Rise Jewelry Co. is the direct manufacturer of several lines of jewelry, including NorthCoast Collection Jewelry, designed by Paul Wagner, and our own line of reticulated silver jewelry, with other various designs by Jeff McKenzie. We make everything that we sell in our Olympia, Washington shop, using various methods and techniques, including lost wax casting, hand fabrication and forging. We use recycled sterling silver and karat gold, certified by SCS Global Services to be made from 100% recycled content.
The People
Jeff McKenzie: Founder and owner of Rise Jewelry Co. Craftsman, goldsmith, silversmith, jeweler, designer, graduate gemologist. Jeff is the manufacturer of NorthCoast Collection jewelry, and his own personal line, including reticulated silver and other various gemstone and metal designs. He was a jewelry store owner/operator in Olympia, WA for 19 years and has been making jewelry since 1984. Before getting into the hands- on end of the business, Jeff worked for Zale Corp in their headquarters in Dallas, TX then moved into retail jewelry sales before apprenticing as a goldsmith. He is passionate about making jewelry and is constantly striving to improve the quality of all the jewelry he makes. He is at his happiest at his wax carving bench designing new pieces.
Paul Wagner: Designer, artist, carver, blacksmith. Paul is, among many other things, the chief designer of NorthCoast Collection jewelry. He is a biologist, mountain climber, kayak maker and paddler, he carves wood, fossil ivory and wax. He has recently taken up blacksmithing. His wood carving background came in very handy when he decided to start designing jewelry, as wood and wax carving have many similarities. He draws inspiration from the shapes and themes of earth and sea, as is evidenced in his designs of NorthCoast Collection jewelry. He hopes to share the interconnectedness and beauty of the natural world through these lovely artworks which are a pleasure to wear and touch. His aesthetic sensibility and artistry have become well known throughout the Northwest and points beyond. People from all over the U.S. and many parts of the world now enjoy his jewelry designs.
The Jewelry:
NorthCoast Collection Jewelry originated in 1993 as the byproduct of the desire of an artist to design his own wedding ring, and happening to find a craftsman who saw the potential of what that artist could create. From those fateful beginnings, NorthCoast Collection has grown into a 100 plus piece line of jewelry made in silver and gold with Pacific Northwest, Native American, and Nature themes. It is all original jewelry, designed and manufactured in Olympia, Washington, USA. It is substantial, made with strict attention to detail, and is perfectly polished and finished. The jewelry has a sculpted feel, the designs are compelling and rich and each piece tells a story or depicts a theme in a unique way. The line consists of pendants, earrings, rings, and bracelets. Custom orders such as pins and belt buckles are welcome. Gemstones may also be incorporated into the designs by special order or request.
Jeff McKenzie designs an ongoing, ever expanding line of jewelry consisting of heat reticulated silver pieces, gemstone and diamond pieces and silver and gold original designs.
About NorthCoast Collection Jewelry
Inspired by the forms and themes of the natural world, these designs express a connection to wild places. Each piece speaks to the interconnectedness of human relationships and the ecosystems we inhabit. These miniature sculptures have a comfortable, solid feel that are a pleasure to wear. The originals are designed and carved in wax by Paul Wagner, with each reproduction made by hand using the lost wax casting technique by Jeff McKenzie in Olympia, Washington.
The Process:
NorthCoast Collection jewelry is made using the ancient process of lost wax casting, so called because the original wax model design is vaporized or “lost” during the process. First, an original wax model is hand carved, attached to a wax sprue and encased, or invested, in plaster. After the plaster hardens, the flask containing the wax model and plaster is placed in a kiln where the wax is burned out. After burnout, molten silver or gold is forced into the cavity left from where the wax was. The plaster is then broken off from around the casting and the casting is cut off, filed and polished and assembled to other pieces when necessary, giving us the finished jewelry seen here in the store. Further, the original casting is molded using rubber or silicone, enabling us to create copies of the original wax model, hence starting the process over again. Metal casting dates back as far as 3500 BC, virtually unchanged for all of that time. We also fabricate jewelry by hand i.e. the reticulated silver.
