Carolyn Tyler
“Usually I pick a central stone, look at the colors in it, pull outside stones. I trace the stone and sit there with it, see if it wants to be a pin or a pendant, or both. Usually, it’s obvious if it’s a ring or earrings. I love mixing and matching colors, especially combinations like purple and chartreuse or orange and purple – slightly jarring but satisfying.”
Carolyn Tyler began her career as a graphic designer and running a successful advertising agency. In 1989 she traveled to Southeast Asia where she encountered many talented artisans and began designing clothing and home accessories.
Tyler often refers, in jest, to her jewelry as “pirate booty” due to its somewhat “buried treasure” look and appeal with tones of vibrant 22k yellow gold, her signature matte surface texture, and use of gemstones such as opals, pearls, ancient coins, and fossils, all which meld to create classic and elegant yet casual pieces that are intended to be worn every day.
Using goldsmithing techniques from antiquity such as granulation, filigree, and repousse, she creates pieces that are evocative of the fabled buried treasures of Golden Ages past. The designer's preference for working in 18-24 karat gold gives this jewelry unusual luster, weight, and lasting value, making it an excellent heirloom investment.