Inspiration
Renee Frances Jewelry is designed and made in Brooklyn, NY. The design process is intuitive and allows for accidental "surprises." Her designs are not based on a fixed blueprint but rather grow from a loose idea and a process of discovery.
Designs begin by casting a found object, often from nature, which is then manipulated into something new. Sometimes the final piece resembles the cast object but often it is so far removed from the original casting that it is unrecognizable while still retaining an essential organic quality.
The first collection, Tonkawa Trail, was created by casting part of a pine cone and using the cross sections as "material" to build the collection. Subsequent collections are based on objects as diverse as a seed pod, a tooth filling and a scrap of driftwood found on the streets of Brooklyn.
Made in Brooklyn
Renée Frances Jewelry is designed in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The pieces are produced by a handful of artisans in NYC's diamond district. The casters, lapidary and stone setters are all family-run businesses. We use recycled metals and nickel-free metals.
About Renée
Renee studied fashion, textiles, stained glass and jewelry-making at multiple schools in NYC and Philadelphia. She worked for many years with a fine artist which has influenced her approach to jewelry design. She lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with her family and two cats.