In the world of handmade jewelry, inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. For the Calligraphy Collection, that inspiration began with a simple yet elegant hairpin, crafted by Elaine for her sister Elle’s wedding in early 2019. Made from 12-gauge wire, the pin featured an organic, sculptural knot - a delicate yet bold statement piece that caught our team’s attention and sparked an idea: what if we expanded on this design?

xo Elaine 

Inspiration to Creation

The design of the hairpin is a testament to the way that Elaine designs jewelry. Starting with an idea and some metal then using trial and error to turn it into something beautiful. The initial challenge was transforming this single hairpin concept into a cohesive jewelry collection. The defining feature, airily tied wire, needed to feel effortless yet structured. We experimented with different materials, even playing with dead soft tubing, a material used for our Pagoda hoops. We also put our wire through a process called “annealing,” which is the heating of metal in order to remove internal stresses and make it softer/easier to work with. This tubing and annealed wire had the perfect balance of flexibility and durability, allowing us to craft lightweight, sculptural designs that carried the same fluidity as the original hairpin. 

As Elaine played with different shapes, twisting and knotting the metal into organic forms, a collection began to take shape. The name “Calligraphy” came from Cameron, a longtime friend and customer in Fredericksburg, VA, who saw a parallel between the flowing metalwork and the elegant strokes of handwritten script. With a name that perfectly encapsulated the essence of the collection, we moved forward with refining the designs.

Elaine and her sister, Elle, on her wedding day with the first iteration of Calligraphy - her hairpin!

The Art of Replication

One of the biggest hurdles in bringing the Calligraphy Collection to life for customers was consistency. The beauty of these pieces lay in their organic, freeform nature, but this also made them difficult to replicate at scale. Unlike traditional cast jewelry, each Calligraphy piece had to be individually shaped by hand.

The responsibility of standardizing the process fell to Heather, who is now our Production Operations Manager and Senior Designer. Other members of our production team - Natasha had mastered the Chemistry Collection, Caitlin had perfected the Concentric Collection, and now Heather was given Calligraphy. She relied on various mandrels and pliers, developing a ‘mental template’ (as she likes to call it) to maintain consistency across each design. The challenge? She was the only one who knew how to make them. 

For two years, Heather was the sole maker of the Calligraphy Collection. Then, as our production team expanded, Priscilla, another jeweler,  joined and took over the collection. She refined the process in a way that worked for her, even creating instructional videos to train future team members. These videos became invaluable as we gradually introduced the entire production team to the process.

Our production handcrafting designs from our Calligraphy Collection.

Make Days: Crafting as a Team

Fast forward to today, and the Calligraphy Collection is no longer a one-person endeavor. Through our “Make Days,” we’ve turned what was once a time-consuming, solitary task into a team effort. These structured production sessions not only help us streamline our workflow and reduce lead times but also create a sense of camaraderie within the team. Training new team members has become more efficient, ensuring that the collection continues to thrive while maintaining its signature handcrafted quality.

A process photo of curving the wire by hand, and a previous Calligraphy Collection photo.

Staying True to the Handmade Process

The essence of the Calligraphy Collection lies in its handmade nature. The organic, sculptural forms cannot be replicated by machines; each piece must be individually crafted by our jewelers. This commitment to craftsmanship means that while no two designs are exactly the same, each one carries the artistry and care that define Elaine B Jewelry. 

If you look back at the original photography of the collection and compare it to our current pieces, you’ll notice subtle differences. We strive for consistency, but each Calligraphy piece remains uniquely its own - a wearable work of art.

Two different iterations of the Calligraphy Hoops over the years. Left being past, right being present day.

The journey of the Calligraphy Collection is a testament to the artistry, adaptability, and dedication that goes into handmade jewelry. From a single wedding hairpin to a full collection cherished by many, it continues to evolve, shaped by the hands and hearts of our incredible team.

View the full Calligraphy Collection here.

Shop All Collections here.

Shop All Gemstone Jewelry here.