RESPONSIBLE SOURCING
Conflict-Free | Cruelty-Free | Healthy Studio Practices
We are members of Ethical Metalsmiths, and we choose sustainability over profit every day! Hours of research have gone into making Osseum conflict-free, but our work doesn't stop there. We share our expertise and resources with others because we want the jewelry industry to change! Visit our blog to find traceable metal resources and learn how to transition your business into an ethical and responsible one.
DESIGN PROCESS
Authenticity | Originality
Here is where the magic starts! At Osseum, we work hard to shape our ideas into the original forms that characterize our jewelry. If it isn't unique, we won't make it! A design can take months or years to develop, and it moves through a series of drawings and prototypes until we feel like it is truly ours. See more of our process gallery here.
MODEL MAKING
3D Modeling | Wax Carving | Laser Cutting
Carving an original wax model could take up to a month. It is an artistic process that requires patience and attention to detail, but not all designs are made this way. 3D modeling helps us turn an original illustration into a double-sided earring; 3d scanning saves us time when making a series of the same design, and vector templates for laser cutting machines help us make our beautiful and precise riveted designs.
LOST WAX CASTING
Mold Making | Wax Injection | Lost Wax Casting
Lost wax casting is a beautiful and laborious process dating back 6000 years. It allows artists to make metal duplicates of an original model. Per each of our designs, we make a silicone mold that will enable us to make wax duplicates. The process is called lost wax because after creating a temporary plaster mold or investment around the wax replicas, the investment goes into a kiln that evaporates the wax. All that remains is the formerly wax-occupied space where the melted metal goes. Next, the plaster mold gets quenched in cool water, where it dissolves, releasing the metal replicas of the original.
HANDMADE FINISHING
HANDMADE FABRICATION
Shaping | Soldering | Handmade Rivets & Clasps
This stage makes or breaks a piece because artisanal jewelry is handmade, and metal is not forgiving. Once you take too much, you can't put it back. After casting, all pieces require some reshaping, with burs and hand tools. Other elements like the clasps, hoops, or rivets are handcrafted from rods, wire, and sheet metal that must be cut and shaped into their final form. It is a labor of love that requires patience and attention to detail.
ARTISANAL PATINAS
Artisanal Patinas | Anodized Metal | Sandblasting
Every piece is carefully finished by hand and inspected before it's considered ready to leave the shop. We reduced mirror polishing to the minimum because the materials used can be harmful to the lungs. Instead, we use artisanal patinas and beautiful textures like sandblasting and hand brushing, giving our jewelry an interesting and durable character.
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
Zero Waste | Made from Post-Consumer Waste
Our zero-waste packaging is 100% compostable (yes, including the tape), 90% recyclable, and almost entirely made from post-consumer waste. We encourage you to put the boxes in the recycling to go back to the reuse cycle and the biodegradable bags in the compost so they can go back to the earth. Thank you!
DONATIONS & RESPONSIBILITY
Making donations and making responsible choices is what sets Osseum apart. We currently donate to the World Animal Foundation and The Nature Conservancy through our reward program at Ecoenclose, our shipping supplies company. We also plan to go carbon-neutral by joining the Carbonfund.
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