The Gem Corps

Some jewelry adorns. Some jewelry bears witness. Sweet CHAIRiot was created as a talisman: a folding chair transformed into adornment, carrying meanings of RESISTANCE, REMEMBRANCE , and REST. It was born from a symbol that speaks to survival, bearing witness, and to the long struggle against oppression. At a moment in America when cruelty is being normalized, when people in power speak and act with chilling disregard for humanity, I believe in jewels that refuse amnesia. In the face of dehumanization, memory matters. Beauty matters. Rest matters. What *we* choose to carry matters. I wanted to render that meaning with intention and reverence, as a talisman/amulet that holds both message and form. Its details reflect my love of historic jewelry while remaining wholly its own. For those who want their jewelry to mean something. For those who understand that adornment can also carry conviction. Sweet CHAIRiot by The Gem Corps. Available now in several versions. DM to inquire or visit the 🔗 in bio. #SweetCHAIRiot #GemCorps #charms #JewelryWithMeaning #BlackJewelryDesigner

A life in charms.✨ Not just jewelry, but memories made wearable: amulets, symbols, souvenirs, talismans, declarations of love, luck, faith, wit, remembrance, and delight. I’ve always believed that charms are among the most intimate forms of adornment because they reveal not only what we find beautiful, but what we wish to keep close. These small-scale treasures hold entire worlds. And while miniature, they are never minor. A small 🌍 in gold, diamonds, coral, fei cui jade, enamel, garnet, carved stone…too many to list here. Available in the webshop (🔗 in bio) or DM to inquire. #goldcharms #charmcollector #vintagecharm #estatejewelry #charms

When a stack is also a snack. 🍏 #jotd + a #gemgossipTop3 alternate that I didn’t include in Monday’s post. WHY? Too much jade (said no one ever). It’s a bracelet that I first saw at a 🐉 year tradeshow and proudly squirreled away my *hard earneds* for, after we met again in June ‘25. This was just before gold did another huge spike. And yes the 18k setting is nice, but that *gummy candy* Siberian nephrite jade (SNJ) is 🤌🏽😮‍💨why. we. came. When one considers how difficult and costly it is to access and work these rare gems and minerals, you appreciate them that much more. Scroll for some SNJ examples including a reliquary by master carver Tom Finneran @jade.bones via @montereybayjadefestival Georg Schmerholz carving competition. Read the passage from “Jade: A Gemologist’s Guide,” written by ‘the Godfather’ of Canadian B.C. jade, Kirk Makepeace, who I had the pleasure of meeting last June at the inaugural Jade Summit produced by @jewels_of_the_trade and sponsored by @masonkay_jade . It’s not a commercial, folks, just a few pros with over a century of jade knowledge between them. I digress. If you made it this far. Hello, jade-lover. You’re at least curious, right? Jade bless🫸🏽🟢🫷🏼 #jade #vintagejewelry #nephritejade #siberianjade

The Sunday edit is coming together, my gems. ✨ The Gem Corps will be at Pickwick Vintage this Sunday at the Ferry Building from 10-4p with antique, vintage, estate, jade, gold, Blackamoor, and talisman jewels — the kind with story, soul, and a little bit of command. I’m bringing pieces that have lived many lives, pieces that haven’t made it to the grid, and a few that are very ready to meet their next steward. 🎫 s will be released at 8am tomorrow, Sunday, and as capacity allows, will be available at the door. Visit @pickwickvintage for updates, then come find us Sunday. 💎 #pickwickpreview #GemCorps #VintageJewelry #EstateJewelry #AntiqueJewelry

Pickwick Vintage SF is almost here. 🎉 This Sunday, The Gem Corps will be at Pickwick Vintage Show, and we’re bringing a very edited selection of antique, vintage, estate, and gem-forward jewels — pieces with presence, texture, history, and that little pulse that makes you want to try them on immediately. I’ll also have the best company: a Corps Gem and jewelry friend Colzie @rose_gold_dragon will be helping me for the day. Jewelry is personal, but it is also communal — the looking, the learning, the trying on, the “wait, put that with this.” Here’s a small preview of what’s coming with us. Make sure to set your alarm ⏰ for 8am because 🎫 will be released each day prior to the show and there’ll be some at the door as capacity allows. Follow @pickwickvintage for updates. Come say hello, try things on, ask questions, and check a few jewels off the wishlist. @gemcorps at Pickwick Vintage Show San Francisco Ferry Building Sunday, May 17 • 10-4 @pickwickvintage #pickwickpreview #estatejewelry #jewelrycollector #antiquejewelry #thingstodoinsf

There’s something about rubies and the jades—nephrite and fei cui (jadeite). These estate earrings came to TGC with cute gold ball studs, but they demanded FIRE. The breakdown: 14k yellow gold drop earrings pair polished nephrite jade briolettes with vivid ruby studs (approx. 0.60 tcw)— a little heat above all that cool, grounding, vitreous green. The contrast is delicious: jade for steadiness, ruby for pulse. They feel talismanic, romantic and elegant without trying too hard. Jade has long been associated with protection, harmony, prosperity, and the kind of beauty that deepens with time. Rubies bring fire, vitality, devotion, and life force. Together, they are a small but mighty pairing: composed and alive. Available in our webshop and they’ll be debuting @pickwickvintage this weekend, 5.17. Tickets will be released at 8am each day leading up to the show so set your 🚨 and head to their page for the 🎫 link. [The earrings are nestled in an antique nephrite jade carving—also available.] #nephritejade #jadejewelry #rubyearrings #estatejewelry #gemcorps

Mom, you are the perfect mama for me, Haj and Emani. We love you so much. Happy Mother’s Day💓💐🤲🏽💎🙏🏽🩵🙌🏽 @asheellenb is the kind of human who was just born to be a mother. My late aunt Leslie, her middle sister, used to call her Lieutenant Mother. Brenda definitely has that about her. 🫡Just the other day she told me that I should make my bed since company was coming over. Lordt! 😆 But mama is also fun-loving and up for adventures. Brenda still drives more than anyone I know pushing 80. I am so proud of her. She’s worked so hard—bank teller, admin support professional, retail, poll worker, hospital secretary—-including that unpaid, 24/7+365 ‘job’ of being a great mother. And Mom, you did all of it with such care and unconditional love for your family. I saw it. I see it now. What a blessing it is to be here, that you’re still here, and still our ✨Mama Magic✨— beautiful, soulful, thoughtful, creative, selfless, YOU! Happy Mother’s Day to all. 💐 I understand that this day is hard for many, for so many reasons. Wishing you comfort, hydration, and love. 💗 #happymothersday

I’m ***tight*** right now. A chair is a seat. A seat is power. A seat is representation. A seat is the place someone once told us we did not belong. This week, after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, one of the last remaining protections of the Voting Rights Act was weakened in a way that will make it harder to challenge racially discriminatory voting maps. The Act is not “gone,” but another pillar has been cut down. Sweet CHAIRiot is our talisman for Resistance, Remembrance, and Rest. 🪑 Resistance, because access to the ballot has never been handed over politely. Remembrance, because people bled, marched, organized, registered, taught, testified, and died for voting rights. Rest, because we are not machines. We are allowed to pause, gather ourselves, and return to the work with clearer eyes. So what can we do? Scroll for some steps you can take right now. #VotingRightsAct #VotingRights #SweetCHAIRiot #GemCorps #AdornmentAsResistance

✨We conjured up something tah-day✨ @bethaniehinesphotography — mmm, supurr excited to finally work with you. 💚😌🙏🏽🧡 Gems, this was my first real headshot shoot for The Gem Corps. Jewelry on. Guard down. Becoming a little more visible inside the work I’ve been building for years. The jewels came with me, naturally. #jade #antiquejewelry #vintagepearls #jotd #estatejewelry

sold 🪲 At this past weekend’s TGC Anniversary Jewelry Salon, this circa 1970s Egyptian Revival “Cleopatra” collar was claimed by one of our jade clients— which feels exactly right. A collector who understands the power of stone also understands the power of form. The broad collar is one of the great ancient jewelry silhouettes: architectural, ceremonial, protective, unmistakable. In ancient Egypt, a.k.a. Kemet, adornment was never merely decorative. Jewelry lived close to the body as status, beauty, invocation, and shield. This 1970s interpretation takes that ancient language and lets it move again — all articulated golden fringe, collarbone drama, and sun-struck geometry. Revival jewelry is never only about imitation; at its best, it’s a conversation across centuries. A modern body wearing an ancient idea. And now this one is off to its next chapter. #GemCorps #EgyptianRevival #VintageJewelry #estatejewelry #JewelryHistory

NO ONE: ________. MOMS: I got neckstacks older than you. #neckstack #vintagegold #blackamoorjewelry #talismanjewelry #sweetCHAIRiot

La bendición de mis ancestros… Embrace heritage Rebuke imperialism Cherish freedom …in stacks. 💚🤍♥️ #goldcharms #estatejewelry #jewelrywithmeaning #cincodemayo #talismanjewelry