Jeweler and Santa Cruz native Genna Brown creates her pieces using a combination of lost wax casting and traditional fabrication techniques such as sawing, hammering, soldering, filing, and hand-polishing metal. Lost wax casting is a process that involves carving a wax model, burning it out of a plaster mold, and pouring molten metal into the negative space. She utilizes recycled sterling silver, 14k gold fill, solid gold, and natural gemstones such as Australian opal, natural turquoise, and moonstone. Each gemstone is carefully selected for its color and shape, with a focus on ethical sourcing. Each piece of jewelry is a small work of art that is intended to be eye-catching and wearable. Genna loves to create jewelry in her Seabright studio alongside her shop dog, Beau. Laguna Jewelry, Genna's small business, was named for her original studio on Laguna Street where she grew up.

*Photos with black background are by David Reese Photography