Why Gold Jewelry Captivates Us— The Allure of Timeless Jewelry Elegance at Luna Felix Goldsmith

Gold is attractive. It shines, it is precious, but most of all it is lasting. It tarnishes unlike any other metal. It keeps shining for ever and ever. That’s why it is the symbol par excellence of ideals such as love, fidelity and eternity.

When you put on a piece of gold jewelry, attached to your body, no matter who says what, suddenly you are joining that gold in all the things it meant through all the history of humankind.

But this quality of timelessness can also be seen in the finest gold jewelry. Take, for example, the work of the jewelry designer Luna Felix Goldsmith in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Luna uses 22-carat yellow gold, an alloy that highlights gold’s natural luster. And when this rich gold is melded with age-old processes of gold granulation, the effect is jewelry that is of-the-moment yet, at the same time, timeless – the kind of jewelry you want to be able to pass down through the generations.

Let’s dig deeper into what makes gold jewelry from Luna’s hand a joy to the eyes of a beholder respectful of art and tradition.

The Warm Glow That Flatters Everyone

Gold agrees with all complexions: it doesn’t matter what color you are; gold makes you glow. Which is why the Egyptians called it ‘the skin of the gods’. It is never fashionable because it is always flattering.

Other jewelers just count on the fact that gold looks good on any skin tone, accentuating your natural beauty, and bringing out light within you, just by the nature of the metal. But Luna Felix does more, handcrafting pieces that are perfectly suited to your beauty. From the ring that doesn’t flatten out your fingers, to the beautiful pendant that adds dimension instead of just looking like a marionette’s prop, all of her work is designed for gold’s characteristics to come through and complement your look.

And not only does gold reflect light, Luna’s thoughtful formulas guarantee that her glistening components make you reflect light, as well. Her jewels make you shine your best, and bring you the radiance from within.

The Symbolism of Gold in Love and Commitment

But its beauty is more than skin deep: gold is also the metal of the heart, and has come to symbolize eternal love.

It’s not hard to see why gold is chosen for wedding bands across the world. Its warm, golden gleam burns undimmed, and its unyielding strength represents a bond to last for eternity.

But at Luna Felix Goldsmith, the Romantic tradition enjoys yet another enduring life; the polished 22-karat bands and engagement rings sold by Luna pay homage to gold’s age-old connections to relationships and eternity.

With Luna Felix Goldsmith gold jewelry, therefore, when you gift it to a dear one, you promise him/her a vow – to allure each other in a golden bond forevermore. Let Luna’s pieces guide your passage of love – through gold and its magnificent meaning.

The Artistry of Granulation at Luna Felix Goldsmith

This granulation, fusing tiny golden beads to make complex patterns, has been an amazing technique since antiquity, but few jewelers today can create the work in this manner.

Her name is Luna Felix, and she is the last known living granulator. She does it because she wants to keep a long-forgotten goldsmithing technique alive. And it shows.

It’s hard not to be impressed by Luna’s delicate swirls and tiny spheres of granulated pieces, each handcrafted with masterful skill. It’s antique artisanship intermingled with modern minimalism.

With every grain of sand that she crafts into a masterpiece, Luna brings back to life an art form as old as humankind. Luna’s work doesn’t just decorate – it links you to the spirit of handicraft jewelry. Let Luna take you back to the dawn of time with every granulated grain in her hand.

The Versatility of Gold Jewelry

The reason gold endures is that it is supremely versatile. Its warm glow is complementary to every gem. Its timeless glow flatters every skin tone, works for daytime and night. It looks equally sophisticated set with gowns, but also with jeans.

Gold’s versatility is exploited by Luna Felix for her versatile collection of jewelry ranging from dainty hoops to rebellious ankle cuffs, ideal for all settings – from work to weekends and everywhere in between.

So stock up on gold when you’re curating your jewelry collection. Luna’s accessories will become the wardrobe staples you’ll treasure for years to come. Its chameleon-like nature will have you reaching for it every day.

The Investment Value of Gold

Gold, as well as gold jewelry, is never merely aesthetic: it’s an asset, which accumulates value over time, especially when the economy is unstable, a reasoning shared by gold collectors and investors alike. Luna’s gold is 22-karat yellow gold, one of the purest available. As such, her pieces are a dual investment (beauty appreciated in gold as an asset).

Buying her creations is also an investment – not just in gold and silver, but in the lasting value of these precious metals. Her jewelry is a solid investment for any portfolio.

And, whether it is a gift or a purchase for yourself, Luna’s gold gives you fiscal value as well as emotional meaning, so let her items cover you in steady, glittering stocks.

The Uniqueness of Handcrafted Jewelry

Luna handmakes each jewel, a rarity in today’s mass-production market. If everything has its story, everything certainly has its maker, and that rings truer at Luna’s Santa Fe studio where a history of every creation spreads around her.

You might as well pledge your dollars to Luna – and back into every item she makes. It is an investment in wearable art, laced with her spirit, in which the simplest design shows skill and small hanging pieces become minor masterworks of the silk embroiderer’s art. The breathtaking sprinkle of her granulated gold makes everything into a masterwork.

Want something original? Luna’s handcrafted jewelry adds personal value to your collection. You will find originality, creativity and passion on every piece she makes.

The Joy of Owning a Piece of History

Perhaps it is Luna’s jewelry that also speaks to the historian in all of us: there is something thrilling about accessorizing oneself in antiquity’s metals and techniques.

To own one of Luna’s pieces is to own a door to the past. In her use of the centuries-old goldsmithing technique of granulation, and in many other old traditions of metalworking, Luna remembers and retrieves expertise from long ago. By bringing it into dialogue with modern minimalist aesthetic, to wear a Regalia piece is to wear history every day.

Her pieces are the connective tissue between you and our past with the metal. History lives with you at your wrist or neckline every time you wear a Luna piece.

Final Thoughts

Luna Felix Goldsmith awakens the beauty, meaning and potential of gold, giving some of its highest qualities their aesthetic due.

If you are ready to love gold all over again, go to our Santa Fe jewelry store showroom.  Or visit our online gallery for a hint of how gold can turn your style story into a wonderful fairytale. However you enjoy it, the magic comes from Luna Felix Goldsmith.

A Basic Guide to How Custom Jewelry is Created with Art of Gold Granulation

Gold Granulation jewelry is just gorgeous, right? As an ancient art, gold granulation has been around for thousands of years.

But have you ever wondered exactly how jewelers manage to make these elaborate granulation pieces? Let's unlock the secrets behind the stunning art of granulated gold.

Hard Facts on Soft Metals

Gold and electrum (the gold + silver blend) make beautiful jewelry. But these metals are super soft and malleable.

So how did ancient smiths get those little round gold balls to stick on firmly and not fall off? The key lies in using high heat and chemistry to create strong bonds between the beads and the base metal.

Hard Soldering by Hand

One very tiring way to attach the beads is through hard soldering. This means the jeweler physically places each tiny gold sphere where they want it using tweezers or a small brush. Just lightly pressing embeds the bead onto the base.

Then, using a soldering tip, they carefully heat the exact spot where the bead meets the base to fuse them together. Now imagine doing that potentially thousands of times for a single piece!

It's easy to see why few choose to granulate this way - it takes crazy amounts of time and work.

Puddling Problems

One upgraded method from hard soldering uses a paste flux mixture. The jeweler dabs flux on the base and sprinkles over gold beads. Heating melts the solder in the paste to attach the beads.

But this leaves ugly, gloppy solder residue blobs around each bead. No bueno! The jeweler then has to slowly file and polish away all those messy solder puddles. Super tedious stuff.

Finessing the Fuse

Experts think gifted Etruscan jewelers used a much slicker method called fusion bonding. Here, the base and beads have the same gold alloy.

The jeweler lightly brushes diluted flux onto the base to temporarily hold the beads in place. Then into a furnace without oxygen it goes. At the alloy's melting point, the base and beads magically fuse together right where they touch.

Lacking oxygen prevents oxidation, so the flux burns away without a trace. This gives flawless connections with no icky solder!

Hard Soldering by Hand

Let's rewind back to the ultra labor-intensive way of attaching beads - hard soldering. This means manually placing each tiny gold sphere with tweezers or a brush. Just lightly pressing embeds it onto the base.

Then, using a solder tip, they carefully heat the exact spot where the bead meets the base, fusing them together. Now envision doing that potentially thousands of times for one piece!

It's clear why few granulate this way - it takes forever and a day.

Colloidal "Glue" for the Win!

Other historians think Etruscans perfected colloidal soldering instead. This uses a plant gum and copper salts mixture as glue on the base gold. The gum temporarily sticks the beads.

Fire up the furnace, the gum burns off, copper seeps into the gaps between beads and base. At 890°C, the copper enables super strong bonds to form.

Less heat is needed, so the beads don't risk melting before setting. Either way, Etruscan jewelers had some serious skills!

Cleaning and Polishing

Once fused, the final steps are cleaning and polishing. Removing burnt flux restores the gold's shine. Tumbling in soapy water works for production pieces.

For hand-finished work, jewelers gently scrub with a bristle brush. Finally, they hand polish the whole piece to a glossy glow.

Now you can truly appreciate the insane skill and artistry required! Granulation is nothing short of incredible.

Final Thoughts

Granulation jewelry remains beloved today - over 3000 years since it was invented! The irresistible shine and intricate patterns appeal across ages.

And knowing the process makes the pieces even more precious. The careful techniques used to create custom granulated jewelry describes true craftsmanship.

Top Reasons Why People Love Gold Jewelry

People have been obsessed with gold forever. From ancient Egypt to today, gold has always captivated folks worldwide. Gold was first discovered and worked by the Varna Culture in the 5th millennium BC and granulation was first used by the ancient Etruscan culture.

A perfect example of the timelessness of gold jewelry is at Luna Felix Goldsmith. And the gold jewelry at Luna Felix Goldsmith in Santa Fe is to die for. Our Designer, Luna Felix, makes gorgeous gold rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces - you name it, using the ancient art of granulation.

In this post, let's determine why people love gold and why you need some gold jewelry from Luna Felix Goldsmith!

Why the Gold of Luna Felix Goldsmith?

There's something about the warm glow of gold that pulls you in. It's almost magical. The rich honey tone is so flattering. Gold makes your skin glow, and your eyes shine.

Luna Felix Goldsmith uses a special alloy of 22-karat gold, as required by the art of granulation.

Type of Gold Used to Make Jewelry 

Timeless Yellow Gold 

You really can't go wrong with yellow gold. It's like elegant, understated glam. Yellow gold works with any skin tone and any style. Dress it up or down.

Luna Felix makes bold 22-k yellow-gold statement rings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that exude luxury. 

If you're getting married, yellow gold engagement rings are a must. The warm yellow metal and sparkly diamonds complement each other perfectly. And Luna Felix can design these romantic gold granulation wedding rings just for you - so beautiful!

Treat Yourself to Luna Felix Goldsmith Jewelry

Luna Felix Goldsmith has been handcrafting gold granulation magic in Santa Fe for decades. Their designer, Luna Felix, mixes old-world techniques with hand crafting at the jeweler’s bench to shape beautiful gold adornment.

Luna works with 22-K yellow gold. The Luna Felix Goldsmith team helps you find jewelry pieces that match your style and skin tone.

So, head to their jewelry store at 116 W San Francisco St # 208, in downtown Santa Fe, and check out the collection! Let yourself fall in love with their shiny gold rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and earrings made using the ancient art of granulation...you deserve it!