About Leandra

Jewelry has undeniable significance in our lives. It connects us to the people and moments that make our lives meaningful. The ring your grandparents gave you at graduation. The necklace you wore at your wedding. The first pair of earrings you give to your daughter. They create memories you can literally hold onto throughout your life. 

I create handmade, precious metal jewelry that I hope will be a part of those moments. Jewelry that is simple and elegant; made to be worn and cherished by those who are looking to outlast trends. Classic pieces are like a fantastic black dress or great pair of jeans that will never go out of style. Pieces that are appropriate to wear everyday and make you feel amazing when you have them on. Something doesn’t have to make an extreme fashion statement to speak to you on a personal level.

During college, I worked at a jewelry store part-time as I pursued a career in research psychology, studying memory and cognitive functioning at the College of Charleston. But the more time I spent around jewelry, the more I enjoyed seeing how people reacted to something I had a part of creating. The delight in seeing memories made, rather than analyzing them, is what led me to pursue a career in jewelry design.

Immediately after graduation, I apprenticed with a goldsmith in my hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. However, it took me quite a while to start working my own designs, because I kept fighting with my own aesthetic. I thought what I designed needed to be complicated and intricate, when what I was wearing myself was simple and understated. I finally realized that simple doesn’t have to be a dirty word. 

Because I appreciate classics and not trends, I use traditional goldsmithing methods. To me it creates a remarkable connection to the past when jewelry is made in the same traditional way it has been for thousands of years- using fire and a hammer to form silver and gold.

I am fortunate to have significant and long lasting relationships in my life and remember clearly the pieces of jewelry I have received from loved ones. I vividly remember the earrings my grandparents gave to me for a ballet recital. The earrings my boyfriend (now husband) gave to me on my twenty-first birthday. And the ring my parents gave me for my college graduation. I understand that these go beyond possessions and become a part of those moments. 

I would love for my work to be a part of a moment like that for you. Contact me with any questions you may have so I can get started on a custom piece for you today!

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