The Golden Eye

Johanna Berge

Johanna was born and raised in Lake City, Minnesota on the Mississippi River. For most of her life, she has been immersed in her role as a mother, and her career as a physical therapist.

Johanna is an avid fan of the outdoors and derives much fulfillment from hiking, cross country skiing, mountain biking, and spending time with her animals. The harmony and balance of nature inspired her to begin working with precious stones and metals. A trip to the Argyle mine in Australia left her enamored with natural colored diamonds. Her travels to the Middle East added an earthy opulence to her striking designs.

Although Johanna's intention was to express her joy and creativity through her jewelry and share it with a select few, others soon noticed her designs and asked to buy the items she was wearing. Johanna's business grew rapidly by word of mouth and now she finds herself, much to her delight, a full time artist.

Robin Waynee

Internationally recognized award-winning jeweler Robin Waynee learned at an early age how creativity and hard work can lead to fulfillment. A member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, Robin was born and raised in Mio, Michigan along with six siblings, and worked with her family in a variety of creative fields including jewelry, photography, custom furniture, and painting. Her first exposure to jewelry-making was presented by her father, sculptor/jeweler Robert Lone Eagle Waynee, from whom she picked up some essential skills. Always eager to learn and to lend a hand, Robin would take on any project, from sweeping out a garage to sanding furniture.

Robin entered and won her first design competition in 2007 at the Southwest Indian Market (SWAIA) in Santa Fe, NM. She has since won numerous awards not only at SWAIA and the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ, but also internationally. In 2010 Robin entered her first large-scale award competition, the Saul Bell Design Awards, which is recognized by top designers around the world as the most prestigious international jewelry competition. She was awarded First Place in the silver category. Inspired, she entered Saul Bell again in 2011 and achieved First Place in the gold category. Entering once again 2012, Robin achieved an unprecedented third win in a row (the only jeweler to ever achieve this), with the Grand Prize for her stunning bracelet, “Corona and Halo.”

In 2014 she won the Niche Award, which celebrates excellence in North American fine craft. She also received two separate MJSA Vision Awards. She was once again a Niche Awards finalist in 2015.

Robin currently works in her studio in Santa Fe and is married to her former mentor, Ryan Roberts. They have two boys, Aidan and Logan, who are already becoming jewelers themselves.

Ten Link Coral Bracelet

Ten deep orange coral cabs are enrobed in 18kt gold and finished with a lobster claw clasp.

Approximate length: 8"

Round Link Bracelet in 22kt Gold

Susan Sims takes no shortcuts...handwrought 22kt gold rings are joined together and clasped with a handsome toggle.

Approximate length: 7.5"

Black Diamond Aphrodite Bracelet

You may need to ride in a horse drawn carriage with this baby on your arm...rose cut black diamonds 9.02 ctw. are bezel set in 18kt gold Aphrodite links and studded with shimmering white diamonds 1.15 ctw...a bejeweled toggle clasp flatters the wrist.

Approximate length: 7.5"

Titanium Blue Druzy Studs

Natural surface blue druzy is coated with titanium for a fabulous retro-chic sparkle, bezeled in 18kt gold.

Approximate length: .5"

Diamonds

April's birthstone, the diamond, historically symbolizes lasting love and friendship. Early Egyptians believed that the vana amoris, the vein of love, ran from the heart directly to the third finger on the left hand. We wear our engagement and wedding rings on our third finger to this day.
Recently, diamonds have been under close scrutiny by consumers, jewelers, and governments due to the exposure of conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process is a UN mandated certification system that prevents rough diamonds mined from an area of conflict from entering the legitimate diamond supply chain. Today, 75 countries are members of the Kimberley Process, ensuring that more than 99% of diamonds available today are from conflict free sources.
At The Golden Eye, we really care about the origin of the diamonds we work with. We use a lot of "unconventional" diamonds, like rose cuts, natural cubes, macles, and diamond beads. These varieties are just now becoming popular within the mainstream jewelry industry and are naturally conflict free.
The small diamonds we use for pave and accents typically come from Australia, as do the champagne and cognac diamonds that we love so much. For more information on these diamonds, check out www.argylediamond.com.au


We have had a lot of fun the last few years with black diamonds. Black diamonds are found in Central Africa and Brazil. There is a well respected theory that these diamonds, called carbonado diamonds, arrived on earth in an asteroid that crashed here billions of years ago, before Africa and South America separated. Even though the diamond fields are now thousands of miles apart, they are part of the same, original deposit.

Corundum

When is a sapphire not a sapphire? When it's red, because then it's a ruby!

Both gemstones are a variety of corundum, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide, a mineral second in hardness only to diamond.

Known in Sanskrit as Ratnaraj, the king of gems, rubies have been a treasured gemstone for centuries. The first reference of the stone dates back to 200 B.C., from the literature of the northern Silk Road where they were transported from China to Persia.

Rubies have been used throughout history to adorn the armor, scabbards, harnesses, and crowns of nobles, kings, and queens. Until the 20th century, the ruby was thought to be more valuable than the diamond. It is the birthstone for July and the symbol for love, vivacity, power, and passion.

Rubies are found in Tanzania, Kenya, Pakistan, Montana, North and South Carolina, and under the ice shelf in Greenland.

Burma has always been known as the source of the deep pigeon blood ruby, the most prized color in the ruby world. However, due to the Burmese government's egregious human rights record, Congress passed the Block Burmese JADE Act in October of 2008. Although the U.S. did have a ban on the trade of Burmese gems, this measure closed an important loophole that had allowed the import of Burmese gems via third countries, such as India.

The sapphire, most commonly known as a deep blue gemstone, actually has a fascinating range of color. Almost every color of the rainbow exists naturally in sapphires. A rare color-change sapphire exhibits blue in natural light and a violet-purple in artificial light.

Some stones contain inclusions of small rutile needles that exhibit a property called asterism. This effect produces the "...star sapphire, displayed only in a cabochon cut, and can have six to twelve rays emanating from its center."

The finest specimens of sapphire were mined in Kashmir, Northern India in the late 1800's to about 1920. Today they are imported from Eastern Australia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and are also found in Montana and North Carolina.

September is the month of the sapphire. In legend and folklore the stone is said to work as an anti-depressant and act as an aid in telepathy, clairvoyance, and astral projection. So whether you are feeling a bit down, want to know what's going on, or feel the need to get the heck off the planet, a piece of sapphire jewelry might be just what you need!

Rose Cut Gems

The term "rose cut" is heard more and more often when describing gemstones utilized in the jewelry industry. The Golden Eye has been using this cut for many years
What exactly is rose cut? It is a method of faceting gemstones so that the base of the stone is wide and flat with no facets; the top of the stone is domed and cut with triangular facets. These facets mimic the progressively tighter spiral of a rose, hence the name.

Most rose cuts are round, oval, or pear-shaped, but jewelers are experimenting with a variety of creative designs.

The rose cut was first introduced in the 16th century. A century later the cut had gained great acceptance and the facet arrangements became less random. Variations were based on multiples of six; six faceted roses, eighteen faceted roses, and the full rose, which consists of eighteen facets and then an upper tier of six facets.

The brilliant cut supplanted the rose cut in the 19th century but the rose cut returned at the turn of the 20th century, when the inspiration from Baroque styles drove jewelry designs. It once again fell from favor after 1910 when styles moved toward Art Deco.

For almost a century the rose cut was in retirement, but has reemerged with great momentum. Once used primarily for diamonds, the cut lends itself to many other gemstones. The look of the rose cut is softer and somewhat more natural looking than traditional faceted stones. Paired with 18kt or 22kt gold, a rose cut gem can become a timeless piece of jewelry.

Please visit our website to view many examples of rose cut jewelry.

Burmese Sapphire Necklace

Natural, deep blue Burmese sapphires 42.5 ctw. are subtly ornamented with 22kt gold beads and finished with an 18kt gold clasp...you will never want to take it off!!!

Approximate length: 17"

Pink Tourmaline Crystal Bead Strand

Natural pink tourmaline beads are paired with 22kt gold beads and finished with an 18kt gold clasp.


Approximate length: 18.5"

Diamond Santa Fe Cross Bracelet

We have a special place in our hearts for the iconic Santa Fe Cross and now you can have a special place on your wrist...eight 18kt gold crosses are studded with diamonds .40 ctw., linked with double jump rings, and finished with a luxurious lobster claw clasp.

Approximate length: 7.5"
Please call for custom sizing.

Lapis Andromeda Pendant

Lapis lazuli has been revered as an ornamental gem for at least 65,000 years. Cleopatra used to apply the ground powder as an eye shadow...this mystical piece of natural surface lapis 18 cts. is bezeled and bailed with diamond melee .83 ctw. and crested with a celery demantoid garnet .15 cts...the back of the stone is held in the snug embrace of 18kt gold corsetry.

Approximate length: 1.5"

Chain sold separately.
See chains

Lapis and Tsavorite Andromeda Pendant

A superb piece of natural surface lapis makes a well deserved grand entrance in 18kt gold, accented with bright green tsavorite garnets and pave diamonds .53 ctw.

Approximate length: 2"

Chain sold separately.
See chains

Sunstone Dome Ring

Twinkling natural copper and hematite crystals provide the iridescence in this beautiful Oregon sunstone ring. The ten carat cabochon is set in 18kt gold and graced with additional sunstones and diamonds below the rim.

Water Maiden Earrings

Evans turquoise in soft blue with a sepia matrix is paired with faceted moonstones and Australian gaspeite, and bezeled in 18kt gold.

Approximate length: 2.25"

Ethiopian Opal Reflecting Pool Ring

Layers of tangerine, violet, turquoise, and lime echo through a distinctive Ethiopian opal lozenge secured by tiny diamond-studded .04 ctw. prongs...a 22kt gold bezel is adorned with Minoan scroll work and tiny demantoid garnet .08 ctw. stars, atop beaded chapiters...a generous tapered shank creates a seamless fit.

Jade Swoop Ring

Nonstop glamor distinguishes this colorful stunner...a natural jade oval 12.03 ctw. is bezel set in shiny 18kt gold flanked with purple sapphires .18 ctw....the swoop sis defined with brilliant diamond melee .45 ctw. and lavender sapphires in satiny 18kt gold.

The Last Wave Boulder Opal Ring

Carved by Norah Pierson, this one-of-a-kind ring makes a big splash with a remarkable natural boulder opal from Australia.

Aquitaine Ruby Ring

This exquisite natural ruby cabochon 26.49 cts. is set in 22kt gold and embellished with yellow diamonds and spessartite garnets.

Persepolis Stack

The finest elements of ancient culture converge in our Persepolis Stack.

From top:

ION014 Paraiba Tourmaline and Platinum Eternity Band
RR1217 Diamond 22kt Gold Angelica Band
RC475 Persian Turquoise 18kt Gold Be Mine Ring
RR0102 Diamond 18kt Gold Eternity Band
ION017 Emerald Platinum Eternity Band
R1053 Diamond 18kt Gold Venus Band

Raindrop Stack

The gentle cheer of spring rain comes to life in this glistening pastel stack-up.

From top:

ION018 White Diamond Platinum Eternity Band
RC476 Blue Sapphire and Diamond 18kt Gold Be Mine Ring
RC468 Pink Sapphire and Diamond 18kt Gold Be Mine Ring
RR0102 Diamond 18kt Gold Eternity Band
RC470 Blue Star Sapphire and Diamond 18kt Gold Be Mine Ring
ION016 Natural Pink Diamond Platinum Eternity Band
RC469 Pink Sapphire and Diamond 18kt Gold Be Mine Ring

Double Eagle Talon Rings

A striking reminder of the natural world, the 18kt gold Double Eagle Talon Ring will confer its strength upon you.

Cognac Diamond Circle of Wreaths Ring

The natural warmth of a cognac diamond .20 cts. lends a taste of honey to our 18kt gold Circle of Wreaths Ring.