ChristineSmithJewels

Christine Smith's one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry is worn by sophisticated women throughout the world, and has been featured in the Palm Beach Post, David Patrick Columbia's New York Social Diary, and worn by guests on CNN’s HLN.
Inspired by her a talented mother and aunt- who specialized in Couture that ranged from chic evening wear to elegant wedding attire in a high-end Longmeadow, MA boutique- Christine has been designing wearable art since she was a young child. Her career started at the Farmington Valley Art Center in Avon, CT. She has studied metal-smithing and design under nationally known jewelry educators, and her design skill merges with her Bohemian Heritage, resulting in an array of baroque treasures and pieces of art that would not be out of place in a museum.
Christine regularly travels to Europe to hand select special decorative components that add her signature flair to each design.

WHY DO I KNOT MY JEWELRY? Hand knotting is a skill that takes many years to master, with origins that can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. To create a hand knotted masterpiece, each bead is painstakingly placed on the necklace, separated with small handmade knots. Expert hand knotting is done with high quality silk thread, which is not only luxurious, but also very strong.

Hand knotting greatly enhances the look and design of each necklace, and is appropriate for any type of jewelry comprised of valuable beads such as pearls or semi-precious stones. By placing a slight space between the beads, a hand-knotted necklace drapes more gracefully on the neck and body than a strung necklace, and the unique shape and color of each bead is displayed in its full beauty.

Hand knotting provides practical benefits, as well as being aesthetically pleasing. The knots prevent the beads from rubbing against one another, ensuring that the beads retain their quality throughout the generations. The precisely placed knots protect your investment further by preventing the loss of valuable beads, should the necklace break. Not surprisingly, hand-knotting is the technique traditionally used for creating pearl necklaces.

This attention to detail required for hand knotting ensures that each necklace is created in perfect symmetry, no matter how many beads, or strands, the necklace contains.
Due to the time, dedication, and skill needed to create each necklace, hand knotted necklaces truly exemplify the saying, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”