Silicate & Silver Jewelry

Silicate and Silver is a private jewelry studio located in Santa Fe, New Mexico featuring handcrafted creations inspired by nature, modern contemporary designs and an extensive knowledge of gemstones and minerals. No matter what style speaks to you Silicate and Silver makes an effort to provide something for everyone!

Each stone used in the creation of Silicate and Silver Jewelry has been lovingly hand selected. This provides you with a unique and beautiful selection of high quality gems ready to be set in sterling silver or gold and transformed into a one of a kind piece of jewelry.

The Artist:

Hi! I’m Shannon, the woman behind every piece of Silicate and Silver Jewelry.

Before becoming a full time jeweler and discovering my love for metalsmithing, I spent over a decade as a Fine Gardener. My jewelry is heavily influenced by my love and knowledge for plants. I specialize in Rose care and to this day my mother and I still tend to a bush of Persian yellow roses that originated in the Santa Fe garden of my great grandmother.

My metalsmithing journey began in the summer of 2018 when I was accepted as an apprentice to a local jeweler in my hometown of Santa Fe New Mexico. I have learned so many techniques such as fabrication, lost wax casting, laser welding, and lapidary. I owe all of my finishing skills to a wonderful goldsmith named Belle Brooke Barer. I was fortunate enough to work along side her for almost three years. I continue to learn so much from her, and I am so grateful for her guidance and mentorship!

My goal with each piece of jewelry is to highlight the unique and magical quality of each gemstone. Silicate minerals, and more specifically Herkimer Diamonds are my signature stone. They are also the inspiration for the name and maker's marks for Silicate and Silver. Their clarity, growth formation, and energy are unmatched by any other type of quartz, and I absolutely adore them!

Each piece of jewelry I create is made with an intensely critical eye and attention to every detail from start to finish. My mission is to ensure that every custom piece of jewelry is a direct reflection and meaningful extension of its wearer, so I make a huge effort to learn what that means before starting a custom project. Whether it’s a simple, classic design focused around a beloved stone, a favorite flower, or even a favorite color, adding something that is uniquely you is always a part of the process.

I use Silicate and Silver to create meaningful, wearable art. Learning this craft is a dream come true, and it is my greatest hope that you will connect with my work. Thank you for your support, it means the world to me!

Sincerely,
Shannon Jean Allison Gallegos