Susan Highsmith’s jewelry is an unspoken link – the enchanting connection between artist and wearer; between the giver of the jewelry, and its receiver. This jewelry spans time and place, yet it is fully of the moment. With hand-carved gold and precious gemstones that evoke an old world aesthetic, it is a touchstone for your life–the transient marked by the enduring. The meaning behind this jewelry is always yours to discover, to name, to cherish. It is your story to tell.

Stories play an integral part in the creation of each piece of Susan Highsmith’s jewelry. The past is present in each design, from the architectural elements of antique buildings to songs that stir the soul long after they have fallen out of our cultural lexicon. In fact, Susan’s passion for art and architecture runs in her blood; her father’s cousin was Richard Nickel, the famed Chicago-based historical preservationist and architectural photographer who lost his life when the Chicago Stock Exchange building he was trying to save collapsed upon him. Today, his work remains a treasured source of inspiration for Susan.

Her styles are an ode to family lore and the ghost stories she grew up with, to architecture and old houses, jewelry and antiques, and to objects that hold stories in their details. Carving each piece by hand allows Susan to channel the past while being fully present in the jewelry making process, creating styles that will be passed down to future generations.