Category: Artisan Jewelry

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Commemorative Bronze and Silver Plaques from Photos

From left to right: K. Barry Sharpless (2011 and 2022 Nobel laureate), Emily Prince-Ralby, Leopold Kolb, Three Hummingbirds (from a painting by Frau Kolb)

I have developed a technique that allows me to turn 2D photos into 3D embossed image. This allowed me to make bronze and silver mantle pieces that feature people (and dogs) that I love.

K. Barry Sharpless: My hero from grad school. I had the honor to work with him in the early 1990s, then again from 1997 to 2004. Barry received the 2001 Chemistry Nobel prize for asymmetric catalysis, and the 2022 Nobel prize for Click Chemistry. The latter is a technique that Sharpless invented and the three of us (Sharpless, M.G. Finn and Hartmuth C. Kolb) pioneered and further developed (in my case for molecular imaging), leading up to the 2001 publication, where we formally introduced this way for obtaining “Diverse Chemical Function from a Few Good Reactions” (by Hartmuth C. Kolb, M.G. Finn, K. Barry Sharpless, Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 2001).

K. Barry Sharpless / Click Chemistry

Emily Prince-Ralby: My amazing niece. I am so proud of her for becoming a medical doctor. The patients are lucky!

Emily Prince Ralby, Doctor of Medicine

Leopold Kolb: Our wonderful, beloved rescue Chihuahua mix who died of old age in August 2022, after spending 12 years with us.

Leopold Kolb

Frau Kolb’s Three Hummingbird Oil Painting in Bronze. This is one of my favorite paintings, so I wanted to have a mantel piece.

Frau Kolb’s humming bird painting and pendants & mantel piece

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The Art of Making Jewelry

During the pandemic, I taught myself to make jewelry. Many of the designs are inspired by Caridad’s beautiful paintings. Here is a brief video that highlights some of the key steps in the process, such as pouring liquid silver and quenching the cast in cold water. Exciting work!

Here are some examples. Most items are gold, rhodium or ruthenium plated Sterling Silver items, but I have also made jewelry in 18K gold with real diamonds.

Please contact me with any selections or design wishes.

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TalkingGrid Exclusive Jewelry

I have added a slew of new custom designs to the growing jewelry collection. There are science-inspired items, such as liposome and Nobel Prize-winning click chemistry pendants (K. Barry Sharpless 2022), as well as items related to my work as a neuroscientist. As of late, I have grown fond of electroforming, which allows me to make jewelry items with organic shapes. I am also a big fan of cabochons, especially the beautiful star sapphire and star ruby cabochons.

I just finished a 3.1 carat canary diamond engagement ring in 14K white gold. The band has 18 small 1.5 mm diamonds. A hand made labor of love – each diamond was set by hand under a microscope. $8,500.

A 3.1 carat canary yellow "canary" diamond in a 14k gold band, which contains 18 little 1.5mm diamonds. $8500.
A 3.1 carat canary yellow “canary” diamond in a 14k gold band, which contains 18 little 1.5mm diamonds. $8500.
3.1 carat yellow diamond in 14K white gold.
A beautiful 3.1 carat yellow diamond engagement ring in 14K gold. The band has 18 1.5mm diamonds.

Last year, I made a 2.1ct diamond ring in 18K gold for less than $3000 and a liposome earring in 14K with diamonds and emeralds for $1250. The stethoscope pendant and ring are made of Sterling Silver ($80 each).

Here are some examples. Most items are gold, rhodium or ruthenium plated Sterling Silver, but all items are also available in 14K or 18K Gold upon request. I will be happy to customize designs.

Please contact me with any selections or design wishes. The Silver-based items typically cost between $100-$200, depending on the materials and complexity.

Solitaire ring (2ct diamond, 18K gold), liposome earring (14K gold) and stethoscope pendant & ring.
Solitaire ring (2ct diamond, 18K gold), liposome earring (14K gold) and stethoscope pendant & ring.