PEILiving Summer2017

STYLE

"Custom designs are always personal. They can begin with an idea the client has or I let the creative process guide the outcome."

J ewelry is an incredibly personal thing and the choice of custom jewelry always has a story. Whether it's a family heirloom or a precious gift from a loved one, custom jewelry creates a love story as unique as the person wearing it. Award-winning bench jeweller Darius Brasky has been making beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry for over 24 years. A graduate of the Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Brasky completed his apprenticeship under Paul C. Lirot Jewelers, Madison, Connecticut, where his passion for creating unique designs further intensified.

the setting, "I wore it even though it was so damaged," she tells me, "because it was my Nana's ring."

Her boyfriend brought the ring into the shop and had Brasky restore the piece to its former beauty and proposed to her a mere three days later.

"Being able to wear my grandmother's ring means so much to me. It's a piece I'll pass down to my children."

It's clear that Brasky is passionate about his craft; it's something he is passing on to his apprentice, Laura Morneau. Laura hopes to follow in his example and become a custom designer as well.

Two of his custom-made pieces, inspired by brilliant gemstones green tourmaline and citrine, earned him two top awards from the American Gem Trade Association.

Although they have a showroom with various pieces, the majority of Brasky's business comes from restorations, custom designs, jewelry repurposing, repairs and cleaning. Most people have broken chains, mismatched earrings or out of style jewelry and heirlooms that simply spend their days in the bottom of a jewelry box. Brasky is able to offer in-store services to redesign these castoffs into beautiful, custom pieces you will love wearing or giving as gifts.

Brasky opened his Prince Street store, Darius Brasky Jeweller, in November 2014 and is in the process of relocating to 227 Grafton Street - the corner of Hillsbourgh and Grafton Street.

Specializing in custom design work, jewelry repair and restoration, Brasky loves the personal connection he shares with each piece that he creates.

Brasky is one of the only certified jewellers on the Island and offers all his services in- house, "Most jewellers will send your pieces out to be repaired or restored. We do everything on the premises." Brasky invites clients to contact him and arrange a consultation. The creation of a custom piece can take anywhere from a few weeks to months depending on the piece and are the perfect solution for engagement rings and bridal sets. No matter what the occasion may be, it will be truly special with jewelry designed by Daius Brasky Jeweller.

"It's the stories that bring such meaning," says Brasky. "It's artwork that will be treasured for years or even generations - it's quite amazing." One of his recent clients came into possession of her grandmother's engagement ring. Her grandmother, a war bride from London, had misplaced the ring years ago and with her passing, her granddaughter found the ring. When she found it, it was in need of extensive repair. It was missing the stone and most of

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pei-living.ca Summer 2017

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