Kye Alexander Phillips

Benjamin Craig
The Work of Art Frinq
05-03-2016
Jewelry
Diamonds Are a Girls Best-Friend, Every Kiss Begins with Kay, He Went to
Jared. These are some of many iconic phrases that have been implanted into society creating an
expectation; a similar ideal between people and cultures. In agreeance, we have adopted this
expectation as a social norm. Strategic design companies target us every day with these catchphrases, implying if you have our product, you will be one of us. Jewelry is something every
person typically concerns themselves with, whether it be earrings, necklaces, watches, bracelets,
rings, etc. I want to expose jewelry for what it is! How you can be on the inside without
breaking the bank? Why do we hold so much value in jewelry? What is Jewelry? What does it
symbolize? What we know is this: comprised minerals and compounds make up different
structures, that can classify stones and gems apart. The environment and its natural conditions
can also play a role in the forming of these jewels. With the assistance of human tools, we are
learning ways to cheat the natural process it takes to form these priceless beauties, and discover
new formations. An example being man made diamonds; with the applied force of machines
diamonds are able to be created at a rapid pace, ensuring a cheaper production rate, and a higher
profit for investors. While man made diamonds are more affordable because of the lack in
density, jewelers are seeing a nice profit. Pearls are another phenomena widely enjoyed and
consumed, but what is the difference from a fresh water pearls and a salt water pearl? We once

comprised our wealth by the silver standard, which then changed to the gold standard, and now
we use the fiat standard. The ring that your significant other placed on your wedding finger is a
symbolic promise to uphold faithful values to you solely, and by excepting you vow to be loyal.
It represents to others that you are committed to one another and youre off the market. The
bracelet that you gave to your best friend is to represent your bond. As is the rebellious navel
piercing that your parents instructed you not to get when you were a teen.
Stop #1 on our tour, will give us a blast from the past, and some of the most current and
modern designs, as well as a little background on jewelry. The Portland Art Museum in located
on 1219 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR, 97205. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
from 10 am 5 pm, and Thursday and Friday from 10 am 8 pm. Founded in 1892 making it the
West Coasts oldest museums, as well as the seventh oldest in America. This is a place where
you will find ancient, cultural, and modern jewelry. Pay special attention to symbolism behind
the fine master pieces. Some cultures practiced body adornment. Look for craftsmen ship details
and materials used. What were some of the tools accessible during the Era it was made from?
What were some restrictions, what restrictions have been eliminated making it easier now to
create, guide us when making jewelry?
Stop #2 brings us to Rolex, a privately held watch manufacturing company. Founded in
London in 1905 by Alfred Davis and Hans Wilsdorf. Rolex being the largest single band
company, producing about 2000 watches a day according to Forbes. Contrary to Popular belief
the brothers were neither Swiss nor Watch Makers, but instead were a part of the Hermann
Aeglers Swiss Movement. They cleverly displayed the watches in high quality cases. These
watches were pre-made and delivered to jewelers who would place their name on the dial. Due to
War-Time taxes in 1919 the moved their company headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland. Rolex

lead many of the innovations in watch making, including but not limited to: The first watch to
display two time-zones at the same time. They only began making their own watches in 1919
when they moved their headquarters, with funding to project new designs and customizations,
they release new sleek watches every year. Here you should question what your buying, a name
or a quality product? Is it worth it? Can you find the same product somewhere else for less?
What might have made them such a success?
At Stop #3 we arrive at the beautiful clear doors of Nordstrom. Sweden Johan Nordstrm,
a man who would later been known as John Nordstrom after his legal name change. Mr.
Nordstrom was a Participant of the Klondike Gold Rush in Canadas Yokon territory during
1897. He went on to sell his discovery for 13,000 dollars, which he invested in opening a shoe
shop that would later be comprised of only the best fashion designers and brands making it the
#1 fashion retailer in the world. In 1966 opened up in down town Portland. In 1967 they began
combining with other leading designers, opening their market to their first line of jewelry. You
should check your budget before you come and be willing to pay the price for their product.
Consider where the jewelry was made, does that have an influence on style or technique in
craftsmen-ship?
Stop #4 we find ourselves stumbling into Thought Crime Tattoo. The family owned
business opened its shop in 2004. Besides offering aesthetically pleasing tattoos, they are known
for their Piercing services. They pierce everything from navels, nips, septums, and lips, etc.;
with a wide variety of sterling silver jewelry. Mike the Shops Piercing artist received his
piercing license because of his fascination with ancient cultures, and their traditional practices
pertaining to body adornment. Here you can have the opportunity to learn about piercing

techniques, maintenance and care necessary when getting a piercing, as well as what kind of
metals and piercing jewelry you should get to eliminate irritation, allergies and infections.
We continue are tour with stop #5 the Northwest Diamond & Jewelry Co. Operating out
of downtown Portland for over 20 years. Owning over 40% in Canadas second largest diamond
mine. They offer a consignment service which allows them to buy jewelry from individuals
wanting to sell their jewelry, and resell it. Giving the store 40% of the sell for advertising. Being
a diamond broker the tend to offer more affordable prices, maintaining a strong client bases.
What is the true value of the jewelry? How do you determine the jewelrys value?
Next stop on our tour is #6 Forever 21, a private Apparel company. Founded in 1984 out
of Los Angeles, CA. Forever 21 has expanded into over 600 stores between the Middle East,
Asia, America, and the UK. they are renowned for providing affordable innovative high fashion
jewelry and apparel. With strong replica influences from top of the line high fashion jewelry.
They came to Portland in the early 2000s and show no interest in leaving, with such a high
demand for their products. Here you can be inspired by others and how they wear their jewelry to
complement their clothing. Where is this product produced? What is the profit they make
compared to to cost of assembling and manufacturing? Do they support what America would
consider to be slave labor overseas to make steeper profits?
Across the street is stop #7 The Fossil Cartel, established in 1989 by Susan Landa.
Located at 333 SW Taylor St. Portland, OR. Open every day from 10 am 7 pm. With an east
coast upbringing, she attended the university of Delaware. With her passion for the gem/fossil
kingdom, her store is filled with hand-made jewelry and a wide variety of gems, information
books and guides, fossils, crystals, minerals, and jewelry. With so much raw materials and some
stones looking similar, it might be good to ponder upon if the stone you desire can be substituted

for another gem that can offer more. What do the five Cs (Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat, and
Certification) mean? What are some new tools used today that are used to make modern jewelry?
Where do you see jewelry innovating to in the next five years? Decade? And what part do you as
a member of society contribute to the modernization in jewelry?
Flawless stop #8 brings us to Tiffanys Co. Open from 10 am -7 pm every day except
Sundays from 11 am 6 pm. The inception of Tiffanys was on September 18th, 1837 by Charles
Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young, in Connecticut. Against the forestall at the time Tiffanys only
accepted cash, to eliminate those haggling over price. While Tiffanys is renowned for being a
jewelry and accessories company, in 1862 Tiffanys supplies the union army with swords (Model
1840 Calvary Saber) flags and surgical implements. Tiffanys among many other awards was the
first U.S. firm to win an award for the excellence in silverware. As well as a gold-medal at the
Paris exposition for jewelry in 1878. Tiffanys revised the Great Seal of the U.S. in 1885, as well
as bought the French crown jewels in 1887 further solidifying their brand for quality. In 1919
revised the Medal of Honor on behalf of the Navy. Here you should pay attention to the repour of
the company. What makes their jewelry so expensive? How do the Protect the quality of their
craftsmanship? How have they changed as a company since their inception?
Our last and final stop #9 leaves us at Claires, an accessories and jewelry retailer
founded in 1961 in the Hoffman Estates, Illinois (the suburbs of Chicago). Claires owns 3,469
stores in over 36 countries. 95% of all shopping mall in the united states contain a Claires store.
They have performed more piercing than any other store, grand totaling over 80 million
piercings in 25 Years. They began piercing services in 1978. They are known for their imitation
jewelry. Now that you have seen top of the line and imitation jewelry what do you like? Why do
you like it? When you buy jewelry what do you buy?

Upon leaving this tour you should have a better understanding where jewelry is offered in
downtown Portland, the changes and innovations in technology associated with the construction
and the fashioning of jewelry, where you can fine different qualities of jewelry fitting the
purpose upon purchase, most affordable on the market, where gems and stones can be found,
why we as a society value these materials, some of the symbolism behind jewelry, differences in
style and technique, restrictions due to time, and what role you play in society in the innovation
of jewelry.