Jewelry For Modern Living
Sticks & Stones was established in Portland, OR in 2009. Specializing in handcrafted jewelry, from individually sourced natural & organic materials such as reclaimed wood, precious metals, antler sheds, fossils and gemstones- every Sticks & Stones piece of jewelry is a one of a kind sculptural piece of art. No two pieces are identical.
Upholding the ethos that the quality of one's craft comes from the love for the details and the passion of the product - and inspired by the process from start to finish, each piece is handmade with care and attention to every detail.
Owner, founder, and jeweler, Benjamin Posin started his journey as an apprentice for a custom goldsmith, and attending the Gemological Institute of America where he received his Graduate Gemologist, Jeweler, Comprehensive Wax Techniques and Design degrees. Following graduation, he worked in high-end jewelry sales which left a hole in his heart, as he longed to cultivate and empower his creative side.
Now, 11 years later, Sticks & Stones is a manifestation of that leap of faith - combining traditional techniques, unorthodox materials, and years of dedication to create one of a kind, wearable works of art.
About Our Process
Each creation is unique with its own individual story. When the process begins, we start by sourcing the perfect piece(s) of wood that will be used for the base of the ring or jewelry. Selected both for its beauty and durability, the wood is then cut and shaped for the proper size and style.
The top & side material(s) are then added, and over the course of about a week within this process, the metal is hand pierced and crafted using all old world techniques. After each component is ground and shaped, the rivets are added for extra durability and as a functional embellishment.
The piece is then sanded with several grits of sandpaper to ensure fit and comfort, and soaked in an oil blend over night to penetrate deep into the wood. The wood is then dried and dipped several more times, and after a short curing process, becomes thoroughly inspected, polished to perfection, and ready to wear.
Materials are either custom curated by your vision, or our team designs pieces in house, envisioning endless possibilities in combinations of materials. There is no end to the variety of styles and options that can be used.
Behind The Scenes Peek Into Some Of The Steps That Bring Each Creation To Life
The beginning. The first step is in base material selection for the body.
Drilling the finger hole before sanding to size.
Shaping and sanding the shape of the ring for desired style.
Removing excess material after the metal sides have been added.
Drilling the holes for the rivets. Riveting is done to maximize hold and durability.
We hand brand each ring with our makers mark, so you know it was crafted by Sticks & Stones. Hand branding may not apply on bands, and custom wedding band orders unless otherwise requested.
Grinding inside each finger hole to create a rounded, comfort fit.
Gemstone selection. We strive for the finest quality gemstones available.
Each gem is inspected for quality.
The last step in the process is polishing the ring to reach the highest luster of the material.
Sticks & Stones thrives on creating beautiful designs, as well as offering custom made jewelry for rings, necklaces, earring, cufflinks and more. If you have a vision or question in mind, or have your own materials you would like to have made into custom jewelry as a wearable work of art, please visit our Custom Orders page to start that discussion.
Thank you to our friends, community & customers for these 11 years. Here's to many more to come.