There is a unique story behind every piece of jewelry brought in to studio for commission.
There was a lady who brought in a medallion that belonged to her grandfather 鈥� who was in the Battle of Dieppe during the Second World War 鈥� that had been massaged so much, it was worn thin.
Beautiful Opals 鈥� purchased in Europe by a client鈥檚 husband 鈥� that had yet to be worn.
And a stunning diamond, passed down by a client鈥檚 mother, that was hidden in an outdated ring.
鈥淎 lot of this is precious memories, it鈥檚 their old wedding band from a husband that鈥檚 no longer with them, their grandma鈥檚 diamond they鈥檝e had in the family for 100 years. There鈥檚 sacred energy and meaning behind a lot of pieces that aren鈥檛 just sitting in a drawer anymore, they鈥檙e no longer lonely. They鈥檙e now being re-purposed into modern pieces that they can pass on,鈥� Chopik said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing a lot of family heirlooms, a lot of historical pieces, and we鈥檙e doing a ton of gold commissions and my business is shifting.鈥�
Revamping clients鈥� old, forgotten gold is a new undertaking that Chopik is doing in response to dynamic changes in the industry.
A veteran jewelry designer known for her unique, organic style, she has branched out and hired goldsmith Kaiden Bell to help with her new 1-2-3 gold commissions program.
鈥淚n my entire career in the fashion industry, I鈥檝e noticed there鈥檚 been a big shift. It鈥檚 a global village, online sales, people aren鈥檛 buying the same patterns. Everything is shifting and it鈥檚 a really tough industry to be in to be quite honest. What we thought was a given is no longer. So I鈥檝e had to learn to open up and go with the flow and have many facets of the business to keep it going,鈥� Chopik said.
鈥淲ith the industry shifting and shutting down on itself, it has actually been an opportunity for me to find new ways to grow. And I needed a new silversmith, and one of the people who surfaced was the goldsmith, Kaiden. And I thought, 鈥楢h, I don鈥檛 know, can I afford a goldsmith?鈥� And then this voice inside 鈥� I listened to my gut 鈥� and it said, 鈥榊eah, it鈥檚 time.鈥欌��
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When they do a piece, Chopik is still the designer, but Bell brings in the technical expertise.
鈥淗e comes at it from a fine gold perspective, and I come at it as an artist. And I think he鈥檚 learning to bend the rules now, too. Where on earth would he get the opportunity to do some of the really crazy stuff that we鈥檙e doing?鈥� Chopik said.
鈥淭his is wearable art.鈥�
Bell began making jewelry when he was just 16 years old. His grandfather did goldsmith work as a hobby, and had a shop in his backyard that Bell used to play in.
He said there is a noticeable difference in jewelry that is made by hand.
鈥淚t鈥檚 got personality, it鈥檚 got soul to it. It鈥檚 not something that鈥檚 machine made that 1,000 people are going to have the same thing,鈥� he said.
鈥淎 lot of the time people will use CAD software and they鈥檒l print the ring. They鈥檒l 3D print it and send it off to the casters, then the stone setters set the rocks and the polishers polish it, and it will take a couple hours of manufacturing.
鈥淏ut when it鈥檚 handmade, and you鈥檙e doing everything from scratch and you鈥檙e melting down the metals, it takes a lot longer. But, I think that you can achieve a better result from that. You can tell when a ring has been cast as opposed to handmade.鈥�
For Chopik, there is a certain spirituality and energy behind each piece.
鈥淏ack at the turn of the century, my grandmother had one gold bracelet and one simple band. They were peasant people, and that鈥檚 all she had her entire life. It took, I don鈥檛 know how long, for my grandpa to buy that for her,鈥� she said.
鈥淪o my sister has it, and she鈥檚 going to give it to her daughter when she passes on. These are memories and stories that we can keep alive by re-purposing it into something else.鈥�
Chopik鈥檚 design centre and retail store is located at 112-19289 91原创 Bypass, and is open to the public for viewings. No gold is left on the premises.
Commissions are done by appointment. Call 604-575-9318 or email customerservice@karynchopik.com.
miranda@langleytimes.com
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