Three Designers - Endless Imagination
The Fine Art of Jewelry at Goldsmiths Kauai

Whether it's your first or fiftieth visit to Kauai, chances are you've been touched by its exquisite beauty--and that same natural beauty provides endless inspiration for the award winning designers at the Goldsmiths Kauai studio in Wailua.

"I'll see something that just takes my breath away, like the curve of a wave or the arc of a waterfall," says designer Dana Romsdal. "Then I come into the studio and translate what I've seen into art."

The alchemy is definitely working. All three Goldsmiths Kauai designers have been honored in many of the industry's most prestigious juried competitions. One of Romsdal's creations, Timeless, balances three princess cut diamonds in a contemporary setting -- and took second place in the 2001 "DeBeers Diamond Competition." The dramatic new pendant design "Infinity" won the 2004 "Designer of the Year" award from the Hawaii Jewelers Association.

"As a designer, I believe in keeping things simple and natural. I find it much more challenging to design with just a few select elements," says Gary Anthony. "I strive to maintain this design sense throughout my work. A prime example of this is my 'Signature' earrings, which are basically one line that wraps around itself."

Designer Mark Meador's inspiration comes in quiet times of contemplation. "I visualize the beauty of a gemstone nested in organic, geometric shapes, cast in varying tones of platinum and lustrous yellow gold," he says. Meador's pieces --Shimmering Waves, Chi, and Awapuhi --have a powerful, yet sensuous beauty. With over 30 years experience, his clients are continually fascinated by the textures and dramatic shapes he can achieve.

Perfection of An Ancient Art
Most of Goldsmiths Kauai's creations are crafted in their Kinipopo studio using the "Lost Wax" casting method originally developed by the ancient Sumerians sometime around 2500 BC, so named because the original wax carving is melted and "lost" during the process.

It all begins with a sketch. The inspiration can come from a client, or be based on something the designer saw, like a wave breaking on the beach or a mountain gilded by the setting sun.

When the sketch is complete, an exact model of the design is carved in wax. The carved wax is placed in a cylinder and filled with plaster, leaving a small hole for the wax to escape. The wax is then melted out and a reservoir of 1900 degrees F molten gold is "thrown" into the cavity by spinning the mold in a centrifuge . After cooling, the plaster is shattered, leaving the raw gold casting.

The casting is then finished by hand, a process which takes hours of detailed work, including smoothing and polishing the metal and setting the gems -- everything from blue and purple sapphires to rubies, emeralds, opals and diamonds.

Many of Goldsmiths Kauai's creations incorporate sea-colored stones like tanzanite and aquamarine, along with prized Tahitian black pearls, golden South Sea pearls and rare green garnets.

Vibrant-colored stones set in dramatic shapes reflect the island's elemental power, but Kauai's softer side is also represented: delicate plumeria-shaped rings and earrings cast in gold and accented with gems are amoung the studio's most popular items.

From the tender to the timeless, each piece of finished jewelry is the exquisite result of the designer's dream and the goldsmith's art -- a dream that will last forever.

You can view Goldsmiths Kauai's award-winning work at their design studio in the Kinipopo Shopping Center in Wailua, near Kintaro's Restaurant.

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