Metal Atelier Values

At Metal Atelier, I believe that how something is made and where the materials come from is just as important as how it looks.

The only constant is change, and I am ever striving to improve both production methods and supply chains to be more sustainable.

Production

The majority of my collections are individually produced using the ancient sand cast technique in a beautifully dusty and cozy atelier in the shadow of the former Berlin Wall. Work produced from the lost wax method is done in a local family owned and run casting house. Everything is designed, fabricated, and finished in Berlin, nothing is outsourced abroad nor mass produced.

My hands are on every step, with the occasional help of a studio assistant.

Metals

Metal Atelier is a Fairmined Licensee Brand. The Fairmined initiative supports small scale mining and guarantees that the gold and silver is fully traceable, money goes back into the local communities, and the mining is done in a sustainable way.

Although the core collections are made with recycled metals, almost every piece of jewelry is available to be produced in 100% Fairmined Gold or Silver at a slight upcharge from collection pricing, reach out for a quote.

Stones

All diamonds are sourced from vendors compliant with the Kimberly Accord. My colored stones are sourced from German industry leaders who work directly with mines and cutting centers around the world. In addition, I currently have a large selection of sapphires and spinels available which I sourced on a buying trip to Sri Lankan stone markets.

If you are interested in fully traceable stones, I am happy to source certified mine to market options for you.

Although I work primarily with natural diamonds, it is also an option to customize pieces with lab grown diamonds produced from a carbon neutral German company.

The Past
With over 16 years of jewelry experience, 9 of it here in Berlin, I bring expansive knowledge to the proverbial table. All of my more esoteric mixed metal pieces are the results of years of experimentation to know what will and will not successfully work together, with more than a few melted messes and tears, occasionally also blood. My more traditional pieces are the product of years of continuing education and equipment upgrades, also with occasional blood and tears. .

I have also been teaching jewelry workshops for 8 years and can confidently guide students thru most any potential struggle or troubleshooting needed in the course of our workshops to achieve success without any blood or tears. Our studio is fully equipped and a random question will often prompt some rummaging in a bin, and an overly detailed and obscenity laced explanation laden with visual aides.

The Present
I use a very nuanced pricing formula to both give you the best price possible and make sure that my wages are covered fairly and all studio overhead is maintained, from rent to bookkeeping to timely VAT payment to professional organisations and insurance. Seemingly small things, like being fully insured, help to offer peace of mind when your heirlooms are trusted with me or a project is midway.

The Future
Everything is priced to ensure that I will still be here for you in two, five, or ten years. If I make your wedding bands now and you would like to add a matching milestone pendant down the road, I will be here. If you take a workshop with me now and have questions about working on your own or sourcing materials later, I will be here.

Sometimes anti social, always anti fascist.
Although many would digress that politics should be kept out of running a small business, I disagree and maintain a strict policy of no fascism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, or general right wing ideology.