At the beginning of May, you most likely noticed that we had closed for a week. While the owners had gone to an education conference hosted by the American Gem Society, I traveled north to Alaska to see family. Despite not going there to shop for jewelry or even learn more about it, I still found myself browsing the selections at gift shops and the custom jeweler my grandmother uses for all of her repairs while simultaneously educating my family about jewelry whether they asked me to or not. At this point, it has become my instinct to wander into jewelry stores in other states to see how the culture of the area changes the jewelry a retailer carries.
In Oregon, particularly in Olufson Designs, we have a wide variety of pieces. We have staples like tennis bracelets, gemstone studs and classic engagement and wedding rings. Any fine jeweler will have these available for purchase. Then we have specialty pieces for Oregon. Sunstone, Oregon opal and pieces with intricately carved mountains and silhouettes of the state itself and things we associate with the Pacific Northwest, including mountains and forests. I’ve also found that jewelry in Oregon typically has a certain look to it. Everyone has their individual taste of course, but our outdoor environment can heavily influence it. Staple pieces like gold hoops or diamond studs are easy to see daily on others and in our own jewelry collections. However, Oregon jewelry reflects the state itself. The greater population, myself excluded, is outdoorsy, taking advantage of the mountains, forests and beaches Oregon has to offer at the drop of a hat. Our jewelry leans more toward hammered finishes and freeform designs, which seem more rugged and artisanal than what would be popular in metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or New York City. A specialty at Olufson Designs also includes our peak pendants, which are typically sought out as the perfect gift for Oregonians. Sunstone is another popular option as our state gemstone, which can be used as a subtle nod to Oregon or as a more overt nod when set in jewelry that takes on Oregon’s silhouette. This jewelry is often a souvenir for family who moved away, visitors or just for those who have a strong love of their home state.
Jewelry in Alaska, including fine jewelry, casual silver pieces from gift shops strewn throughout Anchorage and jewelry made by members of the local indigenous tribes, all reflect that state and its culture as well. Nephrite jade, gold nuggets and materials like walrus ivory or baleen (a keratin based material found in the mouths of whales that is used for filter feeding) are common. Though, the ivory and baleen are regulated and often restricted in use to indigenous artists only. The pieces available in fine jewelry shops, like the one my grandmother goes to, align similarly with what we do at Olufson Designs. Staple pieces with diamonds and colored gemstones, engagement rings, wedding bands and souvenir jewelry. I saw many pieces inlaid with gold nuggets or of the whole nuggets with a bail attached to become pendants displayed alongside silhouettes of the state and iconic images from the state. Ulu knives, wildlife and mountains are all common adornments. The mountain pieces reminded me of the peak pendants we sell here. Although, we do make a Denali pendant here which is a nice homage to North America’s tallest peak, which was known as Mt. McKinley until 2016.
Trends often come in a cycle, reaching nationally and internationally thanks to social media and digital publications of fashion magazines. And while those trends are ever present in our day to day lives, some things stay completely separate from that cycle despite how fast it has been moving as of late. Every state has its own type of jewelry that often correlates to what is abundant in the area. The Southwest is known for large turquoise and silver pieces while Oregon’s pieces utilize sunstone and even Holley Blue agate or Oregon opal. Alaska is no different, despite how far it seems from here, completely separated from the continental United States. When jewelry materials are in abundance, it only makes sense to utilize them in a unique way that can become an everyday piece or a souvenir that gets added into a collection.