Nestled in the mountains of Durango, Colorado, Benny and Valerie Aldrich and their staff of four maintain a group purpose: operating in harmony and balance, to create expressions of perfection and love for themselves and others. Using the elements of the earth and sea, their works of art pass from hand to hand to create jewelry of unique heirlooms of uncompromised beauty.
The Aldrich's style of intarsia inlay incorporates old world style combined with the new world of vivid colors and craftsmanship. From earth tones to extreme shimmer and sparkle, the jewelry reminds you of nature's butterflies and humming birds. Valerie's use of combining vivid colors and Benny's expertise of gold and silver-smithing is executed masterfully; framing them into wearable art that is unsurpassed.
The Aldrich's were pioneers in incorporating faceted gemstones into southwestern style jewelry in the early 1970's. They were among the first to re-introduce spiney oyster and purple burro shell to the blooming industry.
The Aldrich's style of intarsia inlay incorporates old world style combined with the new world of vivid colors and craftsmanship. From earth tones to extreme shimmer and sparkle, the jewelry reminds you of nature's butterflies and humming birds. Valerie's use of combining vivid colors and Benny's expertise of gold and silver-smithing is executed masterfully; framing them into wearable art that is unsurpassed.
The Aldrich's were pioneers in incorporating faceted gemstones into southwestern style jewelry in the early 1970's. They were among the first to re-introduce spiney oyster and purple burro shell to the blooming industry.
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There are many different kinds of turquoise.
A few different types of turquoise that we use at Aldrich Art is: Sleeping Beauty, Kingman, Blue Gem, Chinese, Damele, Orville Jack, Carico Lake, and Mojave.
It ranges from a bright blue to a very pale baby blue hue as well as bright lime green to an earthy brown to a teal hue.
The Orville Jack turquoise that we have was purchased over a decade ago and is no longer being mined so we use what we have left of this stone sparingly.
Carico Lake is a special type of turquoise that is only mined at the Montoya Mine in Nevada.
A few different types of turquoise that we use at Aldrich Art is: Sleeping Beauty, Kingman, Blue Gem, Chinese, Damele, Orville Jack, Carico Lake, and Mojave.
It ranges from a bright blue to a very pale baby blue hue as well as bright lime green to an earthy brown to a teal hue.
The Orville Jack turquoise that we have was purchased over a decade ago and is no longer being mined so we use what we have left of this stone sparingly.
Carico Lake is a special type of turquoise that is only mined at the Montoya Mine in Nevada.
A bezel is a narrow piece of metal used to hold a gem in place on a piece of jewelry.
The bezel surrounds the gemstone all the way around.
Bezels can have straight edges, scalloped edges, or can be molded into any shape to accommodate the stone.
Bezels may or may not be textured.
See the image section below for an example of a Bezel.
Briolettes are three-dimensional tear or pear shaped stone with triangular facets cut across its surface.
Briolettes differ from most other gemstone shapes in that they appear the same from every direction, making them ideal for dangling earrings or pendants.
The bezel surrounds the gemstone all the way around.
Bezels can have straight edges, scalloped edges, or can be molded into any shape to accommodate the stone.
Bezels may or may not be textured.
See the image section below for an example of a Bezel.
Briolettes are three-dimensional tear or pear shaped stone with triangular facets cut across its surface.
Briolettes differ from most other gemstone shapes in that they appear the same from every direction, making them ideal for dangling earrings or pendants.
My name is Kish Mitchell.
I moved to Durango, Colorado in the fall of 1997 to attend Fort Lewis College.
While at school I worked as a lift operator for the '98-'99 season at the local mountain, Purgatory, and met one of the inlayers that worked at Aldrich Art.
With one conversation on the lift and an exchange of phone numbers I began working at Aldrich Art and learning how to inlay in April of 1999.
It was a long and sometimes frustrating process; it took me two years to really start to get proficient in this craft but mastering these techniques takes years.
I moved to Durango, Colorado in the fall of 1997 to attend Fort Lewis College.
While at school I worked as a lift operator for the '98-'99 season at the local mountain, Purgatory, and met one of the inlayers that worked at Aldrich Art.
With one conversation on the lift and an exchange of phone numbers I began working at Aldrich Art and learning how to inlay in April of 1999.
It was a long and sometimes frustrating process; it took me two years to really start to get proficient in this craft but mastering these techniques takes years.
Find your favorite items.
Add them to your cart.
Checkout.
Our website provides a convenient way for you to purchase your favorite Aldrich Art Jewelry designs.
During checkout, you will have the opportunity to create a customer account with us.
While this is optional, it adds the additional convenience of order tracking, order history and one stop reordering.
Prior to submitting your order, please review it carefully.
After placing your order, you will receive an order number as well as a confirmation email from us.
Add them to your cart.
Checkout.
Our website provides a convenient way for you to purchase your favorite Aldrich Art Jewelry designs.
During checkout, you will have the opportunity to create a customer account with us.
While this is optional, it adds the additional convenience of order tracking, order history and one stop reordering.
Prior to submitting your order, please review it carefully.
After placing your order, you will receive an order number as well as a confirmation email from us.
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