A local artist transforms raw gemstones into one-of-a-kind jewelry!
If you find yourself on the hunt for jewelry that is unique and distinctive, it’s time to check out Ringcrush. Known for handcrafted designs that highlight the organic beauty of raw gemstones, the collection offers jewelry that is full of character and are each one-of kind statement pieces.
Founder and designer Bailey Christenbury got her first SCAD degree in sculpture in 2011, but always found herself gravitating toward small pieces. This led to earning a Master of Arts in jewelry and objects. While pursuing that degree, she scored an internship with prestigious London-based goldsmith Simon Benney, the British royal family’s goldsmith and whose House of Benney holds a Royal Warrant, an honor that serves as a “royal seal of approval” only bestowed after years of royal service.
Despite having that level of jewelry making under her belt, Christenbury’s next step was less linear: While in school, she picked up poker, and upon graduating, moved to Canada and traveled the world as a professional poker player. Christenbury strategically used the gig to save money, and once she had her desired capital, she moved to Atlanta and started Ringcrush. She launched on Etsy in 2016 and made each piece solo in her garage. The company has grown from those beginnings to employ a team of seven female artisans, all fellow SCAD alums, who work in a full professional studio.
One thing that hasn’t changed is selling on Etsy. Despite enjoying a decade of success, being sold in specialty shops and boutiques around the globe, and having a successful e-commerce site, the brand continues to see its highest sales on the creative marketplace, thanks to being handmade from ethically sourced materials.
Ringcrush occupies a rare space in the jewelry market: Its elevated, handmade designs are priced from around $40 to a few hundred dollars, making them more accessible than much of the handmade designer jewelry market, while also standing apart from the mass-produced pieces that dominate affordable jewelry.
A serial entrepreneur, Christenbury has also started two additional jewelry brands: Blooblee, a line of dainty, 24 carat gold-filled pieces designed around whimsical motifs inspired by hobbies and everyday moments—think a stick of butter, a paper airplane, a soccer ball or a croissant. Her designs are regularly duped by discount sites, of which Christenbury says, “You know to be proud of something when it’s copied on Temu.”
Her most recent venture is Vowari, a line of bespoke engagement rings using lab-grown diamonds. “People often don’t realize how big the mark-ups are on mined diamonds,” she says. “But I can design and craft you a fully custom ring, and I’m able to do it really quickly and really well for a fraction of the cost. Why would you spend $20,000 on something ethically questionable when you can get the same look for $1,000, and it’s completely customized?”
Christenbury says her world travels fuel her creativity as the designer of three jewelry brands with diverse aesthetics. “My partner is a pilot, and we travel a lot. Interacting with new people in new cultures is what influences and inspires my work. My best ideas come from new experiences in new countries,” she says. “And I only find myself in a creative rut when I have the same routine every day.”
RING CRUSH
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