One of the questions I'm asked from time to time is, "What happens to all the little scraps of metal left behind when you make jewelry?"
My answer is simple: nothing goes to waste.
Every necklace, bracelet, and pair of earrings I make leaves behind tiny clippings and offcuts. They're too valuable to throw away because bronze can be recycled again and again without losing its strength or quality.
I love knowing that even the smallest scraps have another life ahead of them!
Bronze: A Material Meant to Last
Bronze has been used for thousands of years. It's an alloy made primarily of copper, combined with a small amount of tin, creating a metal that's durable, warm in color, and wonderfully suited for Kristen Mara jewelry.
It's also a material that ages beautifully. Over time, bronze develops a natural patina that my customers have come to love. It gives each piece a character, a record of the life it's lived, the adventures it's shared with you.
Bronze doesn't carry the same reputation as sterling silver, but it's every bit as capable of becoming a lifelong piece, and it sometimes doesn't get the credit it deserves. It's strong enough to be worn every day and, with a few simple care steps, it can last for generations.
Nothing Goes to Waste
In my studio, I save every bronze scrap.
I collect those small pieces and return them to my casting studio, where they're melted down to become part of new cast pieces. Rather than beginning with newly mined material each time, the metal continues its journey and is transformed into something new. Recycling wherever possible and protecting our earth has been a core value of Kristen Mara since the beginning, over 20 years ago.
The process itself is fascinating. Scrap bronze is sorted, cleaned, melted at high temperatures, and purified before it's cast into new forms. Because bronze can be recycled indefinitely without losing its integrity, yesterday's scraps may one day become someone's favorite necklace.
Silver follows a similar path. Every silver scrap from my bench is carefully collected and sent to a refinery, where it's refined and returned to the precious metal supply to be used again.
There's something deeply satisfying about knowing today's scrap could be tomorrow's necklace.
Handmade with Care: From Beginning to End
Thoughtful making isn't only about the finished piece. It's also about the choices made along the way.
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Choosing durable materials.
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Making jewelry that's meant to be worn often rather than replaced.
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Recycling what can be reused.
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Creating pieces that earn their place in your life through years of wear.
These quiet decisions may not be visible when you open one of my jewelry boxes, but I hope you'll always remember they're part of every piece I make.
I believe beautiful jewelry should also be responsibly made.
Caring for Bronze Jewelry
One of the reasons I enjoy working with bronze is that it's incredibly durable. With a little care, your jewelry will look its best every day and for many years to come.
A few simple habits to help your jewelry age beautifully:
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Remove bronze jewelry before swimming in chlorinated pools or hot tubs.
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Avoid prolonged exposure to saltwater and excessive humidity.
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Apply perfume and lotions before putting on your jewelry.
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Store pieces somewhere dry when you're not wearing them.
If your jewelry loses some of its luster, a soft polishing cloth is usually all it needs. And, if you do happen to wear your jewelry in the ocean (Kristen does too, so no judgement here!), just rinse it with fresh water and dry it with a towel to protect your bronze.
Like leather, wood, or sterling silver, bronze develops its own character over time, and that's part of its beauty.
A Story That Continues
Every piece of jewelry carries a story.
Sometimes it's the story of the person who wears it or a memory attached to a gift.
And sometimes it's the story of the material itself that began long before it reached my workbench and will continue long after it leaves my studio.
I like knowing that the smallest bronze clipping isn't the end of anything. It's simply the beginning of another piece waiting to be made.
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Explore the Kristen Mara collection of handcrafted bronze necklaces and discover pieces designed to be worn every day, to age beautifully, and to become part of your own story.
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