The art of making jewelry with Good Art
Why is some jewelry so expensive, and is it worth it? I went to the source to find out.
I get hit up for jewelry recommendations all the time, but to be honest, my knowledge in this department is tiny. I usually just recommend finding a local store or seeking jewelry shops when you’re travelling. Since there are so many designs it becomes a bit harder to recommend specific styles. Sure, I could have some suggestions but at the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference.
I focus so much on clothing that I’ve never had the opportunity to explore jewelry brands. It’s been a goal of mine to have more research in this field, and hopefully turn that into some solid recommendations for all of us to enjoy. I was out in LA last year hanging out over at the Goodfight store—shout out to the homies, go peep them, they have excellent menswear—where I met Adam from the LA based jewelry brand called Good Art. Truthfully, at the time I had never heard of the brand, but I was so hyped to learn more. I had a lot of questions. What makes good jewelry? Why does it cost what it costs? and so on. So, I had to go straight to the source.
Adam was kind enough to let me check out the Good Art Family Room, a foundry where they make all of their jewelry from start to finish. My first visit was brief, the office was winding down as the work day came to an end, so I didn’t have a chance to experience that working energy first hand. But even after a short conversation about what Good Art was trying to accomplish, I knew I had to come back to learn the full story. So, that’s exactly what I did. On my second visit I got to see the behind the scenes in what goes into making jewelry—and it’s a crazy process!
So what’s Good Art? Founded in 1990 by Josh Warner after thinking he could do a better job at making the stuff he wanted. At the time he also had a few not so great experiences getting jewelry elsewhere in LA, which made him want to try making it himself. So he took a chance, and decades later the brand is creating an array of unique items and jewelry from sterling silver and gold that enrich everyday items and life.
The first time I saw their items I instantly went “Wow, look at that detail” and then instantly thought damn, how much is that going to run me? I used to be confused when it came to prices of jewelry, because I didn’t really understand what it took to make something and how much actual work goes into as simple as a ring. During that second visit I had a proper chance to see the full foundry in the middle of the day—a bustling operation with a lot of moving parts to ensure high quality products for its customers.
One thing I was trying to understand are the prices behind fine jewelry. Why do things things cost what they cost? I mean, Good Art isn’t cheap, but after having a chance to walk around to see the process behind making something, and how many individuals are involved from concept to finish, I really started to understand why things cost what they cost. It’s a huge process that is done under great working conditions, and that’s something I’m willing to spend money on.
The facilities are incredibly nice too. There are many steps in making a piece, and each step has a dedicated section at the foundry to ensure high quality results, each step of the way. Everything is made by hand, and the process for each item is different, there’s a lot of time that’s dedicated to making sure you’re getting your money’s worth. It’s a never ending journey that makes this craft exciting.
Here’s a look at one of their leather items being made. Everything from the actual cutting of the leather, to the individual holes that are made by hand, and then finished off with hand stitched detailing and their signature hardware detailing, are all done in house.
Leather goods are just some of the great stuff that’s made at Good Art. Here you can also get your classic bracelets, necklaces, and rings, in a variety of styles and finishes. Prices do vary, but I do feel like everything is priced very honestly, especially when considering the amount of people that are involved and the overall quality of the finished products—I’m a big bracelet guy myself, and honestly there are a lot of great gems that are very affordable, especially when we’re talking jewelry.
I have a poplock bracelet myself that I haven’t stopped wearing. I’ve owned sterling silver bracelets but not like this. You can feel that quality the moment it’s on your body. Plus, you’re going to look at something like this all the time, so you might as well invest and get yourself a really nice piece that you can look at constantly and still have that feeling you had the first time you put it on.
Their full catalog is available to shop online here, featuring bracelets, necklaces, earings, household items, and so much more. It’s honestly fun to just browse around but if you’re in LA I highly recommend visiting their Family Room for the full experience. With that being said, you can see some of their products in person at various shops like Self Edge—full store list can be found here.
It’s difficult to explain quality over text. It’s something you need to experience first-hand to really understand what I’m talking about. What might seem like a simple wallet, keychain, or even a bracelet might actually level-up your life in a way you didn’t know was possible. And this idea of leveling up your everyday life spills into everything that Good Art makes. After talking to Josh more I learned that there’s a story behind each of the items and why Good Art makes them. I also felt like Josh nerds out on jewelry the way I nerd out about clothing, and I appreciate that—not everyday you meet someone who’s truly passionate in a craft, especially one they’ve been doing for so long, and I think you can feel and see that in the end results. At a glance, jewelry might be just jewelry, but there’s beauty and true art form once you get to a specific level with it, and I think that’s what Good Art has achieved.
Acquiring jewelry is a process that you should take your time with. Sometimes you just want to get it because why not? Sometimes it’s great to celebrate a special moment in your life with a gift for yourself, or maybe for someone else. That’s where Good Art comes in. It’s a spot for memorable goods.
The Family Room is available to visit by appointment only, which you can book your visit here. Highly suggest it if you’re in LA or will be visiting soon. It’s a space for you to come, learn, explore the brand and the products they make, and ultimately have a conversation about jewelry with the staff that work there. They will explain it better than I ever could. Everyone who works there is extremely friendly, will take the time to explain everything, and help you make the right purchase. Come and learn what good jewelry can be, you will not be dissapointed.
You may find my short story about diamonds interesting.
https://open.substack.com/pub/abforbes/p/the-amazing-diamond-is-made-of-pure?r=yn8c0&utm_medium=ios