Tracey Mayer

Dramatic Jewels with an Exotic Origin 

“A lot of my creative ideas come from southern Asia. Even in chaos of the cities I find an underlying sense of peace and calm that is very inspiring,” says Tracey Mayer, one of the Midwest’s most innovative jewelry designers.

Although she lives in the Chicago area, her production is based overseas, which means she spends a lot of time traveling to India and Indonesia to source materials and create new designs.   

Her dramatic, eye-catching pieces of jewelry are rendered in high-quality 950 silver, which has a “whiter, purer finish and more of a heft to it” than lower grades, and is adorned with pearls and semi-precious gemstones. “These are definitely ‘wow' pieces,” she says.   

Everything is handcrafted in Indonesia by local artisans, produced in a powerful alchemy of traditional skills and modern style. “Every one of the artisans is an artist in their own right – they’ve been born into artisan families and they each have their own individual interpretation and style. These subtle differences are proof that the jewelry is handmade, and that’s what makes it so special.”   

Several core collections establish a signature look for the Tracey Mayer brand and allow previous customers to easily add their collections. A few new pieces are added each season.   

The Daisy collection (daisies made from hand-carved mother of pearl) and the Mystical collection (silver set with ancient Chinese coins) are two of her more popular lines. This summer, Tracey is adding the Chinese Rose, which features black mother of pearl hibiscus flowers, and Cinnabar, carved out of Chinese cinnabar.  

“I always ask myself if someone else could copy my designs easily. If so, I don’t do it,” claims Tracey. Creating unique, innovative finishes on her silver pieces ensures their singularity.   

One example is the “near-melt” treatment. This involves taking the metal just to the point where it’s about to become liquid and stopping suddenly, resulting in a piece that resembles tinfoil. But this is a very high-end version of tinfoil. “The high quality and weighty feeling of the 950 silver and the handmade finish make everything luxurious and special.”  

Fashion is her blood, she says. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of the fashion industry.” Her line got started after she traveled to India for the first time and became fascinated by the silversmiths, who still make everything by hand, using methods that have been passed down for centuries.   

After several trips, she started designing jewelry, hiring silversmiths to produce it, and selling it here in the States. Originally, she worked in sterling silver, but soon realized that her real strengths lay in higher-end designs. This led her to Indonesia to have her creations produced in 950 silver, and the rest is history.  

Tracey is also passionate about the philanthropic side of her business. “My ultimate goal is to build my own orphanage in India.”

Right now, she does as much volunteer work as possible, both at home and abroad. “I’m currently in training with the Make A Wish foundation and that will allow me to do something here as I work towards my goal. I’ll definitely continue to do whatever I can to give back.”   

Which means you can buy her jewelry without the slightest twinge of guilt, since Tracey’s stunning creations directly benefit the people and cultures that inspired them.

 

www.traceymayer.com

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Photos courtesy of Tracey Mayer.

SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer – J. Zenn.

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Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews. Publ.  05/07.