Creating one-of-a-kind bijouterie: To reflect the evolution of Uncommon Threads Jewelry, the custom work of artisan and founder Randi Chervitz is metamorphing into the business name RC Studio Jewelry.
"Each piece of my handmade jewelry reflects a unique, independent spirit. I enjoy working with geometric structures, colorful stones and textures to produce jewelry with rustic elegance. There's something so exciting and exquisite about organic beauty, and thinking about the history and traditions embodied in each piece," Randi explains.
When Randi started her independent jewelry line in 1991, she says she knew she would crochet metal to make her designs, because lacy, crocheted silver reminded her of the love her grandmother poured into her through knitting lessons. Since then, Randi has relished extending that love to her clients through her handmade creations.
From her Kirkwood studio, she now creates and sells an expanded jewelry collection that spans gold, colored gems and pearls, as well as mixed and hand-forged metals, for both women and men. The collection includes earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, pins and brooches.
Randi, an established jewelry designer who also serves as an estate specialist in designer handbags for local business National Rarities, says she applies her experience in gemology and fashion sense from the "wearables world." In her personal quest for continuous education, she completed her Diamonds and Diamond Grading course during 2024 through the Gemological Institute of America.
"I've always liked art and crafts, even making sock puppets as a kid, and I like business, especially those following sustainable practices. My jewelry endeavor allows me to blend those two life elements, while seeing others realize how nice it is to treat oneself to everyday elegance," Randi says.
This hands-on jeweler says elements of nature drive her creation process. "I use ethically sourced gems. Materials and shapes draw me to them, symmetricals, circles, squares. Repetitive patterns also appeal to me. And, my jewelry even shows the hammer marks from my own anvil."
As a designer, she says she also embraces wabi-sabi, the Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in the imperfect, impermanent and incomplete aspects of life, appreciating the marks of time and the unique character of each object or experience.
Applying colored gemstones, such as sapphires, from small, independent miners is important to Randi. She says those types of careful, artisanal miners, which are typically female-owned, often have beneficiation programs (value-adding processing) in place. "This means their gemstones coming to market are color-banded, showing and radiating their history, sometimes with imperfect facets that only add to their magnificence. It's a bit like seeing the creation of earth in our hands."
Several initiatives, for example, are dedicated to supporting small-scale miners in Africa involved in gemstone extraction and beneficiation, with these programs designed to improve the miners' working conditions, economic well-being and environmental practices, while ensuring ethical and responsible sourcing for the global market.
While Randi creates custom collections, she confirms she's open to semi-custom requests, especially if someone sees a pearl-related or other piece she's already done and would like to switch the gem to a different stone for a birthday or special anniversary.
"Currently, I'm really into creating jewelry with vibrant blue and optimistic orange stones," she adds.
Randi's designs can be purchased online from her website.
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RCStudioJewelry.com
"Handmade jewelry is a wonderful, stunning luxury that elevates jewelry collections, providing must-haves for any occasion." ~Randi Chervitz, founder, RC Studio Jewelry