Simplicity rules in Regina Chang's fall collection of unique jewelry

Local jewelry designer Regina Chang is releasing her fall/winter collection of handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces this month. The Columbia City-based designer crafts elegant, unconventional necklaces and earrings from natural stones and found materials. She never repeats her designs so each piece is a stunning, bohemian, unique treasure.

Chang crafts her jewelry from found items like sliced agates and exposed geodes and tries to honor the perfect imperfection of her materials. She hand-picks elements that highlight the beauty of nature, such as maple pods dipped in sterling silver or gold-leafed leaves, and groups them in complementary, eye-catching arrangements. She designs "with a limited number of focal pieces that express the beauty and balance achievable in asymmetry," she says.

Chang recently found herself mourning the loss of a cherished friend and reevaluated her surroundings and her life. She altered her daily backdrops and redesigned her home. The process of taming the clutter in her life and physically renovating her space allowed her to prioritize simplification. The concept of simplicity became the focus for her new collection.

Though Chang's trademark oversized pendants and chunky necklaces are still statement pieces, Chang is simplifying the lines, colors and complexity of her jewelry. To express this edited aesthetic, Chang sourced coarse elements for her fall/winter collection. "The rocks I'm using are extremely raw, extremely rough, almost talismanic," she says of the sliced agate, druzy and quartz she's incorporating in her earrings and necklaces ($40-$300).

Chang habitually carries home pieces of driftwood and has decided to incorporate it in select pieces of jewelry this season. The wood colors range from cool, bleached-out grays to subtle, warm, weathered browns and reds. The beautifully aged wood grain in each piece brings a patterned element to Chang's designs.

Creating pieces that offered clients a good value was also a priority for Chang this year. To ensure wearable jewelry that promised her clients versatility and longevity, Chang paired simple, clean lines with a neutral color palette. Her conservative color scheme is of two camps: subtle warm tones like russets and browns, and cool, wintery hues of blues, clears and icy whites. Chang says that simplifying overall designs has allowed her to focus on quality and craftsmanship. "That's where my jewelry is going; simple, the lines really important," she explains.

Chang's fall/winter collections are locally available at Andaluz in Columbia City, Hitchcock in Madrona, Kobo in the International District, the SAM Shop Downtown and Square Room in Capitol Hill. Though Chang does not repeat any of her designs, she can recreate a design with new materials and loves custom orders. Contact her through her Web site with custom requests.

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