Part of the Tamar Collection Studio Stories

I'm Andrea Li, a handmade gemstone jewelry designer creating one-of-a-kind pieces from my studio in Denver, Colorado. Each piece I make takes me on what I call a "micro-journey", a unique creative path that can never be exactly replicated. This is the story of how the Purple Amethyst Cuff from my Tamar Collection came to life.

This cuff wasn't born from a new vision. It was born from refusing to let beautiful material go to waste.

The Sister Piece

The Purple Amethyst Cuff came from the same strand of Brazilian amethyst I discovered at the Tucson Gem Show in Tucson, Arizona, the same strand that sparked the dramatic amethyst choker. But this piece came with a deeper purpose.

I didn't just want to design a companion piece. I wanted to honor the entire strand of gemstones. To use every last stone.

In my studio, we call it "using the whole buffalo."

The Problem with Creative Momentum

Here's what typically happens: I find a strand of gemstones that excites me, and I go all in on the first design. I pour everything into that initial vision. But once that piece is finished, the creative fire often fades. I'm already chasing the next spark of inspiration, the next material discovery.

Leftover stones end up tucked away in drawers. Forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind.

Not literally waste, but unused potential feels just as wasteful to me.

The Micro-Journey: Completing the Circle

With this cuff, I made a different choice. I returned to the design principles that worked for the choker: mosaic-style settings, handcrafted gold frames with articulated joints, tailored uniformity that lets the gemstone geometry speak.

The process took approximately three days from initial sketches to completion. I wire-wrapped each remaining amethyst stone individually, testing how they would sit in their gold bezels before committing to solder. The articulated joints were especially important here, they allow the cuff to flex slightly around the wrist's natural curve, making a rigid-looking piece surprisingly comfortable to wear.

Together, the choker and cuff tell a more complete story: of the material, the moment, and the creative process itself.

Technical Details

Materials: Faceted hexagonal tube-shaped Brazilian amethyst (from the same strand as the choker), 14k gold-filled wire, and findings
Technique: Hand-fabricated mosaic-style settings with articulated joints for wrist flexibility
Construction: Linear formation with individually wire-wrapped stones set in custom gold bezels
Design Time: Approximately 3 days from concept to completion
Collection: Tamar Collection
Status: One-of-a-kind (available)

Why One-of-a-Kind Matters

This is why I only design one-of-a-kind jewelry. It keeps me in love with the process, alive in the discovery of every new shape, texture, and color.

I'd rather chase wonder than chase wholesale orders. I'd rather complete a material's story than replicate a best-seller.

This way, you get to own a truly original piece of art, not just another jewelry piece. The person who owns this cuff is the only person in the world who possesses this exact design, born from the same strand that created the choker, completing a unified creative vision that can never be repeated.

A Royal Stone with a Humble Heart

Amethyst may feel quietly elegant today, but for centuries, it was considered more precious than rubies or emeralds, a gem fit for royalty. Catherine the Great of Russia adorned herself with amethysts. British Crown Jewels feature massive amethyst specimens. Egyptian pharaohs wore it as a symbol of divine protection.

It wasn't until massive deposits were discovered in Brazil and Uruguay in the 19th century that this once-rare stone became widely available, democratizing its beauty.

One of the most breathtaking examples? The "Empress of Uruguay" is an 11-foot-tall, 2-ton geode that looks like a cathedral carved by the Earth itself. Discovered in the Artigas region of Uruguay, this natural wonder displays deep purple crystal formations so architectural they seem intentionally designed. No jeweler could ever replicate its form, and yet its presence echoes in the spirit of smaller, wearable amethyst creations like this cuff.

Amethyst walks the line between heirloom-worthy opulence and democratic beauty, making it the perfect gem for those who love history, mystery, and lasting design.

The Aesthetic Evolution

Throughout my career, I've designed with amethyst in vastly different ways. Earlier collections featured organic, flowing forms, gemstone clusters cascading like waterfalls, asymmetric pendant drops, and nature-inspired wirework.

The Tamar Collection represents a deliberate shift toward structured, tailored design. Clean geometric frames. Architectural precision. Mosaic-like repetition.

Both aesthetics honor the gemstone, just through different design languages. One celebrates amethyst's natural irregularity; the other highlights its ability to be precisely faceted and aligned.