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Conceived with the understanding that women who have developed their own style do not merely seek to wear fashion, but to own it.
The En Soleil Collection, (meaning surrounded by rays of the sun), is created by San Luis Obispo-based jewelry designer, Cari Streeter. The chains and pendants are interchangeable by utilizing the detachable clasp. Cari hand crafts using a cutting-edge new process in which a clay-like material is sculpted by hand. The pieces are then molded and cast in pure fine silver.
Fine Silver is 99.9% silver content. Pure silver. Whereas sterling silver is 92.5% silver and the other 7.5% is copper and other metals. Fine silver does not tarnish as fast as sterling and is also softer. We use fine silver because it is pure and the highest quality. The sculpted circles and the clasps are fine silver and the chains are sterling silver.
Vermeil (Ver-may)-Vermeil is typically sterling silver, gold-plated with 100 micro-inches of gold. The En Soleil vermeil pieces are made with solid Fine Silver and then are plated with 150 micro-inches of 24 karat gold (pure gold). While the gold is the thickest layer possible it is not invincible and it is recommended that the pieces be handled with care. (FYI: usually gold-plated jewelry is 2 micro-inches of gold plated over a cheap base metal, and that is why it barely lasts and turns your finger green). Vermeil is the highest quality gold material, aside from solid gold, which is also available by special order.I work primarily with 4 gemstones that are hand-cut by a lapidary artist in San Francisco. She gets rare rocks straight from the source and custom-cuts them for our designs. The four stones are:
Larimar (blue)- Found in only one place on the entire Earth, in a single mine in the Dominican Republic, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The vibrant blue color is reminiscent of the ocean itself.
Ruby (red)- a rare type of ruby found only in Tanzania, Africa, and the general appearance is unmistakable. There isn't another stone like it in the mineral world. It is non-transparent deep purplish red.
Lime Chrysoprase (green)- chrysoprase (kris-o-prase) is prized for its rarity and was used by the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians in jewelry and other ornamental objects. En Soleil features Lime Chrysoprase found in Australia.
Pink Peruvian Opal (pink)- Peruvian Opals are formed by volcanoes, are found in the Andes Mountains and were cherished by the Incas. No two opals are identical making each piece and one-of-a-kind creation.
The collection’s flexible structure, authentic craftsmanship and timeless design ensure an enduring appreciation. My purpose in design is to give you a feeling of radiance, empowerment and unique beauty. Enjoy!
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