Insights into my diving jewelry and jewelry workshop
The production of diving jewelry, or handmade jewelry, is a rather complex and often underestimated process that involves many different steps. Each step involves various manual steps that require experience and careful handling of the material, so that in the end, we have a perfectly crafted gem that we can hand over to you, the customer, with a clear conscience. Unlike many other manufacturers, however, we have the ability to carry out all production steps, whether silver or gold jewelry, in our own factory.
It all starts with the idea, of course. To turn this vision into reality, many individual considerations are necessary in advance. What size should the new piece be? In which position, shape and material will the motif best show off? What is necessary to make it as similar as possible to the natural model? Once these decisions have been made, the new piece is modeled by hand in wax. There are almost no limits to our design possibilities. Each model is shaped, modified and perfected until every desired detail meets our requirements. It is therefore possible that the creation period for a particular piece spans several weeks before we are actually satisfied with the result. Once the wax model is optimally prepared, it is then embedded in its mold and cast in metal. Designing and casting the model are just two, albeit very important, steps on the way to the finished piece of jewelry. The cast blank initially bears little resemblance to the final result. The final stages of the jewelry creation include elaborating under a magnifying glass, grinding, and working out tiny details with the finest milling tools. Only when all areas of the model have been optimally refined does the manufacturing process approach completion. Various techniques are used to achieve the desired surface finish.
We believe that this effort is worthwhile because it is important to us that you enjoy your personal piece of jewelry for as long as possible.
scuba collection - diving jewelry and diving
Diving - It all began with a diving holiday in the Maldives in 1995. I was so captivated by the underwater world there that I developed a desire to create jewelry based on my favorite animals. The collection initially included only a few motifs, such as dolphins, whales, and some tropical fish, and I named it "Little Fishes." Soon, the "Little Fishes" were featured in the then-new diving magazine "Unterwasser" (Today Diving), and more and more divers quickly became aware of this special jewelry. From the very beginning, the whale fluke was the most popular motif among our customers.
It has remained so to this day and has thus become both a figurehead and a logo.
Since 1995, we've been working on our diving jewelry collection in our own jewelry workshop, which continues to grow and has been known worldwide as the "scuba collection" for many years. To this day, many of our customers still count from our "founding days." This makes us particularly happy and is the source of our daily motivation to approach our work with energy and creativity. We would like to take this opportunity to once again express our sincere thanks for the loyalty of our customers!
scuba collection is a registered trademark of STEFAN WIESSMEYER - jewelry | scuba collection | diving jewelry
Philosophy of my scuba collection
In some ways, we are traditionalists. For example, when it comes to our principles regarding the quality of our work or the principle of "everything from a single source." We have been true to this from the very beginning and will remain so. From the initial idea, through the design and the first wax model, to the finished piece of jewelry, every single piece of my diving jewelry collection is created in our own workshop. In keeping with our worldview, which is characterized by respect for all living beings, every piece of jewelry in the scuba collection receives the attention and care it deserves.
Most models are detailed miniatures of a real-life model, and the intricate details are created entirely by hand. This complex manufacturing process gives you the assurance that you are holding a truly unique piece in your hands.
Jewelry materials - silver jewelry and gold jewelry
Beautiful jewelry is rarely a spontaneous purchase; it is usually preceded by lengthy deliberation. Once the choice has been made, the piece itself often takes on symbolic significance. Choosing a piece from our scuba collection is associated with quality and perfection. To ensure you enjoy your jewelry for a long time, we use only the highest quality materials. Our standard alloy for the production of silver and gold jewelry is 925 silver (sterling silver). Of course, we can also craft your piece of jewelry from other materials upon request, such as 585 yellow gold (14 kt gold), palladium white gold, 750 yellow gold, or platinum.
We avoid using 333 gold because the proportion of inferior metals in this alloy is too high. We offer our pieces with various surface textures. They are available with a glossy polish or a gently matte finish.
Some pieces in my diving jewelry collection are given a special touch by the addition of gemstones. We particularly favor solitary diamonds, aquamarines, or sapphires, and we use only gemstones of exceptional quality and beauty.
Diving - Underwater and the Sea
Even as a child, I loved spending my free time in the water with a mask, fins, and snorkel, exploring this strange world. Of course, despite my training, my time underwater was very limited. Inspired by a good friend, I decided to take my first diving course in 1989 so I could finally stay underwater longer and explore everything there more thoroughly. I was surprised by the calm and lightness that gives you the feeling of slipping into another world where there is so much to discover.
Back then, I first got to know the underwater world in my local lakes and the Mediterranean. In the years that followed, I also chose more distant diving destinations and particularly enjoyed the dive sites in the Maldives. It was there in 1995 that the idea for our diving jewelry collection was born. Even today, I enjoy spending some of my free time underwater, diving. Interestingly, it's the little things that fascinate me most. It still gives me great joy to go out with my camera in search of the wonderful creatures of the sea, to photograph them and bring them back to the surface. Today, diving is not just a wonderful hobby for me, but a source of inspiration and creativity for designing new models for our collection.
My activities in species conservation
We need the sea – the sea needs us
In 1995, I decided to become actively involved in nature conservation. I wanted to do my small part to preserve the beauty and diversity of the oceans for future generations. Perhaps I also never wanted to be asked the question later: "Why didn't you do anything back then?"
So I started looking for a nature conservation organization I wanted to support and spontaneously joined a small species protection organization that hardly anyone knew at the time and whose name few could pronounce correctly right off the bat. Yaqu Pacha eV [Jaku patscha] I liked the working methods and goals of this small organization. It's about protecting aquatic mammal species in South America. It quickly became clear to me that volunteer work in species conservation is a lengthy and difficult process, but I was on board and I still am. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear what a central role the interconnected marine ecosystem plays in the conservation and protection of species. If this ecosystem is out of balance, the livelihoods of all marine life collapse, and every form of species protection is called into question because the foundation is missing. It's not too late. You too can help and make your personal contribution to protecting nature, no matter which animal species you are passionate about. Whether turtles, sharks, dolphins, or whales make your heart beat faster. It is important that you do something, because each individual can make a contribution to preserving our earth for future generations.
It's our little world – we only have one.
It is up to us to preserve them for our children.
Yours, Stefan Wiessmeyer
If you are interested, please take a look at the website of Yaqu Pacha eV www.yaqupacha.de
