I've always been drawn to jewelry even at a young age. It wasn't just the sparkles that captivated me, but my fascination with how each piece is constructed, how the stones are held, how each link moved in relation to another. I started my career on the retail side of jewelry as an assistant buyer in the Precious Jewels buying office at Neiman Marcus. It was the first time I was able to truly appreciate jewelry up close for the beauty of its gemstones, artistry in its components, and ingenuity in its craftsmanship. When an opportunity came to apprentice with master goldsmith, Fareed Abdulky, I did not hesitate and it was one of the best and most fulfilling decisions I've ever made.

Having become a huge fan of antique jewelry during my time in retail, I began educating myself on jewelry from different periods in history. It wasn't long before I fell in love with jewelry from the Georgian and early Victorian eras. When the time came to make my own pieces, I naturally gravitated towards making jewelry that were heavily influenced by the Georgian style. It was then that I decided to use my skills to revive the splendor and glamour of paste jewelry. If you're unfamiliar with what paste jewelry entails, read on!

Paste jewelry was highly popular in the 18th Century. Made to imitate diamonds and gemstones, pastes were scintillating, colorful, creative and were highly revered during the Georgian era. The craftsmanship of paste jewelry rivaled that of fine jewelry as most pieces were crafted by the same hands that set diamonds and sapphires. Authentic Georgian jewelry that have survived today look as chic now as the day they were created, and are therefore highly collectible and sought after.

I imbue the same qualities in my work by staying true to the techniques and skills required to recreate these designs. I utilize hand faceted cubic zirconia custom cut in antique style and set them in cut down collet settings sculpted from recycled sterling silver. I consider these stones modern day pastes as they are made to resemble genuine diamonds. I treat them with the attention and care normally reserved for diamonds and precious gems. The results are pieces that look like they were born in the 1800's, but updated with recycled metals and stones that are more durable and brilliant. They look like precious diamonds to the eyes but cost a fraction of their diamond counterparts. Each piece is a future heirloom in the making and will become a treasured bauble in your collection.

Thank you for stopping by! Come say hi on Instagram! @ShanAdamsJewelry

Check out my other shop featuring my custom hand cut antique style cubic zirconia:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/oldminerocks