My mission
My mission is to create the finest jeweled browbands possible for horse bridles. My designs are unique and one-of-a-kind. Custom orders are my specialty. I strive to use only the very finest products available, such as Swarovski crystal (not Czech glass), sterling silver (not pewter or brass), and supple, top quality leather with fine stitching. My goal is to make your beautiful bridle look like it ‘came with’ this browband.
Along the way, I have developed a singular sterling silver stock pin that can be made to match your browband. Bracelets, necklaces and earrings followed. Designing beautiful jewelry for you and your horse is my passion. Sit back and relax as you peruse the pages of my work. I look forward to working with you!
Browbands
The leather hides are top quality and originate in Germany or England. The leather stitching is finely done and some of the pieces are even hand sewn by a top leather craftsman.
Generally black or brown is chosen. We can dye and seal the browband to match your bridle. The size is determined by the horse. Find a browband that fits him well, neither flopping about on his forehead at the canter (too large) nor pulling the crownpiece against the back of his ears (too small), then measure in inches from end of ear loop to end of ear loop. We can make any size.
Choosing the stones is the fun part of the job! Swarovski crystal is the finest in the world. Nothing can compare for its precision cut and reflective qualities. Every color of the rainbow is represented and many mimic the colors of precious gem stones, i.e. Tanzanite, Amethyst, and Sapphire.
We also work with semi-precious stones, such as tiger eye, mother of pearl, freshwater pearls, coral, amethyst, lapis lazuli, sardonyx, agate, jasper, jade, turquoise and etc.
Sterling silver is frequently used to “frame” the beads. If gold is desired, we use vermeil, which is 22-karat gold over sterling silver.
Construction is critical. We make the brows to last. I ride several horses a day wearing these brows and have had no trouble. The stones are stranded on stainless steel wire (the strongest available) and anchored through the ear loops or hand sewn on the back. Then, the strand is hand sewn down through all the layers of leather to the backside of the brow.
Stock Pins
This design is ours alone. I worked diligently with a local jeweler to develop the pin. The bar is all sterling silver and set up to mount any stones we choose. The pin has two tie tacks on the backside instead of that ever-bending hinge pin that many of us have had fail at critical moments in the heat of competition! The tie tacks are sharp and easily penetrate the heaviest 400-thread count Egyptian cotton stock tie. They are then secured with a top quality clutch that holds until the release is activated.
My local jeweler and his family are standing behind this product 100%. If you have any problems with this pin, send it back and we will repair it at no cost. You won’t find a guarantee like that from any pin on the market that is produced overseas.
Jewelry
It just “happened” that customers wanted a bracelet to match their browband, or a necklace, or even earrings. Sometimes they want a whole set. I am happy to accommodate them.
I also create pieces incorporating lampwork beads. Lampwork is a glass bead that is annealed in a furnace and is very durable. The artist “draws” pictures within the bead using various colors and then coats the entire work of art with many layers of clear glass. These are truly one-of-a-kind and real treasures!
Hats
I felt that if customers were too “skeered” to go with a browband, a good way to get them used to it was to put a strand of beads across the brim of a hat. I use top quality caps and sew rings in each end so that the customer can remove the strand. The cap can be washed in the top tray of your dishwasher WITH the beads affixed. But if you wear the cap a lot and it gets “tired” you can clip the bead strand off and use it on another cap. Or you can have interchangeable strands for the same cap.
info@crownjewelsdesign.com
