Finely Crafted

❶ Erica Stankwytch Bailey’s “Fragments Necklace” ($250) is made of sterling silver, two varieties of labradorite, and three varieties of apatite. The artist calls this technique/style her "woman-made geode" collection. Her “Hex Ring” pictured features rutilated quartz ($225). Bailey’s ESB Jewelry is a woman-owned-and-operated design studio that makes handmade contemporary jewelry for customers who appreciate unique, bold, and easy-to-wear pieces. All are crafted by the artist at her studio near Asheville. esbjewelry.com

❷ Tom Reardon and Kathleen Doyle’s rings seen here depicting three rings all have the same design model (286 wide). All three are cast in sterling silver and then set with Iolite (right, $595),  peridot (middle, $495), and moissanite (bottom, $595). The artists’ digitally capable studio reflects the newest in technology, and their work can be seen at their Grovewood Village location, Gallery of the Mountains (Omni Grove Park Inn), Southern Highlands, and Piedmont Craftsmen in Winston-Salem. trkd.com

❸ Sylvia McCollum, who lives and works in Asheville, strives to create pieces that blend a timeless quality with a boldness and strength, reflecting the character of the southern landscape and the women who live there. This piece is made from sterling silver and 18k gold bimetal. The sterling silver has been textured and is of hollow form construction.It’s accented with a bezel-set opal, a bezel-set blue topaz and a pearl. $325. sylviamcjewelry.com

❹ Suzanne Q. Evon'S studio is in Weaverville. “Bloom where you’re planted” took inspiration from floral blooms for this three-stone pendant featuring a AAA-faceted blue topaz, peridot, and amethyst. The piece, created in her Weaverville studio, is made of sterling silver with white rhodium plating and is available on a 16", 18", or 20" sterling snake chain. $387. Additionally, Suzanne’s Swirl Hoops Sterling Silver are handcrafted in white rhodium over sterling silver, $138-$395. qevon.com

❺ Paula Dawkins owned and operated her store, Jewels that Dance, for more than three decades, receiving accolades from Jewelers of America in 1993 for being one of the top twelve designers in the country. In 2020, she closed the retail shop and segued into the next logical step, opening Paula Dawkins Fine Jewelry. Now, the self-taught artist designs custom jewelry by appointment. This bracelet is crafted in oxidized sterling silver and 18k gold. $3,500.  The ring features a 2ct diamond center set against 18k gold; price upon request. pauladawkins.com

❻ Ellen Vontillius has lived and worked in Asheville since 2013. Her undergraduate study in the visual arts and dance serves as a precursor to her jewelry craft, and she derives a great deal of inspiration for her jewelry designs from nature and classical dance movements. This 16.5" necklace is cast using 14k gold, and brass with green peridot CZ rondels and freshwater pearls. The current series is entitled “Temps Lie,” a French ballet term meaning “connected movement.” $3500 in 14k gold, 16.5"; also available in sterling silver, $410. ellenvontillius.com

Mary Timmer began metalsmithing in 1996 and possesses both an academic and technical education. She’s a member of several craft guilds and is pleased to see her pieces ultimately appreciated and enjoyed by her clients. Her studio is located at Miya Gallery in Weaverville. The bracelet seen here is topped with a unique crystal known as drusy quartz, a type of agate geode that is a formation of small crystals connected together into a rough and sparkly surface $275. marytimmer.com

❼ Molly Dingledine created her jewelry business in 2005. Each piece is handmade from sterling silver in her Asheville studio. The shapes are cut from sheet metal, hammered, and fabricated into complex, organic forms. For each piece sold, she contributes to her nonprofit, Sisters in Circles, which helps women in third-world countries learn practical skills that will enable them to live healthier, more prosperous lives. Pictured here are pieces from her “Turning Over” collection, crafted from oxidized sterling silver, 18k gold vermeil, and cultured pearls. Each silver leaf and flower shape is cut from a flat sheet and textured using a roller and fabric. Earrings, $200; bracelet, $500. mollydingledine.com