Elaine B Designs Your Unique Wedding Jewelry

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Because we make everything in house, we have unlimited flexibility; everything is customizable. We believe in supporting American small businesses, and use recycled materials, or materials with a story whenever possible.

Elaine B is a jewelry design studio in Ferndale Michigan. Inspired by the earth and architecture, we create everyday pieces that are minimal yet detail-driven. We appreciate the origin of handmade objects and the stories they tell over several lifetimes.

We are guided by an ethic of supporting creative jobs for talented artists. We love to give personal attention and pride ourselves on great communication with our customers and each other. Because we make everything in house, we have unlimited flexibility; everything is customizable. We believe in supporting American small businesses, and use recycled materials, or materials with a story whenever possible. EBJ makes everyday wearable pieces – we strive to be the perfect economic median and merge quality, comfort and design.

I first began silversmithing in Charlottesville, VA. After attending VCU for glass and metal studies, I apprenticed with accomplished goldsmith Gabriel Ofiesh before starting my own jewelry design business. In the spring of 2017 my husband and I relocated to metro Detroit and quickly found our creative community and a new team to foster a connection to craft in the city.

It has always been a dream of mine to open a retail shop, I love objects and I get excited about relationships. Both my relationships with people, and people’s relationships to things. When I found out I was pregnant last summer it was clear that I needed to make some changes, I didn’t want to travel for shows anymore and I figured it was now or maybe never.

Baby Sienna was born at the end of January and the EBJ showroom and studio is six blocks from our house, we walk to work when the weather is nice and I am really enjoying our connection to the neighborhood.

How did you become a jeweler?

I have always loved making things and making being a jeweler has given me a platform to have a creative life. I love working with customers to make something really unique that they will wear for years to come. But I also love all the other things that come with it - photography, interior design, packaging design, merchandising and business.

Like most people, I didn’t realize that being a jeweler was a job! In school I took classes in all sorts of subjects, then in art class I just realized, why wait?! I ended up getting a BFA and working for various creative small businesses including a goldsmith.

What are the most common questions that couples ask you at the first introductory appointment?

My signature is asymmetric cluster rings.

We’re lucky these days with social media and websites that people have a general idea of what they are getting into when they come to me. They reach out because we have similar aesthetics and they are looking for an alternative to standard jewelry stores.

I often get people who want to do custom redesigns with heirloom stones. I love doing this! It infuses so much more meaning into the piece and gives valuable materials a new life. The process of design and back and forth communication lets me get to know the customer and their story as well as their aesthetic and lifestyle which I love.

What are the most popular diamond engagement rings?
What type of custom design can you provide?
What are some of your distinguishing design features? What type of custom design can you provide?

My signature is asymmetric cluster rings. I am seeing cluster rings in a lot of modern ring designs, it lends itself to a lot more experimentation and a new path of creativity both for the wearer who wants to put together a bridal stack and to the designer.

Another huge trend is salt and pepper and gray diamonds. These are stones that weren’t considered jewelry grade until just a couple years ago, we can get them in all sorts of interesting cuts and geometric shapes right now. If you get something a little off the beaten path you can get an amazing stone at a fraction of the price of a traditional diamond.

What should our readers expect when they walk in your store?

What really sets us apart is that we are making the product right there. Two-thirds of the shop are our studio, and everyone that works in the shop is a maker and artist.

The shop has a cozy and luxurious handmade aesthetic. We have huge windows, so there is lots of natural light, we have plants everywhere and lots of texture. You can shop our jewelry on slate, plaster, concrete and quartz displays and look through our collection of gemstones that I have collected from all over the world. What really sets us apart is that we are making the product right there. Two-thirds of the shop are our studio, and everyone that works in the shop is a maker and artist. We use mostly recycled metals and traditional metalsmithing tools so you can see the process in action as well as have pieces customized.

What are your thoughts on cheap wedding rings?

We can work with all budgets and we would love to make someone a ring that can be upgraded in the future.

People have all kinds of budgets, if you cannot afford a whole lot right now, don’t over exert yourself, but be realistic about what you’re buying. Lower prices often mean lower quality materials or bad mining processes. You vote for the world you want to live in with your dollars, so you can buy a cheap piece of manufactured jewelry at a discount store that is exactly what you are getting.