June 22, 2015
Choosing an Engagement Ring is a very unique and personal task. Wedding rings are a symbol of your love and commitment to one another and they are something you will wear for the rest of your life. Because of the important meaning behind this piece of jewelry, you deserve to have a custom, one-of-a-kind ring that’s unique to you! That’s exactly what Alyssa, owner of Alyssa & Anna Jewelry, has set out to do. Her company designs and creates custom jewelery and engagement rings only using conflict-free diamonds, the prettiest gems, and recycled golds and silvers. I met up with her at her adorable home studio in Oshkosh to drink tea and chat about jewelry, weddings, and how much we love animals!
When did you start your business?
I started my business at the beginning of 2015, after working as a a freelance designer for about a year and a half.
What interested you about your craft? Why start your own business?
As a kid, I always loved to make things and art has always been a huge part of my life. My dad is an inventor and an incredibly talented goldsmith, so I think I got my knack of creating from him. At a very young age, I spent a lot of time in his studio, playing with gemstones, pliers, and small gold mountings. When I was eight years old, I used to draw pictures of rings and as a pretend job, he actually paid me $5 for each of my designs. But what ultimately drew me to jewelry design was a summer CAD class. I learned how to build anything I could imagine using a computer, and with the help of a 3D printer or milling machine, my ideas became physical, real life pieces. It was, and still is, incredible. I started Alyssa & Anna because I wanted to create a brand that I believed in. Over half of the gold we use is recycled. Our diamonds are conflict-free. All of our bridal and collection pieces are hand-casted in our studio. Every single stone is hand set by an expert jeweler. We put a lot of care in not only the design, but the craftsmanship of each piece.
What kind of schooling/training have you had?
I took a summer CAD course, but am mostly self-taught. I’m currently studying gemology at the Gemological Institute of America.
How would you describe your style?
I would definitely describe it as modern, non-traditional and a little bohemian.
What are some of your unique offerings?
We create custom pieces! If you can’t quite find the right engagement ring that fits you perfectly, or you have an old piece of jewelry you’d like to recreate into something new, we’ll create it for you. Also, all of our pieces are eco-friendly. We care a lot about the environment so all of our diamonds are conflict-free and about 80% of the gold we use is recycled and renewed. We’re currently working on making that 100% of our gold recycled, we are researching mines that are environmentally and socially conscious. We want to go beyond just the “conflict-free” stamp.
Favorite part of weddings (or the wedding planning process?)
Even though I obviously love the jewelry, my second favorite detail is always the flowers.
Favorite business experience?
This is a tough one, because I’ve loved almost every one. But I’d have to say it was coming up with an engagement ring design for one of my dear friends. She had no idea it was happening! We actually melted down and used the gold from her late grandmother’s wedding ring. The whole thing was just really special.
Any Helpful Tips for Brides searching for their Engagement Ring?
Go into jewelry stores and try rings on! It always looks so different on your hand than the display and you might even fall in love with a style that you never even thought you’d like.
What is in store for Alyssa & Anna Jewelry in the future?
We’re currently working on our online store (launching this summer!) and also working on opening our first physical store sometime next year.
Tell us more about Alyssa!
I have a two year old miniature schnauzer who is the sweetest thing. In my spare time, I love to travel, read books, do yoga and paint.
Details about your business:
Website: Our website it under construction currently but check out all our designs on Instagram!
Instagram: @alyssaannajewelry
Hours: Currently by appointment only
[…] PINIMAGE Photos: Alyssa Nguyen | Shaunae Teske […]