Updates from Honey Bee Metals
May 8, 2025
Can’t afford gold jewelry? Consider Brass. As gold prices continue to soar, more and more jewelers are exploring alternatives that don’t sacrifice beauty or quality—and brass the answer. At Honey Bee Metals, we love working with brass for its warm, golden tone that closely mimics the rich luster of real gold, but without the hefty price tag. We have been crafting jewelry since about 2013, and have never had the opportunity to work with gold due to the cost. Buttery gold brass therefore, is an ideal choice for jewelry lovers looking for beautiful, handcrafted gold jewelry that doesn't break the bank. So, what exactly is brass? It’s an alloy made primarily of copper and zinc, known for its durability, rich color, and resistance to tarnish. Brass has actually been used in jewelry and adornments for thousands of years—dating all the way back to ancient Rome and even earlier. Across time and cultures, it’s been treasured for its gold-like appearance and versatility. Fast-forward to today, and it's still holding strong in the world of artisan jewelry, blending tradition with modern style - especially because of the price of gold. Brass pairs perfectly with sterling silver, and we have found there is increasing demand for pieces that mix the two metals. See our shop listings - especially our bracelets. Many of our most-loved designs are mixed-metal creations that blend the cool glow of silver with the bold warmth of brass. As craft jewelers who work with copper, silver, and brass, we believe in the story each metal tells—and brass, with its old-world charm and accessible price point, is stealing the spotlight in today’s market.
April 24, 2025
One of our favorite gemstones to work with is Lapis Lazuli. Its deep celestial blues are just so captivating, alluring, mesmerizing. Egyptians, especially during the time of Tutankhamun used it in jewelry, inlay work, and even cosmetics—ground into powder for eye shadow. Lapis wasn’t just a material good - it was a symbol of royalty like gold. It also was valued for its spiritual power. Sourced mostly in Northeastern Afghanistan, the Sar-E-Sang mine has been continuously operating since 7000 BCE. Rugged and remote, traders carried Lapis via camels and on the backs of humans west through Mesopotamia, Persia (Iran), Syria and south into India and China. Because it was so difficult to acquire, Lapis became a status symbol across empires. How to Spot Good Lapis: The best Lapis has golden flecks (pyrite) that sparkle in the blue stone. Lower quality Lapis has white spots (calcite) that make the blue less rich. Our Lapis Pieces: Because of the current situation with Taliban rule in Afghanistan, we only use old stock Lapis from trusted dealers. Visit our Lyric Shop to see our Lapis creations—with more coming soon!
April 10, 2025
Hey Lyric community..we are new to this platform and are looking forward to connecting with other creatives. Honey Bee Metals are the team of Lisa and Dana. We live and work in Ringwood NJ - soon to be Kingston, NY. We have been making our rustic modern style of jewelry since 2015. Our store gets it's name because when we began making jewelry in the room we created for a studio, we heard buzzing in the outside wall. Over the first few weeks of making our first pieces, the sound got louder and louder. It turned out to be Honey Bees!