarine is routinely heat-treated to remove the green component, thereby producing a permanently colored blue stone. Quite large stones, ranging from several carats to more than ten carats are relatively common.

The most common cut is the emerald type, although mixed oval or pear-shaped cuts are no infrequent. The more intense the blue color, the more valuable the stone. Under magnification, aquamarines usually have a high transparency and clarity. They are also very durable and their color is evenly distributed. Most aquamarine comes from Brazil, where crystals weighing several kilos have been found. Other deposits include Russia, Madagascar, India, Ireland, the United States, and recently Afghanistan.

Aquamarine is commonly believed to be the stone of courage and its calming energies are said to reduce stress and quiet the mind. In ancient times, aquamarine was believed to counteract the forces of darkness and procure favor from the spirits of light. I was commonly carried by sailors as a talisman against drowning.

The above set of earrings, bracelet, and necklace features faceted aquamarine and amazonite nuggets on hammered fine silver and can be found in my SoMa Collection along with many other selections in hammered fine silver, copper, 14K Gold Filled, 14K, and 18K Gold.

SoMa Collection Expands to Include Hammered Copper Jewelry

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

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, 14K gold, …and now copper! I love copper’s color and malleability, so I decided to incorporate it into several of my collections.

The pictured necklace and bracelet are handcrafted in pure copper and linked with fine silver jump rings. 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 textures and metals set with semi-precious gemstone beads over the next few months

SoMa Jewelry Collection Expands to Include Hammered Multiple Link Chain

October 30, 2006 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

14K Gold Filled Chased Necklace

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.

The SoMa Collection

August 9, 2006 By John S. Brana Leave a Comment

The SoMa Collection is sleek and contemporary with a surprising bohemian undercurrent. Hammered fine silver, copper, 14K gold filled, or 14K gold give the line a funky urban charm. Semi-precious gemstones, Swarovski Crystals, and pearls add pop to many pieces. 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. Matching sets available in earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

Stay tuned for the launch of John S. Brana due out in mid-August.