From the Bench: January Updates, Garnet, & New Work

Elise Thompson
Jan 12
3 min read

Happy New Year! I'm back at the bench and in full organization mode at home. This first blog post of the year is a little different from what I've done in the past. I wanted to take a moment to share what's new at Mejia Jewelry, what I've been working on behind the scenes, and what's on the horizon for the months ahead. l'd also truly love to hear from you. What would you like to see more of this year? More gemstone education? Everyday gold jewelry? Bold silver pieces? Jewelry-making insights?

Contact me and tell me. I read every message.

Website Updates

At the very start of the year, I reorganized the navigation bar on my website so you can now see all the ways to shop clearly and in one place. You'll notice this update when browsing on desktop. Toward the end of last year, 1 discovered a glitch in the old menu that prevented shoppers from clicking the category dropdowns. If that slowed you down or discouraged you from purchasing, I'm so sorry, and thank you for your patience. If you ever notice anything funky on the website, please email me and let me know. Since I'm not shopping my own site regularly, I don't always catch every issue, and I truly appreciate the extra eyes. I also added a bunch of new pieces in December, which you can now find under New Arrivals. Be sure to take a look if you haven't already.

January's Birthstone: Garnet

January's birthstone is garnet, and it's one of my all-time favorite gemstones. While most people think of garnet as red, it actually comes in a beautiful spectrum of colors:

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Deep red (pyrope)

Purplish red (rhodolite)

Purple (grape garnet)

Pink (Malaya)

Vibrant green (tsavorite and demantoid)

Orange (mandarin)

Brownish orange to brown (spessartite)

Greenish yellow (Mali garnet)

There are even blended varieties within the garnet family, which makes the gemstone endlessly fascinating. Garnet is a durable stone, measuring about 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale, and it's found in locations all over the world. Its color is completely natural, no heat enhancement, just rich, vibrant hues that truly stand on their own.

JANUARY PRESS HIGHLIGHT

The red garnet Peek-A-Boo Hoops, featuring a snake motif, garnet briolettes, and sponge coral charms, were featured in JCK Online's Jewelry Agenda, spotlighting the piece as part of January's garnet moment.

What I'm Working On Right Now

I'm starting the year with a few meaningful projects that I'm especially excited about:

1. Hand-Stamped Name Rings

A longtime client just ordered her eighth hand-stamped name ring. She's been collecting them since 2014, one for each child. I'm incredibly honored to have created a ring to mark the birth of every one of her children.

2. A Custom Morganite Ring

I'm currently working on a special commission featuring a stunning pear-shaped pink morganite. The design includes a delicate tapered shank, classic prong setting, and tiny diamonds set on either side of the center stone. If you'd like something similar, with a gemstone of your choice, feel free to reach out. You can also choose from my library of loose gemstones.

3. Heart Lockets I've always been intrigued by vintage lockets- the idea of keeping a lock of hair, a photo, or a tiny keepsake hidden behind gold and

gemstones. My heart lockets are inspired by the Heart Padlock Cameo Pendant but reimagined. The keyhole faces forward and opens into a locket, allowing you to store photos or drawings inside. You can even peek into the locket through the front keyhole; a small "peep" of your love.

Keep an eye out for the official release of the Facet Play Collection, which I teased during my Jewelry Advent Calendar. The collection includes three pairs of earrings and two necklaces, and it's jewelry you experience as much as you wear. Each bead begins as a solid block of wax, hand-filed to reveal crisp planes and unexpected angles; much like sculpting a miniature gemstone. After casting in sterling silver, the beads are finished with a soft satin glow. They have weight, movement, and a tactile quality that invites you to play with them throughout the day.

Tucson Gem Show

I'll be heading to the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show again this year in February; the largest gem and mineral show in the world. It's where I have access to some of the most extraordinary gemstones, both classic and rare. . Here are a few highlights from year's past, and if you've been dreaming of a special gemstone, reach out before my trip. l'd love to hunt for something just for you.