A Summer’s Work 2011: Custom Design and Festival Exhibits

Well Adorned is on the move and excited to share some of its most recent projects with you! Our exhibition at the Old Town Fall Festival was a great success! We greatly enjoyed meeting all of our great customers, and look forward to doing a series of of these types of festivals around Chicago next summer:

Well Adorned Exhibiting at the Old Town Fall Festival

The show went beautifully! Much thanks to my lovely lady!

The designer and his work on display in Old Town, Chicago

This next set was put together for a lovely couple I met in Chicago at a street festival a few summer’s ago. The diamond they choose to be their centerpiece is GIA certified, D colorless, and VS2 clarity! This quality is on par or better than you would see in high-end jewelry stores. The ring was made in platinum with channel set baguette cut diamonds. It is such a classic design, I was honored to deliver such an absolute combination of enduring beauty, artisanal quality, and unrivaled value:

Emerald Cut Diamond with Channel Set Baguette Diamonds Platinum

Classic Emerald Cut Diamond Ring in Platinum with Channel Set Baguettes

I have been using CAD in some of my work recently, and I believe it is a good design medium for certain projects. Here are a few examples of my CAD work:

CAD Design for 2.5ct. Asscher Cut Diamond

Ladies Comfort Fit Platinum Wedding Band

Custom Platinum Men's Wedding Ring

Diamonds all Around : Crops in the Ground

Construction season came around at New Traditions Farm like a whirlwind. The transition from harsh winter into spring came quickly. We started construction on a new greenhouse in February, and really hurried to have it ready in order to start our prized tomato seedlings by the beginning of March.

We planted thousands of seedlings of rare and unique tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and brassicas, which are thriving now and in the process of being potted up in larger containers for sale or transplant. Next month we are planning to take some of our tomatoes to the Kankakee Bird Swap, in hopes of selling or trading them for some great laying hens, and other more exotic poultry.

Over the last week or so, we have also been building a small summer cabin for guests and volunteers at the farm. This project really tested our construction skills, but we are happy with the progress so far. It needs a bit of finishing: insulation, drywall, paint, etc., and then it should be a warm and comfortable place for us.

Some photos of my work this year:

We built this greenhouse with a partial timber frame, 20' PVC roof hoops, skinned with heavy-duty polyfilm and panels recycled from last years greenhouse destroyed in a wind event

Josh Seeding Tomatoes and Peppers, New Traditions Farm Co-Founder

Double Shed.

Pretty nice view from the front door

Over Wintered Carrots

Yes, I still make and sell jewelry. I have actually been working on quite a few nice diamond projects. Including this set turned into a lovely pair of 1ct. Platinum Diamond Studs. More jewelry pictures to follow very soon...

Well Adorned : New Designs for 2011

Happy New Year! Well Adorned has some great projects in line for 2011! Custom jewelry has been my bread and butter over the last two years, but now is the right time to express my design principles and work on new line. I am working to source the perfect gem materials and plan on featuring both faceted and cabochon gemstone designs that I will set in silver. More updates to come soon.

To hold you over, I have new pictures of a custom piece I just finished for Joshua Rioux with Phenomenal Facets. I set an awesome Amethyst made by master gem cutter Stephen Kotlowski. The finished piece came together perfectly, and from what I hear the project was a success. I am honored to share this piece with everyone and look forward to sharing many new works in 2011!

A Beautiful Amethyst Necklace

Set with White-Gold on a Neoprene Cord

Such Luscious and Vibrant Color

This Amethyst's Cutting is Top Notch

Such Beauty..

The design featured an open side-wall to fully illustrate the beauty of the phenomanal cutting of this Amethyst.

Can't get enough of this Gem

Jonathan Klemt - Well Adorned's Founder and Designer

Please contact me directly with any inquiries at jonathan@welladorned.com

A Summer’s Work: Diamonds and Vegatables

Appreciation for the simple things is essential in life. Keeping this principle close to heart, I have used the summer months to embrace my dual role as  jewelry designer and organic farmer for Well Adorned and New Traditions Farm. In these two seemingly disparate businesses, I have found harmony in the universality of my work, crafting basic elements into something greater than the sum of its parts. Nature is my muse, and she inspires the truest beauty. Please enjoy a fine collection of photographs of this summer’s work:

 

1 ct. F/Vs2 GIA Oval Diamond in Platinum Halo .69 cts. (Available $6500)

 

 

Oval Diamond Ring with Engraving and Pave' (Available $6500)

 

 

Custom Platinum Setting for Round Brilliant Diamond

 

 

Sun-Gold Tomato Ripening

 

 

We planted over 300 tomato plants this year

 

 

18 different heirloom varieties

 

 

Jimmy Nardello Sweet Pepper

 

 

Delicata Winter Squash

 

 

Brodé Galeux d'Eysines (French Eating Pumpkin)

 

 

Adirondacks Red and Austrian Fingerling Potatoes

 

 

Bronze Heritage Turkey

 

 

Barred Rock Chicken

 

 

The Farmers

 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Big thanks to my photographer Andrew Jodeit. His talent speaks for itself.

Please email jonathan@welladorned.com with any inquiries.

New Rings and a Great Vegas Trip

I just recently returned from my yearly trip to Vegas for the annual JCK trade show, and I must say I feel pretty lucky, both in and outside the casino. Things are going great both for Well Adorned and New Traditions Farm. I just finished a beautiful new engagement ring and the first farm share CSA delivery is set for this Saturday.

Work is still progressing on the Well Adorned cushion diamond, but we still need a bit more time to work the kinks out of the design. As soon as we finish the first proto-type, I will announce it here, but I can only guess as to when that will be. In the meantime I am proud to share my most recent ring, a beautiful emerald cut diamond set in platinum. It came together perfectly and the pictures only begin to do the ring justice.

1.74 GIA D/VS1 with tapered baguettes in platinum

I really like the proportions for this diamond, and you can rest assured that my customer got the best deal around, and that his fiancee truly loves it.

Custom Platinum Diamond Engagement Rings, Photos & Designs

Well Adorned has been keeping me quite busy these days. I have been hard at work completing quite a few custom engagement ring projects. The platinum solitaire w/pave’ was finished much to the delight of the recipient, and I have been diligently working to create designs for upcoming projects.

I am pleased to share some of my recent work with you below:

Diamond Sollitaire in Platinum with Pave'

Designed to give new life to an estate diamond my customer provided. From what I hear, she loves it.

Are You Well Adorned?

Here are two of my upcoming designs:

Platinum Setting for 1.74 ct. GIA D/VS1 with 5mm tapered baguette cut diamonds

Halo Setting for 1 ct Oval Diamond

The Smart Jewelry Show & New Traditions Farm

Spring is a beautiful part of the year, and I have been working hard to make the most of it. Pursuing my passions with all my energy, I am finding great satisfaction in my work.  For the past four days I have been working for the Smart Jewelry Show, a fine jewelry trade show put on by Instore Magazine, and held at Navy Pier, Chicago.

My job was to curate the Smart Central area of the show, with responsibilities that included handling and displaying all jewelry in the common show areas, as well as helping show attendees find what they need in the greater show area. My personal knowledge of the jewelry trade really came in handy, as I could generally answer any question that came my way. I was even able to conduct some very productive Well Adorned business, as I was able to locate a great source for the tapered baguette diamonds I need for an upcoming custom engagement ring project. The show was a success, and we are already planning to make next year even better.

In other news… I have also been hard at work developing New Traditions Farm, a sustainable farm 70 miles south of Chicago, using only natural organic growing methods. We will grow a diverse set of gourmet and heirloom fruits and vegetables directly for families and chefs. You can see pictures of our progress so far on my Facebook page. You can also view our CSA sign up sheet on my Scribd page. There are still few CSA shares available: if you live in Chicago, you can still sign up for weekly box’s filled with local organic produce from my farm.

I will be keeping busy, but you can always reach me at jonathan@welladorned.com.

Designs and Diamonds

Hello All,

Well Adorned has big plans for 2010. Since the new year, I have been hard at work on new designs, and have some exciting jewelry pieces in production. You can expect more fine work with diamonds and platinum, gold and silver, rare colored gemstones, and unique and highly-optimized diamond cuts.

I have teamed up with Karl K., a brilliant and creative diamond designer,  who has earned great respect and recognition through his work with Pricescope.com. Karl has participated for years on Pricescope under the name strmrdr, but has recently branched out to become a professional diamond designer. He designed the Octavia diamond, an extraordinary step-cut diamond with optics that outshine any Asscher.

We have collaborated to design the Well Adorned cushion cut diamond. It is a modern, ultra-high performance design, which utilizes the latest technologies in diamond production, and is influenced by intuitive knowledge and hundreds of years of diamond cutting tradition. The unique facet layout will yield more intense and pronounced flashes of brilliance and color than any other cushion cut diamond available.

To help prepare for the launch of this new diamond. Well Adorned has launched a photo-gallery on Pricescope, where you can see beautiful photography of Well Adorned’s work on the world’s leading diamond consumer advocacy and education website.

In this gallery, I have published some recent ring designs and photography; example below:

A hand drawn design from Jonathan Klemt the founder and designer of Well Adorned

This is all very exciting for me, and I am thrilled to be able to share my passion with you. Thank you for following Well Adorned, and I would be honored to work on your very own custom jewelry project. No project is too great or small for Well Adorned.

Please send all inquiries to jonathan@welladorned.com.

Custom Pearl and Gold Pendant Necklace

Just in time for the holidays, I am thrilled to share my most recent custom project, an akoya pearl pendant necklace set in 14k gold. A work in progress since September, it feels great to finally have the finished piece…

The design of this necklace was inspired from an old photograph furnished by my client. I recreated the design as much as possible, but I did have to adapt it a bit to make it truly a Well Adorned original.

I made this necklace to be a true heirloom,  with absolutely no compromises in materials or workmanship. I utilized hand fabrication techniques that guaranteed the most finely crafted piece of jewelry possible.

I really do enjoy what I do, because I believe fine jewelry is such a wonderful force in peoples’ lives. A rare combination of beauty and value, when people give or receive jewelry, there is a strong emotional connection to the happiest and most important times in their lives, and  it is an honor to be a part of it.

Thank you for following my work. Please contact me anytime!

go ahead… Be Well Adorned

-

Jonathan Klemt

Founder & Designer

Well Adorned

Platinum Setting with Tapered Baguettes and Round Brilliants

Hello Readers,

This is my most recent project, and the pictures are hot from the press. The ring features a 1.52 carat ideal cut round brilliant center diamond accented with tapered baguettes and two additional smaller rounds. I can go on and on, but I think the pictures really do speak for themselves…

1.52 GIA H/VS2 with tapers and round accents. 900 Platinum setting.

The ring was hand designed and fabricated right here in Chicago. I sourced all diamonds personally utilizing the best international diamond cutters and suppliers. Believe it or not there is no one best source for diamonds. I have to maintain personal relationships with many specialized craftsman in order to put a ring together just for my client.

I took great care in selecting the center diamond. The proportions are nearly perfect and I believe the H/VS2 is great balance of quality and value. The setting does obscure the cut pattern a bit, but you can definitely see the precision and care that went into cutting this diamond.

Please contact Well Adorned for your own custom jewelry project. I would love to hear from you, fine jewelry really is my passion.

Go ahead, be Well Adorned…