Andrea Li Designs
Studio Stories
The making-of behind every one-of-a-kind piece. The Tamar collection in two chapters, the commissions made for one person, and the jewelry worn at weddings, each piece built once: the stones, the bench moments, and the small accidents that made each one itself.
01Why Moonstone Is Cut SmoothA dome works like a lens where a facet works like a mirror. Eight marquis cabochons up one side of a hand-formed oval, and a gemstone drop that keeps the pendant hanging straight.Read the story
02The Last Kunzite I HadGrowth tubes like fine parallel needles, healing feathers that read as faint veils, and a vermeil oval folded over a dowel so the stone could hang between two chains.Read the story
03Why I Made a Bangle Instead of Another CuffTwo cuffs already in one collection, so the third bracelet had to be neither. A single asymmetric wave formed on a jig, carrying a cluster built for a different piece.Read the story
04Why Matching Earrings Are Harder Than They LookBoth clusters are built at the same moment, every movement mirrored, so one is the other reversed rather than a copy. The three pairs that close Second Light.Read the story
05What Kunzite Looks Like at the BenchA stone like pale pink hard candy, striations shimmering as it turns, seated into a folded vermeil crescent because it had only one drill hole.Read the story
06Why a Link Bracelet Takes Three DaysSeven hand-bent links, twenty-eight drilled holes that all had to align, and three days at the bench before a single stone went in.Read the story
07Moontide: The Moonstone Necklace I Was Not Sure Would WorkThe first piece of Second Light: a graduated fan of blue-flash moonstone, engineered a hundred moves ahead.Read the story
08Halo: A Beautiful ContradictionA shortage of 12-gauge wire became a floating pastel choker, given its spine by a clasp moved to the front.Read the story
09How a Name Comes to a One-of-a-Kind Piece: The Fairy Dynamite StoryA pastel opal-and-topaz cluster, named by the community that watched it come together.Read the story
10The Stone That Sat in My Drawer for Years: An Amethyst Stalactite NecklaceA Tucson geode slice, years in a drawer, grown into a one-of-a-kind pastel cluster.Read the story
11The Choker That Floats: A Rainbow Moonstone StoryA rainbow moonstone cluster wound up one side of the base so it floats at the throat.Read the story
12The Ovals That Found a New Home: A Vermeil Collar NecklaceRehomed gold vermeil ovals, a mixed-beryl cluster, and angel-wing baroque pearls.Read the story
13Fairy Dynamite's Sister: A Rainbow Pearl LariatA hand-bailed gray pearl lariat threaded through a gold vermeil oval, finished with an unplanned second drop.Read the story
14The Wire That Found a Home Twice: Green Amethyst Hoops and Their NecklaceOrphaned square wire that found a home twice, as geometric hoops and a three-oval necklace.Read the story
15Cascade: The Amethyst Stalactite Necklace That Falls Like WaterA second stalactite set point-down, with three rows of chevron chain that waterfall into a triple drop.Read the story
16Ember: The Smallest Stalactite Became a CuffThe smallest of three slices, wrapped into a fabricated gold-filled cuff with stones threaded through it.Read the story
01When Monet Meets the BenchReading Sara Mrad's Fleur de Lumiere Through TamarRead the story
02Multi-Color Sapphire BriolettesMy Quiet ConstantRead the story
03The Amethyst ChokerWhen the Design Rewrites ItselfRead the story
04The Green Amethyst CollarDesigning in Three DimensionsRead the story
05The Pink Kunzite ChokerA Wearable RebellionRead the story
06The Pastel Gemstone Multi-Strand NecklaceWhen Failure Becomes Two DesignsRead the story
07The Pastel Gemstone Statement CuffA Quiet RebellionRead the story
08The Pastel Gemstone Cuff BraceletThe Piece That Refused to QuitRead the story
09The Pendant Pastel Gemstone Drop NecklaceRead the story
10The Topaz Gemstone Drop EarringsThe Art of Not CompetingRead the story
11The Green Long Gemstone Tassel EarringsRead the story
12The Oval Chain Link Drop Gemstone EarringsThe Accidental AlignmentRead the story
13The Blue Gemstone Drop ChokerRead the story
14The Green Long Gemstone Necklace with Chain Tassel DropWhen the Circle Wouldn't BehaveRead the story
15The Gold Long Green Gemstone Y-Drop NecklaceThe Illusion of SimplicityRead the story
16The Pastel Gemstone Ear CuffsRead the story
17The Green Long Square Gemstone Drop EarringsWhen It Finally FlowsRead the story
01The Leap of Faith Behind a Mother's 70thA stranger found my Janis Gold Leaf necklace while searching for a gift for his mother's 70th, feared it was a scam, and took the chance anyway. A true story about craftsmanship over marketing, from Denver jeweler Andrea Li.Read the story
02Carolyn's Three Necklaces: Heirlooms Become Something NewThree heirloom redesigns for Carolyn: jade and topaz pendants from her aunt, a pearl strand from her mother-in-law. Drawer-forever was not the ending.Read the story
03Janet"I Haven't Bought Jewelry from a Store Since"Janet saw a necklace online and never bought jewelry from a store again. Fifteen-plus commissions over a decade, from a labradorite necklace built around her own stone to statement earrings inspired by Alexander McQueen runway shows. All one of a kind. All handcrafted by Andrea Li.Read the story
04Patricia's RingBecause a Plain Gold Band Was Never Going to Be EnoughPatricia wanted a solid gold ring with no gemstones and no occasion. Andrea hand-carved an architectural wax model, cast it in solid 14k gold, and created a ring that looks like nothing you'd find anywhere else.Read the story
05Debi's TraditionA Necklace for Every Granddaughter's 10th BirthdayEight years ago, Debi commissioned a solid 14k gold necklace with real diamonds and Herkimer diamonds for her granddaughter's 10th birthday. This year, her youngest granddaughter turns ten. She's back.Read the story
06Deb's NecklaceWhat Happens After You BuyShe bought a statement necklace online from a designer she'd never met. It didn't fit her petite frame. Andrea shortened it for free with no deadline, no fine print. A year later, Deb wore it to an event and hasn't stopped wearing it since.Read the story
07Tricia's CommissionsA Sold-Out Favorite and a Necklace She Saw on ScreenTwo commissions, two starting points. One was a sold-out pair of earrings Tricia loved. The other was a necklace she saw on a beloved TV show. Both became one-of-a-kind pieces by Andrea Li.Read the story
08Loretta's TraditionSix Years, Three Women, and a Standing Date on My Design CalendarEvery October, the same message arrives. Three women who've built a company together commission Andrea Li to create matching one-of-a-kind pieces for their annual gala. Six years, 18+ pieces, and a tradition that keeps growing.Read the story
09Judy's CollectionThe Woman Who Went Page by PageShe found thirteen sold-out pieces on Andrea Li's website and wrote them down by hand. Three batches, 20+ recreations, and a custom Joan of Arc necklace later, Judy's collection proves what "something similar" really means.Read the story
01Autumn's Beachside Wedding SetFound at Midnight, Worn at the ShoreFound at midnight via Google, worn at the Jersey Shore. Andrea Li created a custom blue topaz and gold spike set for an aunt of the bride's beachside wedding.Read the story
02The Eternity Circle RingA Ring Forged in FireA custom engagement ring hand-carved from wax, cast in solid 14k gold, and set with 3.9 carats of champagne diamonds. Forged in fire by Andrea Li.Read the story
03Marisa's NecklaceA Husband, a Wedding, and an Unexpected DogA husband bought an Andrea Li necklace for his wife to wear to their daughter's wedding. Then the dog got involved. A story about trust and jewelry.Read the story
04Lily's Wedding PartyFive Women, Five Pairs, Zero DuplicatesOne bride, four bridesmaids, zero duplicates. Andrea Li designed five unique pairs of earrings for a New Orleans plantation wedding. All one of a kind.Read the story
05Sarah's WeddingLace, Her Mother's Pearls, and Earrings for FiveA custom lace cuff with her mother's pearls for the bride, and matching amethyst earrings for five bridesmaids. Andrea Li's mountain wedding commission.Read the story
06The Victoria CollectionWhen a Wedding Guest Gets Her Own CollectionA bride became a wedding guest, and got her own collection. Andrea Li created custom iolite and black opal pieces for the next celebration. One of a kind.Read the story
07Victoria's Wedding NecklaceThe Bride Who Knew Exactly What She WantedA bride with 15 reference links and an engagement ring to color-match. Andrea Li curated the perfect Signature collection pieces for her wedding day.Read the story
08Laura's Wedding EarringsOpulent Twilight and a Family SongA bride whose family sings "Going to the Chapel" at every wedding. Andrea Li created custom earrings that became the inspiration for the wedding theme.Read the story
09Peggy's Wedding SetWhen One Piece Isn't EnoughA mother of the groom found earrings and asked for a matching pendant. Andrea Li designed a custom green amethyst set for her son's wedding day.Read the story
10Lisa's Wedding EarringsWhen Pearls Just Aren't YouA bride who wanted gemstones, not pearls. Andrea Li designed custom wedding earrings in white topaz, Herkimer diamond, and rose quartz. One of a kind.Read the story
Each piece is built once. When it sells, it is gone.