Diving into inspiration

January 16, 2023 Angela Zancanaro

I have always been inspired by the world around us. I love to create natural patterns in my jewelry that resemble the texture of a tree or the surface of the moon. Maybe the mix of different color sands that leave patterns as the waves hit the shore and move sand around. With so much beauty around us it’s hard to capture it all.

One of my greatest joys has come from my new love of scuba diving. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid and when Covid hit the theme of the year was try something new. I decided it was no longer time to put off getting certified. It became the missing piece in my live. Being obsessed with science fiction and fantasy stories I love to imagine other planets and getting lost in new landscapes. Being underwater and looking at corals makes me feel like I get to examine a different world. I love to just hear the sound of my breath and witness the ocean.

I went on my first live aboard diving boat to the Bahamas in May 2022. Being in a remote part of the ocean with no cell service really put a lot of things in perspective for me. I realized after that trip I would love to live on a boat one day. We spend so much time connected to our phones, and paying attention to a lot of things in life that don’t really matter. I see so many people spending time with each other but not quality time. Time where you really put everything else aside and have a meaningful conversation. Life should be fun and full of experiences.

I wanted to create a collection that reflected my experience in the warm bahama waters swimming with tiger sharks. Floating with the fish absorbing the sun, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Once I got back I started designing the collection. A few things were important to me in design this collection. First off I wanted to capture lots of movement, I also wanted to bring in more gold color tones and bust out my best turquoise that I’ve been holding onto.

I love creating pieces that are timeless and can be worn for many occasions. I chose to mix a lot metals, silver and gold so that you can pair with existing pieces in your personal collection. I also wanted some detachable parts so you could dress up or down depending on your current mood.

I created the entire collection with nickel free sterling silver and 14k gold fill. All American mined turquoise, primarily Royston Ribbon Turquoise and Sonoran Mountain Turquoise both sourced from Arizona. Of course I wanted some of my classic reticulated silver components as well. I love this technique because it really lets the metal speak to what it wants to become. I always say it’s like watching the silver dance with the flame.

I created 29 pieces in this collection. All uniquely one of a kind. As each individual is unique I wanted to create a collection to reflect that. For those that wander off the beaten path; jewelry for the adventurous soul. I truly enjoyed creating this collection and putting part of my heart and love for the ocean in it. I hope that you have enjoyed reading bit more about my creative process and I hope this leaves you inspired and with a craving for the unknown.