My designs are romantic and edgy at the same time,” explains Amery Carrière of Amery Carrière Designs. Working in both sterling silver and 18k gold Amery describes her pieces as feminine but created with a strong woman in mind. They are substantial, yet not overpowering. I believe that women should wear their jewelry, not have their jewelry wear them,” she asserts.

For Amery, there was no “before designing jewelry”. She started making her own pieces as a young girl from the seashells she collected on the beach in Miami, where she spent her early years. “The shells my sister and I found screamed to be worn.” Her favorite Christmas present as a child was a small drill used for making holes in the shells so they could be strung into necklaces and bracelets.

Amery’s affinity for jewelry developed more, as she got older. Growing up bi-coastal, and spending substantial amounts of time in Europe as well (predominately France and Switzerland) only enhanced Amery’s tactile, creative nature. Everywhere she lived and traveled there were incredible aspects of nature as well as remarkable architecture. She soaked it all in and began designing pieces inspired by the world around her.

Amery continued to design as a hobby. In her twenties, she took a job at her Alma Mater, the University of Southern California and pursued an advanced degree in education. She then became a vice-president of marketing in a downtown Los Angeles real-estate firm.

Amery found herself surrounded by the beauty of art deco and beaux-arts buildings and once more her passion for jewelry was fueled. In addition, the history and mystery of Downtown L.A. and especially the jewelry district stirred her creative juices. She stumbled across a wax carving class.

She began taking more workshops by GIA-trained instructors, and even turned her spare bedroom in her tiny apartment into a studio.

Then, the unexpected happened. The company Amery was working for asked her to relocate to Seattle for her job. At the same time, Steven Hanna, the owner of the gallery Amery had been taking her wax classes at, asked her to become the gallery’s full-time manager. It was a major crossroads. She could leave Los Angeles for a lucrative career or she could stay and pursue her dream of jewelry design. The dream won out.

Amery ran the gallery, managed Steven Hanna’s jewelry line and received invaluable tutelage from this seasoned and respected professional artist. Working with Steven and the gallery allowed Amery to gain the experience and confidence she needed to break out on her own. Her previous corporate and marketing experiences gave her the tools she needed to run a successful business.

Amery Carrière Designs is now sold at leading specialty retailers, boutiques and jewelry stores throughout the United States, in Canada and Japan.