THE CUSTOM EXPERIENCE
Making custom jewelry is my favourite part of being a goldsmith. I love working with clients to create a unique treasure that tells their story. I take pride in hand-crafting high quality jewelry that will be cherished for a lifetime and beyond!
COLLABORATION
I see custom projects as a collaboration between myself and my clients. A partnership where I take the metals, gemstones, and symbols that are significant to you and filter that through the massive catalog of design elements I’ve been collecting in my brain since I began training in 2015. The result is a one-of-a-kind design that fits you perfectly! Priority will go to clients that are open to using recycled gold and ethically sourced gemstones.
Custom Batok Wedding Ring | 2022. Oxidized recycled 14K white gold & seed pearls. Designed, cast & hand- finished by Samonte Cruz Studios. This young Filipino couple wanted each other’s Filipino tribal tattoo motifs inscribed into their rings which was such a great idea! I absolutely love how the delicate geometric lines contrast with the soft round seed pearls.
CREATING MEANING
I believe objects are powerful vessels for meaning and memory. It’s widely accepted that wedding rings represent love and commitment, while also reminding the wearer of experiences they’ve had with a special person in their life. Many indigenous cultures from around the world adorn themselves with sacred objects made of elements that came from the earth. There is power in attaching meaning to an object, which is why we humans have been adorning our bodies with jewelry, talismans and amulets, for at least 25,000 years!
CERTIFIED GOLDSMITH
In 2017, I earned my certificate, with honours, after training for two years at Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson, BC. After graduation, I was hired to work as an apprentice to award-winning master goldsmith, Paul Durkin at Lauener Brother’s Jewellery in Trail, BC. You can still find me there in the workshop two days a week, repairing heirloom jewelry & levelling up my gold-smithing skills! I also teach jewelry making classes at Selkirk College, including the upcoming Ring Making & Open Studio courses in spring of 2023.
QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP
All my creations are made to last a lifetime and beyond. There’s no throwaway culture here! In fact, if you have gold jewelry that you don’t wear, I offer heirloom redesign services; recycling and incorporating your heirlooms into a new, custom piece of modern jewelry that fits your aesthetic.
Custom Spinal Column Wedding Ring | 2019. Recycled 10K yellow gold. Designed, cast & hand-finished by Samonte Cruz Studios. This unconventional wedding ring was created in collaboration with a young trans artist who wanted a ring modelled after a human spinal column. The shape is inspired by their partner’s ring, which is a snake. It was so fun for me to get to work on such a unique design!
TIMELINE
It takes time to get to know what’s important to you. I take pride in carefully planning how to best capture and distill meaning; infusing it into a tiny object like, a ring. Be sure to connect with me well before your desired delivery date so that we can take the time required to create a piece as unique as you! Wait times average between 1-3 months to start a project. Once we begin, most custom projects are completed between 8 to 24 weeks depending on the design. Rush orders are sometimes possible for a fee, but it will depend on my current production schedule; contact me with your ideal delivery date to inquire.
HANDMADE ON SINIXT TERRITORY
All my work is created using traditional gold-smithing techniques, in combination with state of the art technology in 3-D printing and the ancient method of lost wax casting. I love my life and feel extremely grateful to be living and working on unceded Sinixt Territory (Nelson, BC).
CUSTOM WAITLIST
My custom waitlist is open! Are you ready to start your custom jewelry experience? Click the button below to start your journey.