Built Slowly. Crafted to Transform.
There are pieces that come together quickly—and then there are those that quietly evolve over time, asking for patience, problem-solving, and trust in the process.
This Convertible Wing Necklace with Australian Opal and Diamonds - is a project that has been years in the making.
It began with the Wing Pin. I hollow-formed the piece in sterling silver, carving out space and light through intricate ajouré patterning. I imagined it encrusted with varied gemstone shapes. Four spinels and a tanzanite formed a palette that felt both grounded and luminous, set in a mix of yellow and rose gold.
Make it stand out
An Australian boulder opal had been waiting in my collection—sourced during my 2022 Tucson Gem Show trip from Broken River Mining Co. Its color, alive and ever-shifting, evoked islands and open water—a sense of beauty and freedom—and I knew it needed to become part of the story.
What followed was a long period of exploration. I tested necklace forms, built prototypes, and reworked how the pin might connect, not just physically, but visually.
Slowly, the design revealed itself.
The necklace took shape through a series of hollow-formed feather links, each one echoing the ajouré language of the original wing. Gold accents and diamonds were introduced to bring light into the darkened silver structure. The challenge became not just aesthetic, but technical: creating a piece that could close seamlessly while also allowing the wing pin to integrate and transform the necklace.
What emerged is a fully articulated, one-of-a-kind neckpiece—sculptural, convertible, and deeply considered.
The wing remains removable. It can be worn as a brooch, or it can become the focal point of the necklace, shifting the composition entirely. This duality—of object and adornment, of structure and movement—is at the heart of the work.
Pieces like this remind me why I’m a maker.
They take time. They resist easy answers. They make me think and grow — and I hope, in some small way, they do the same for the person who wears them.
