Meet Isabel Dennis, the creator of Kima Fine Jewelry based right here in Oakland. Lindsay and Isabel have been friends, travel buddies, colleagues, and often collaborators for over a decade. In fact, it was a hot tip from Isabel that led Lindsay to the listing for the space that eventually became Aster Jewelers. So you could say there would be no Aster without Kima.
Izzy is known for her architectural precision, drawing inspiration from Deco philosophy and infusing it with edgy and contemporary details. Read more about her and her collection below.
- what is your favorite technique or process in jewelry making?
I've been focused on stone setting from day one - it is a sub-specialty of jewelry making for truly obsessive and geeky jewelers. I left my last jewelry job during COVID to study micropavé setting in Belgium, came back and started KIMA, and have been logging countless hours at the bench with my little piles of tiny diamonds since then. I still like finding unusual ways to set, like my horseshoe collection, where the diamonds are set inside the curve of the horseshoe.
- what is inspiring you right now?
I've been learning a lot about the gemstone supply chain. I took a trip to Sri Lanka last year to see more of the sapphire business, which was really eye-opening. Learning more about where stones are mined, the intricacies of a good cut, the relative rarity of certain antique stones, etc is fascinating, and makes me a better and more responsible steward of these precious materials. The gemstone business dovetails with geology, history, fashion, geopolitics - there is so much to learn! I've also been amassing a small trove of gems for one of a kind pieces, which are starting to make it off my bench, with more coming soon.
- what are your favorite pieces from your personal collection? Share photos!
My great grandmother's cocktail ring, which my mother wore as her engagement ring, and which planted the seed for the Edwardian and Deco inspiration I bring into the design world of KIMA. Isn't she gorgeous?
- what's currently on your studio playlist?
I love internet radio! There are so many real live humans with great taste who host weekly or monthly shows. My can't-miss shows: Moxie on NTS, Lefto on Kiosk Radio, and Benji B on BBC1.
- who's another artist (jeweler or other media) that you admire and why?
I could name a million, but I keep coming back to the work of Léon Spilliaert, a Belgian painter I discovered in the Musée Royeaux during my time in Belgium. His work is hard to pin down - a little bit symbolist, a little abstract, a little expressionist. A print of Baadster has prominent spot over my bench.
I also stop in my tracks whenever I encounter a building by Zaha Hadid.
- do you ever consider other career paths? In a parallel universe, what would you be doing if not making jewelry?
I'd like to think I'd be an architect, but I think I ended up in exactly the right place.
- show us your pets! That's Bing Bong, my little bobtail menace, who has been my ride or die for 12 years and counting (we were both a lot younger in this photo!)
