Keith Field Holiday Greeting 2021

As we arrive into the holiday season this year, we feel some sense of grounding. We have all been in the throws of a great period of uncertainty, a feeling that life had been paused in mid-air. With a year under our belts since last holiday season, we hope you are feeling some small sense of peace and exhalation along with us. 

One incredible thing about design is that it is not paused by the chaos of the world, but rather, thrives within it. The last year has allowed us to focus on collections that stem from the celebration of our natural environments as well as the wonders of science - both things that have been brought to the forefronts of all of our lives. 

The Cribstone Collection features granite-like “bars” reminiscent of the famous Cribstone bridge in our community; the Orbital Collection is modern and organic, drawing inspiration from the mid-century period influenced by scientific curiosity. In both collections, we had sustainability on our minds, focusing on using recycled metals, vintage and responsibly sourced diamonds, and local Maine tourmaline. 

We recognize that this has been a difficult time for many affected by supply chain delays, so we feel especially grateful - approaching the holidays in particular - that our business operates within a different model. We value our ability to craft our own pieces in-house; because of this, we have been able to not only keep up with demand for in-stock items, but also build up a robust collection of ready-to-purchase pieces in preparation for our holiday buyers. 

For both those who have remained loyal patrons and those who have newly discovered us, weare deeply appreciative of your support in embracing hand-crafted design that reflects thebeautiful world around us. Being a part of your most celebrated moments is one of our greatesthonors.

Orbital Collection

As jewelry designers, we understand that no great design ever exists in isolation - we are constantly referencing, recalling, and reimagining. Music, architecture, apparel, and artwork act as a response to the world in which they are created, reflecting the political, environmental, and social movements that shape us all. 

Our Orbital Collection highlights the influence mid-century design continues to play in the creation of contemporary jewelry. The pieces in this collection have a signature abstract organic shape, which became a core motif during 1940-1960, a period which became known as the “Atomic Age.” Put into context, it’s rather obvious where the name developed from; the science of atoms was front and center for most Americans, as a response to the development of nuclear weapons and the atomic bomb. 

What it sparked in terms of design was a series of geometric and also free-form curvilinear shapes, some which rather closely reflected the composition of atoms and other scientific components. You likely are familiar with some of these design pieces and their lasting quality; think about the iconic, “Ball Wall Clock” by George Nelson; the famous, Eames Chair; or the dramatic and now ubiquitous, Sputnik Chandelier style. 

The curvy, whimsical lines of the Orbital Collection derive not only from the scientific context of the Atomic Age, but also evoke a spirit of modernity. As opposed to the sharper lines and ornate styles of previous decades, mid-century design welcomed in organic forms with their playful, humanizing feel. 

Though one may assume that pieces inspired by a particular time period may lack design longevity, the opposite is in fact true. Great design that draws on inspiration from nature, cultural significance, and the world at large proves to have a timeless quality, regardless of the period it takes inspiration from. While the decades pass and the world changes, the emotions and experiences behind the design connect us as humans from one generation to the next. The Orbital Collection ties us to both our past and our future, celebrating scientific curiosity and a playful, modern spirit.

Adding Maine Tourmaline to Your Jewelry Collection

Tourmaline can be found in many places worldwide, but Maine is touted as one of the highest quality producers, with gems that are exceptional in color and grade. Maine tourmaline is known for its pastel colors, whether that’s bluish green, pink, or a combination of both, as in the watermelon tourmaline. 

Maine tourmaline featured in our handmade paperclip chain.

Significant Maine tourmaline pendant.

If you live in Maine, or have a connection to Maine, your jewelry collection should include at least one piece featuring this beautiful gem. To address any hesitance on how to incorporate it, we’ve got some pointers on where to start and also some important considerations when selecting pieces. 

You may be someone who likes jewelry that doesn't require thought or special accommodations. If you like to go from a boat ride to a shower to bed without changing out or taking off your jewelry pieces, one thing to consider about tourmaline is that it’s relatively soft. Ranking around 7/7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, tourmaline can certainly be worn for everyday activities, but it’s especially important to be selective about the setting it is in. Make sure to choose pieces that offer protection for the gem when picking out earrings or pendants. A quality jeweler will be able to guide you to the right settings. 

Rings featuring tourmaline can be an excellent way to showcase their beauty. Because they are so unique, and also carry the significance of Maine history, they make an ideal heirloom to be passed through generations. Tourmalines are a beautiful pairing with diamonds, and sit beautifully against either silver or gold. For a less traditional engagement ring, a Maine tourmaline from a Maine goldsmith can be an ideal choice. It not only carries all the brilliance and beauty of a diamond, but also has significance for a couple who has ties to Maine. 

Like all colored stones, tourmaline does require some care to maintain its appearance, but don’t let that be a deterrent to wearing it regularly. Tourmaline actually generates a slight electric charge, causing dust to become attracted to it. Over time, as the dust accumulates on the back of the stone, it may appear duller and less brilliant. Luckily, it is quite easy to restore its brightness by using a soft toothbrush and water to lightly wash behind the stone. 

Simple Maine Tourmaline accent in our Center of Effort pendant: Cribstone Bridge Collection.

As Maine jewelers, we are proud to claim tourmaline as a native stone. With the right knowledge and application, it can become a staple in your own jewelry collection and a beautiful way to symbolize your personal connection to Maine.

New Horizons Engagement Ring Design

We are proud to feature a variety of designs in our engagement ring collection, and this season, we are expanding that offering. The New Horizons design complements our existing styles seamlessly, adding another option for discerning buyers embarking on an engagement. 

Designed to feature either a diamond or another precious stone, the New Horizons setting is structured and elegant. Its unique detailing highlights the specific shape of the chosen gem and provides it with stability and durability for an active lifestyle. 

Clean, polished, and angular, the New Horizons band can suit both a traditional and modern aesthetic. It’s name, New Horizons, is meant to encapsulate the freshness of the broadness of the future ahead for you and the one you love. 

Like all our engagement pieces, the New Horizon design can be crafted in either white or yellowgold, which is sustainable, renewed and refined. It is the perfect new addition to our family ofengagement rings, which now provides an even broader offering to meet every designsensibility.

Pearls on the High Seas: Basics for a Day on the Water (or a Night on the Wharf)

Given their origin, it’s fitting to associate pearls with the sea. As such, they are the ideal accoutrement for a day out on the water, and luckily, they can also transition perfectly to your evening adventures once you’ve hit shore. 

A Day Cruise 

The cruise setting can be utilized for both business or pleasure, and pearls fit it naturally for any occasion. Whether you are at a networking event, seeking that whale sighting, or enjoying a lobster educational cruise, pearls should be on your shortlist for accessories. They can be simple in nature, like a set of studs or a single pendant, or you can have fun with it and pair your trip with a conversation piece by a unique designer. If you don’t already own one, the shops and galleries of your harbor town are brimming with local talent specific to the area. 

Keshi pearl post earrings with diamond in rose gold by Keith Field.

A Personal Yacht Trip 

A night party on the boat calls for luxury and the classics - and nothing fits that brief quite like pearls. Once you have felt the softness and weight of a large South Sea pearl strand you will never want to wear anything else. And don’t limit yourself when it comes to color; high-quality pearls come in yellows, whites, blacks, and many variations in between, so your options are wide open to find the most fitting piece for the perfect evening. Looking for more of a sport ride than a leisurely float? Stick to classic posts with a silk scarf. While pearls are resistant to damage from salt spray, best practice is to keep your extra fine pieces at home during a more adventurous ride. 

Handmade South Sea pearl station necklace by Keith Field.

Adventurous Water Activities 

Speaking of those of you seeking a more active day on the water, you can still dress for the occasion! Of course, safety is the primary concern, and second comes the preservation of your fine jewelry. For water sports, don’t shy away from donning your pearls; everyday minimal pearl earrings or a pearl pendant on a cord will give you full freedom to be active but also look great in those candid photos. You'll feel great and be ready to rock the brewery, food truck, or clambake after you ride the waves. 

Yes, for the Men as Well 

The mention of pearls may harken images of Audrey Hepburn or Elizabeth Taylor, but men have also donned pearls for thousands of years. Men wearing pearls is particularly significant in connection to maritime culture; many a sea captain and privateer wore pears as status symbols of wealth and power. With a wide variety of colors and sizes, pearls have the ability to carry a masculine feel, especially when paired with leather or other more rustic materials. Rock your beachy style with a large designer pearl pendant paired with a crisp white shirt, or be more adventurous with pearl stud earrings or even a pearl featured on your bracelet.

Pearls Through the Ages

If you follow the story of pearls through the ages, you will discover an interesting and evolving presence in the world of fashion. Studying the commissioned paintings of the most prominent members of high society - from Elisabeth of Valois and Isabel de Aviz, to Mary Tudor and Maria Manuela - you will find them depicted with pearls as a central part of their appearance in their most famous portraits. It was even said that privateers were given a blind eye in order to bring pearls to Queen Victoria from overseas. 

Pearls made the shift from royalty to the middle class as a result of Mikimoto pioneering cultured pearl making. The slow and very fragile nature of growing these cultured pearls makes for a strong nacre with a high luster. With the return of American soldiers from WWII came an influx of pearls brought home to their loved ones, so if there is an old strand of graduated pearls in your family, it may well be a classic strand originating from the orient. 

Some time later, using the same principle developed by Mikimoto, South sea pearls were created in farms in Tahiti, Australia, the Philippines, and other locations in the South Sea. The difference between these and Mikimoto pearls is that they are formed using larger oysters that produce nacre in a variety of colors. For this reason, the pearls they produce can be golden, peach, or even black/peacock colored. 

These introductions of cultured pearls made pearl ownership much more commonplace, and along with that came the introduction of imitation pearls. This option made pearls into easily accessible fashion jewelry, with varying degrees of quality. Some production methods resulted in excellent caliber imitations, such as Majorca pearls, which are made using fish scale paste over a glass nucleus. This technique creates a luster and weight very similar to its natural counterpart, but at a fraction of the price. 

Though imitation pearls presented a quality option at a much more accessible price point, most of them were phased out when China began to increase their farming of natural pearls. By developing oversized hybrid mollusks, Chinese farms were able to produce multiple pearls in a short period of time; this allowed for pallets of these freshwater cultured pearls to be shipped throughout the world for use in fashion jewelry. These pearls can be identified by their coarse, somewhat powdery texture and their off-round shape. They can be found in a variety of shapes and can be dyed every color of the rainbow.. 

We are fortunate to be living in a time of abundance in regards to pearl options. Today, weenjoy cultured saltwater pearls from both the cold north and the balmy south of Japan; aplethora of freshwater pearls from China; and high quality imitation pearls from trustedcompanies like Swarovski. And of course, there are still the rare pieces designed using naturallyoccurring pearls and melo pearls (naturally formed in the shell of the melo melo snail, andextremely unique in color and luster.) Whichever option you select, you’ll know that your pearlsare part of a fashion fixation that spans across the ages.

Gold Jewelry: Finding Its Place In Every Wardrobe, for Every Occasion

There is no jewelry that bridges the gap between “basic” and “bling” quite as successfully as gold. It is just as appropriate on the red carpet as it is on the baseball field. Gold manages to be versatile in an effortless way; here are some of the very best ways we encourage you to go for the gold. 

Gold Earrings 

Tulip Earrings

Cosmos Earrings

Sea Grass Earrings

Gold hoops have been worn by women (and men) throughout the centuries and throughout the world. They are not only iconic, but flattering and stylish. It is hard to go wrong with hoops made of gold - but certain designs will suit your style better than others. Wide, simple, and twist hoops convey a classic look, whereas angles introduce a more edgy style. Hoops can be organic and fluid, or polished and sophisticated, depending on the weight and shape of the form. Don't forget to think about crafting a group if you have multiple piercings; a collection of small huggies and loops or a collection of mini gold diamond studs or fun geometric shapes can be a unique and curated look. 

Chains, Chains Chains! 

Yes, chains are the key element in holding your favorite pendant, but they also can really shine when worn alone. If you study the various types of gold chain, you’ll start to see just how beautiful they are themselves as jewelry pieces. If you’re questioning what style is best for you, general advice is to go for more traditional styles for your investment pieces; a heavy gold chain is a lifelong investment, but well worth it for its beauty and longevity. Layering chains is a popular fashion statement today, and it can be done with various lengths, styles, and numbers of chains. If you love dressing with a long chain, splurge on a 38" or longer, and wrap it double when you need a short chain. Basic pendant chains are classically 18" because it is very versatile (layered shorter for a choker look, longer for a long chain look). 

Gold Rings 

Tourmaline

Harbor Light

Lobster Claw

The words “gold ring” may have you thinking of a smooth, flat, traditional band style, but there are lots of options for polished or textured dome rings, or even the scalloped signature design of a “shrimp” ring. Anything you wear on your hands is something you have to expect will be exposed to the elements of daily life, so invest a little in your classic style and save on your fashion pieces. Signet rings are designed to be cherished through the ages, so when you’re purchasing one, focus on getting a quality die struck piece that compacts the metal and resists dings and dents. 

Anything That Makes You Happy 

Bee with Sapphire

Sea Horse with Sapphire

Gold has the ability to take something quirky and make it instantly fashionable. So don’t be afraid to adorn yourself with any gold piece that puts a smile on your face. Gold pendants can run the gamut, from a rustic ancient talisman, a whimsical bumblebee, or a sleek modern paperclip design. A perfect example is the gold carabiner pendants and charm holders that are trending right now. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box with a thick, heavy, gold bangle or an industrial style link bracelet. Or turn that old gold charm collection into pendants or on a strand. Gold allows you the freedom to play with your own personal design expression and always look right on style.

December Birthstones: Turquoise, Tanzanite, and Zircon

A birthday in December gives you lots to celebrate - and many birthstones to choose from. Three brilliant blue stones are representative of this last month in the calendar year, and though they all share a color hue, they are quite different in their histories, their qualities, and their appeal. 

Turquoise 

This earthy gemstone has been noted as a staple in human adornment since the earliest recorded years of history, all over the globe. Egyptian, Native American, Aztec, and Chinese cultures are just a few who used turquoise to embellish the living and honor the deceased. Europe first was introduced to the gem when it was brought from Persian mines to Turkey to showcase at bazaars. “Turquois” is the French word for “Turkish,” hence the name given to the bluish green gem. Turquoise has long carried spiritual significance, specifically within the Native American culture which considers the stone to be a living force, capable of healing. Many civilizations honor the ability of turquoise to protect its wearer and bring good luck. 

Tanzanite 

In distinct comparison to turquoise, tanzanite is a very new and rare gem, having only come into popular fashion around 60 years ago. Not surprisingly, the gem is found in Tanzania, mined at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Because this is the only known source of Tanzanite, some forecasters anticipate the supply may reach its end in the upcoming future. Tiffany & Co. popularized tanzanite when the founder’s great grandson fell in love with the gem, which boasts a gorgeous purplish blue color. Depending on the way it is cut and the angle at which it is looked at, it has the ability to appear as two or even three different colors. Naturally occurring purple and blue tanzanite is extremely rare - more often it is brought to this beautiful state by heating the brownish mineral, zoisite, until it changes the oxidation enough to create a cool blue hue. 

Dew Drop with Tanzanite

Zircon 

Blue Zircon Atomic Posts

Though it may be the least well known of the three, zircon holds its own as a stunning blue gem with a richness that rivals its more prominent gemstone counterparts. The luster of zircon is due to its high refractive index, creating a kind of “doubling” of the light inside. When well cut, it shines with a brilliance and light similar to a diamond, and actually has a history of being used as a diamond alternative. Most rough zircon is originally brown and can be transformed into either a crystal blue or a colorless state using heat treatment. Here at Keith Field Goldsmith, we hold zircon in high esteem for its beauty paired with its accessibility and feature it often in our pieces. Beyond just being stunning to look at, zircon is considered a “stone of virtue” which can bestow honor, wisdom, and equilibrium on its wearer. Zircons have long been representative of purity and commitment.

Gingko Leaves - A Story of Hope

Ginkgo leaves are not only beautiful in their form and structure, but are celebrated symbols of hope, strength, and resilience. The tree on which the leaf grows - the ginkgo tree - is native to Southeast Asia, and now flourishes in parts of the United States as well. The lifespan of the ginkgo can be well over a thousand years, and its existence has been traced back to before the Mesozoic Era. Since other organisms existing at this time are now extinct, the ginkgo tree is considered a true “living fossil.”

New 2020 Ginkgo Leaf earrings by Keith Field.

Its historic existence and longevity is only one part of this remarkable tree, which has become known as an expert in survival. During the atomic explosion on Hiroshima, which devastated plant, animal, and human lives, ginkgo trees remained alive - and even generated new growth within days of the bombing. The distinct and elegant leaves of the gingko have come to represent peace amidst destruction; stability during upheaval; hope in the face of despair.

Significant Tourmaline pendant set in handmade ginkgo leaves in Art Nouveau Style.