Hallmarking has Existed for 1000's of Years. Jeffrey Levin Writes About his Jewelry Marks and History

Love a history lesson? The practice of identifying and authenticating works of art have been in play for thousands of years. The jewelry marking system is no different. Having been apprenticed and qualified as a jeweler in South Africa, the English marking system was a familiar precedent for Jeffrey.

Read about the marks Jeffrey stamps on his collection and the clues that “hallmarks,” “makers marks” and other identifying stamps provide to a piece's age and origin. Read More

Need a Little Peace in Your Heart?

Jeffrey has carved a new addition to the line, his Peace Tag, available in medium sized on leather or smaller as a charm or post earrings in sterling silver, yellow gold and rose gold.

As a symbol adopted all over the world to celebrate harmony, we think it's a pretty good time to remind ourselves of universal kindness, humanitarianism and compassion. New products will soon be added including Jeffrey's dog tag design featuring a tiny peace sign, a men's peace sign and an ndu Collection peace sign with African motif carvings. Shop the Peace Collection

Big, Bold Statement Pieces in Mother of Pearl

Jeffrey Levin's new Mother of Pearl collection features this mysterious and sensuous iridescent shell, sustainably harvested and free of resins, dyes or bleaching.

Jeffrey crafted a strong setting in sterling silver to mount the 30mm round shell and with careful technique, has attached his long-adored, precious tiny heart charm. The Mother of Pearl collection sacrifices no sense of theatre, as a dramatic pendant alone or layered or as an adjustable ring conversation piece, available in either white and black shell at the shopping site, http://jeffreylevin.com.

“These pieces fuse my metal work with a natural gift of the earth,” says designer Jeffrey Levin. “Working with my hands, I’ve always felt closer to the earth.”

Shop the collection: Mother of Pearl

Jeffrey Levin's Rosette Gives Back to Cancer

We are thrilled to announce that a percentage of proceeds from the new Rosette product line will be donated on-going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Naming it after his mother Rosette, Jeffrey carved the "small rose" to honor her memory and all loved ones who have been touched by cancer.
The Rosette dresses up and goes street. With a motorcycle jacket, your favorite tee or little black dress. Look good on the outside, feel good on the inside.

Shop the collection: Rosette

Honoring breast cancer this month, Jeffrey has donated the Rose Gold Rosette Pendant to the National Breast Cancer Coalition silent auction and celebrity studded cabaret, Les Girls. The event takes place in Los Angeles Monday evening October 5th at the Avalon Hollywood.

Jeffrey is also proud to be a part of the LA's Best fundraiser, UnWINED, hosted by LA's Best Friends. The silent auction, for which Jeffrey donated a medium Silver Dog Tag Pendant, benefits LA's Best After School Enrichment Program, providing a safe haven to children ages 5 to 12. The event takes place in Santa Monica on Friday evening October 16th at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel.

We thank you for your continued support and joining us in our efforts to spread joy and give back.

Jeffrey Levin Designs a Sophisticated and Timeless Interpretation of the Classic Dog Tag

Jeffrey Levin's dog tag collection features small, medium and large sized dog tags in precious metals and sterling silver. They are available plain or in a variety of styles for women including dog tags adorned with Jeffrey Levin’s signature heart charm, cross or daisy charm as well as sterling or gold dog tags embellished with just a single white, cognac or black diamond. Men’s dog tags also feature plain styles which look bold in the large size in sterling or rose gold and for a little more edge, the black diamond dog tags designed in the “River” collection.

A signature of Jeffrey Levin’s jewelry, his dog tags are designed to be worn layered or alone. Shop Dog Tags for Women or Men

The Eponymous Collection to Launch: www.jeffreylevin.com

Props to Jeffrey!

A craftsman for 30 years, Jeffrey Levin has been handcrafting fine and designer jewelry, casting his unique handwriting in yellow, rose and white gold, while using sterling silver as a crossover metal. White, cognac (also known as chocolate) and black diamonds adorn his pieces.

Designed to be worn layered or alone, Jeffrey Levin’s jewelry are incredibly touchable, tactile pieces that go with everything. For the fine jewelry collector, in the Jeffrey Levin line he has refined and sophisticated offerings from pendants featuring crosses, hearts, daisy charms and other iconic classics, to single stone stacking rings, curved band stacking rings, pave diamond eternity bands, drop earrings, hoops and handmade link bracelets.

His Jeffrey Levin ndu collection blends sterling silver jewelry with rose gold and featuring tribal motifs inspired by his street style and African heritage. Black diamonds predominate, lending a bold and dramatic edge to these statement pieces.

Jeffrey Levin One is available for appointment-only custom jewelry commissions and will later feature vintage one-of-a-kind objects from around the world, remixed with new gems, Jeffrey’s own designs or handcrafted additions.

About Jeffrey Levin - Jeffrey Levin is defined by a breadth of talent and endeavors with popular jewelry brands Chrome Hearts, Dogeared, Gerard Yoska, 1928, Cathy Carmendy, Jane Bohan and Jolie’ Designs amongst others. As an entrepreneur, he partnered in both the Julez Bryant and u+i jewelry brands. These collections graced the covers and spreads of major fashion magazines such as WWD, Vogue, Elle, Madamoiselle and In Style and were carried in Neiman Marcus, Fred Segal Santa Monica, Barney’s New York, Louis Boston, Stanley Korshak as well as the Golden Bear and Sundance catalogs. As a good citizen, Jeffrey Levin is also defined by giving back. His company have adopted a sustainability accord that drives its business operations in addition to establishing relationships with charitable organizations who will benefit from cause specific product and donations.

Sign up for the launch: www.jeffreylevin.com

Follow Jeffrey on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JeffreyLevin

First Impressions

Nevermind that I missed my original flight from Heathrow to Cape Town because some guy jumped a fence and was running on the runway throwing rocks. After a bit of puppy-eyed negotiating, bypassing a trip though Jo-berg, I ultimately made it direct to CPT only 3 hours later. I was lucky, my luggage arrived late the next day...

From the airport we drove to Sea Point where Jeff grew up, one block from the Atlantic Ocean. At first, Cape Town looks like a coastal place, maybe similar to something European or Mediterranean. But you quickly realize it is much more than. As Jeff points out, the ocean here has constant movement and activity. The Pacific is passive. This has more energy.

And holy smokes, it is STUNNING. Where else are there two oceans that meet, surrounded by awesome mountain ranges! Layers of majestic mountain ranges. That far eclipse those I'm used to in California.

 

Table Mountain is awe inspiring. With the wind (something Capetonians accept as part of life, but in Sea Point it is far less imposing), there is a fury of cloud swirl over Table Mountain, which they call this cloud formation the Table Cloth. To me it looks like a cloud volcano. When the wind is fierce, the cable car does not run. It's been fierce most of the time I've been here. But let me say, if I have the courage to get on the Cableway which takes passengers 302m above sea level in a rounded revolving cable car, I'm sure it will be extraordinary!

For someone who loves food, Cape Town is a gastronomic experience! We went to a super cool organic market at the Biscuit Mill, a converted factory with shops and a Neighbourgoods Market. The Neighbourgoods Market is open on Saturdays with fresh and prepared foods, vintage furniture, designer clothing, and tables and tables of people convening over gourmet treats. So impressed! Met the market owner and general manager who are also running hotels under the name of Daddy Long Legs and "moving room" locations (with renovated Airstreams they are importing from the US, mostly from Florida).

The bread here is something very different than the American standard. All bread has more depth and flavor, whether it is the basic that you buy at the market or more gourmet. So my first egg sandwich at the Biscuit Mill gave me an extraordinary experience of this doughy and textural treat! I have also been introduced to my new favorite fish, Kingclip. It is a white, flakey, non-fishy thick fillet that I first ate at the lovely hotel about 20 minutes from Sea Point in Chapman's Peak, called the Chapman's Peak Hotel.

Everywhere, you see a lot of recycled product and some sustainability efforts. Jeff does explain that the recycled stuff is a matter of materials. This is all the poor have to work with. They are using what is around them and creating commerce. Some very innovative output and some just crafty stuff. The latter, you also see a lot of it being commoditized. Sold on the beach, on the streets in the street markets...Nonetheless, if it helps the poor and tribes make money, that's a good thing! Sustainability, I'm finding bits of. The guy that owns the Biscuit Mill is rennovating the Airstreams with all sustainable materials, there's an organic kids clothing store, recycling bins in some neighborhoods, some awareness of materials but definitely a place where survival is first and foremost so it will be the rich/elite that can afford to be sustainable in new architecture, new products, new fashion, etc.

To continue first impressions, I must move away from the gorgeous scenery and talk about S. Africa and the dimensions of the city here. I'm still making impressions as you must really be here a few weeks before you absorb the surrounds. The infrastructure of the city being so reliant on the non-whites is quite stark for an American. You also have to be on your game as there's a lot of manipulation. You basically pay meter-maids to park on the street, but it's not mandatory everywhere. But the asking is constant. And the people who sell on the beach and on the streets are quite the salesmen. You do get some sense of how people who have had their civil liberties taken away don't have much respect for life generally. I'm sure that's only seen in Cape Town on the surface and worse so in other places around Africa. Moving on.

Off to take a walk along the sea front toward the lighthouse. Jeff is on a 4 hour bike ride...