I sat down with the lovely Rosalie of Rosalie Jade Jewelry and learned more about her unique ways of living and ancient jewelry creation methods. I learned so many new fascinating things about her, even after all the time that we’ve spent together over the years. Please enjoy our conversation.
Since the day I met you many years ago, I’ve never seen you naked from your jewels. Even when you are fresh out of the water after catching waves down at Topanga Beach, you are dazzling head to toe in your gems. They are a part of you. What is a staple that we can always find you wearing?
An RJ piece that you can always find me wearing no matter what, are the Emerald Chiquita Hoops in 14k solid gold. They live in my second and third holes of my ears. They are so cute, so tiny and so comfortable; so I never have to take them out, even when I sleep. This is why I was so excited to collaborate with COLOURS on our own version of the Chiquita Hoops, the Sunrise Hoops.
And that brings me to, what is your personal favorite piece that you’ve ever created?
This is an extremely hard question for me. I feel like I strive to only create pieces that I fall head over heels in love with. At this moment in time, I have to say the Serpent Dangle Necklace. I just love how the dangle turned out, with its unique marquise and pear shaped emeralds and gold. I have never seen another necklace charm like it.
What is your first memory of jewelry? And, what ultimately attracted you to the jewelry creation process?
My first memory of jewelry and the jewelry creation process was nightly beading with my mama in her bed while she played her favorite TV shows when I was about 6 years old. She would take me to the bead store and I remember being mystified by getting to choose from all the bright, beautiful beads. I would make colorful little beaded bracelets on stretchy string and then sell them to kids on the playground at school for $1.
It has always felt innate for me to create. I think that I have ultimately been drawn to the medium of jewelry because of its power to evoke emotion and carry eternal energy. I get to create pieces made up of elements and minerals, straight from the earth, using an organic method and the ancient art of lost wax casting. This allows me to create timeless heirlooms that are completely unique.
Where do you go when you want to escape & reset?
I take my dog to my favorite little beach in Malibu, where I tuck behind a gorgeous rock wall to sunbathe, take ocean dips and read.
It has been a joy to watch your pieces shift over time but the roots have always been the same; golden, earthy, organic, sun-filled. What inspires your pieces?
For me, inspiration tends to flow when I am in a state of awe. Awe almost always comes when I connect with nature and its organic forms, when I am traveling and witnessing foreign art and architecture, and when I am reading a dusty library book on the wisdom of some ancient culture. Lately, I have been so obsessed with the gold jewelry of the ancient Greeks. I will be traveling to Greece this summer to dive more into that inspiration.
Your organic, imperfect approach to creating your jewelry is ultimately what drew me to your work and our creative collaboration together. Tell us a little bit more about that organic creation process and how it differs from other jewelry out there these days.
When inspiration for a jewelry design pops into my head, I usually start with a messy drawing in my sketchbook or journal. From there, I gameplan how I am going to try and achieve the desired design, and then I sit down to play with wax. I create my jewelry using an organic method where I heat up little bits of wax and then drip the melted bits onto a flat sheet of wax. It’s almost like painting, but with wax. From here, I build up and carve down organic forms to create wax models. Once I have my final wax model, my production team in downtown Los Angeles uses the ancient method of lost wax casting to create a mold of my model and then cast the mold into metal.
Making jewelry using the organic process that I do, I feel my pieces are completely unique to my hand and unique to my soul. Plus, they end up with a look and feel that is noticeably different.
Most brands create their wax models for designs with 3D CAD printing from a computer. Sometimes I will also use CAD for some elements of design where I do not have the ability to create them by hand.
How do you start your day?
A 32 oz mason jar of warm lemon, honey water and then a mini hike with my dog, Bronx.
Do you have a favorite ritual?
My bath time ritual is sacred. I light beeswax candles and fill the tub with hot water, epsom salt, coconut oil, lavender and tea tree oil. I have 2 card decks that I really love : Heavenly Bodies Astrology by Lily Ashwell and Herbal Astrology Oracle by Adriana Ayales. I pull a card from each deck and then hop in the tub to read and journal about each card and how they relate to my life. This ritual is my therapy.
What brings you joy?
Sunshine, bodies of water, animals and food
Where is home to you?
I have always found home wherever the mountains meet the ocean.
What is your favorite thing to cook? To drink?
Pasta baby! Lately, my favorite sauce has just been a simple tomato, butter and onion recipe.
Spicy Maracuya (Passionfruit) Mezcal Margarita
What is your favorite restaurant in Topanga Canyon? Go-to order?
Well, there are not many options, hehe, so Endless Color. My go-to order is the Burger. It is perfect.
What’s your secret to feeling your vibrant, healthiest self?
Movement, sunshine, ocean dips and journaling. I am the best me when these 4 elements are part of my daily routine.
What is your favorite scent? Where does it take you?
The scent of a Plumeria flower on a Frangipani plant. It smells like absolute heaven to me and takes me straight to a tropical, humid climate.
What is your most loved object in your home?
My seashell night light in my bathroom. When I see her warm glow when I run to pee in the middle of the night, I feel safe and cozy.
What’s your favorite place on Earth?
I have to say that Mexico has my heart: the beaches, the jungle, the culture, the music, the food and the mezcal. My favorite places to visit are Mexico City, Sayulita and Puerto Escondido but there are so many more towns/cities throughout Mexico that I can’t wait to explore.
What’s your favorite color? How does it make you feel?
At this moment in time, I am drawn to shades of bright, orangey terracotta pinks. These shades make me feel warm and at ease.
Last of all, how do you see Rosalie Jade Jewelry expanding & evolving in the future? What are you most looking forward to? Is there anything we should keep an eye out for in 2024?
I just launched a collection of fine jewelry, all solid gold pieces with gemstones. I am excited to expand on this fine collection and continue to make forever heirlooms that can be passed down through generations. I also plan to launch some bridal pieces! As well as some objects that are not jewelry ; ) Keep an eye out!
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