About Us
We are a small family-run company based around my jewelry artwork. I handcraft all of our items in my studio located in the heart of Gloucester Point, Virginia.
All items are completely hand-made of sterling silver, locally made dichroic glass, and natural semi-precious gemstones.
I began my journey into silver jewelry-making through an unusual route. I was trained as a marine engineer in the US Coast Guard and learned to machine, weld, and solder various types of metal to repair boats and ships. I derive a lot of satisfaction from this interaction with metals and I've nursed thiat appreciation through the years. One day in 2004, I visited the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft in Louisville with my father and I was taken by the silver and gold art forms on display there. This single visit galvanized me into action to meet my unrealized need to explore art through the medium of metal-craft. I sought out mentorship and was rewarded by two years of study with Barbara and Fred Mason of Stones Mason in Norfolk, Virginia. I am fortunate to continue to study under master goldsmith, J. Henry Viccellio of Yorktown, Virginia.
I feel like each piece of jewelry has a story to tell. Making precious metal jewelry is a grounded creative experience for me as the maker that feels...right.
My wife, Tammi is the design inspiration for many of the JW Silversmith pieces. Her sense of color, form, and balance produce some of our most exciting jewelry. Tammi also selects most of the stones and glass that I use in my work and helps with the business end, ensuring each piece is wearable and safe.
Vision and Goal
"I strive to make world-class, gallery-quality, sterling silver jewelry. Each piece of JW Silversmith jewelry is made completely by hand in my artisan studio in Gloucester Point, Virginia. I solder every link, fabricate every part to fit, polish every piece to near perfection. I don't pay attention to how long it might take. It could truthfully be said that this jewelry is produced under the least efficient methodology in existence… On the other hand, I feel strongly that each piece has its own voice, evokes its own emotion, speaks to and comforts the wearer. In the end, I believe there is a bond created between the making and the wearing…" -Jay White
