A love of gemstones ignited the creation of this colorful collection.
“I got into jewelry through a love of gemstones,” says Nevin Shrage, the man behind Ancient Roads Jewelry. He was so passionate, in fact, that he taught himself to cut stones and shape metal, spending more than a decade perfecting his art. Shrage now has an incomparable collection of elegant designs that combine traditional turquoise and other semiprecious stones with the likes of amethyst, opal, and sapphire gems. “Living in the American West, I first developed an interest in turquoise with all of its different nuances and variations. Not too much later, I was on to other gemstones,” Shrage says. “To me, it’s all about the color.”
It’s also about tradition and timelessness. “All of the gems in my jewelry I hand-cut using rudimentary tools and methods,” Shrage says. “While I strive for perfection, I’m also attempting to create something of a historical look and feel. Pieces of jewelry that you might have seen being worn maybe 200 or 2,000 years ago. Overall, I like to feel like I’m creating something of beauty that people will cherish for years to come.”
His success is evident every piece he crafts — from an oversize cuff pairing sterling silver with Carico Lake turquoise, silica, and 18kt gold ($3,560) to delicate dangle earrings inset with small squares of Peruvian blue opal ($1,060).