The good thing about social media is that it gives you the opportunity to discover all kind of designers and artists. That is how I got to know Tuggle Designs. A fabulous duo who create incredible bold and beautifully unique designs. Be sure to follow them on IG @TuggleDesigns. What I personally adore most about Tuggle Designs are the engravings, plus the fact that each design has its own story. Each piece is made by hand with oxidized sterling silver and rich gold colors, with a variety of bright gemstones and diamond accents. They believe that the finishes are just as important as the design itself, and incorporate hand engraving, various textures, and high polished areas that produce dynamic, compelling works of art.
Who is Tuggle Designs?
Tuggle Designs was born of the mutual passion for one-of-a-kind, handcrafted jewelry from husband-and-wife team Matt and Lauren Tuggle.
How did you get started in this business?
Funny enough, we think we were destined to create jewelry! Matt was fortunate enough to take a metalsmithing class in high school, where his love of jewelry design began. Although it wasn’t until we started dating in 2009 that our path to a jewelry business really began. Matt was working in another industry at the time and was excited to show me two woven sterling silver bracelets he made in high school. They were exquisite for someone so young, and I asked why he wasn’t doing this full time. Two weeks later he had his first job in the jewelry industry.
I quickly changed my major in college from biology to business, thinking that it was a more logical choice and perhaps I would need to know how to run a business someday. During those first years, Matt would come home from work and explain all the new things he learned. At first, it was a way for us to get to know each other and over the years, I also gained knowledge of the jewelry making process and eventually Matt urged me to work in the industry as well. Fast forward seven years and we can’t imagine doing anything else!
What part of the designing process do you like most?
We love engaging in the custom design process with our clients. They often come to us with a very vague idea and trust us to turn that into a piece of fine jewelry.
What inspires you as a designer?
Honestly, we draw inspiration from everything, and nothing! Our jewelry is a modern take on traditional design, where color and contrast play an important part and guide the direction of each piece. We also place an emphasis on contrast and negative space in each design.
Black Diamond & Orange Sapphire pendant
Who would you describe as the Tuggle Designs client?
The Tuggle Designs client is someone who wants a piece that is both exceptional and intentional. They view the piece not just as a piece of jewelry, but engage in the process to create a piece of art to enjoy for generations to come.
Is each piece you make a one of a kind/custom order?
Yes, most everything we make is one-of-a-kind. We love making custom because of the unique nature of each piece! We love taking the stories behind the piece and turning it into treasured heirlooms for our clients. Between making customs for our clients, we do carry a small collection of one-of-a-kind pieces.
What’s your design process?
We believe that more beauty and artistry goes into a piece when it is made by hand, and do not rely on CAD in our process. Utilizing traditional fabrication, ornamental hand engraving, and advanced stone setting, we produce high-quality craftsmanship meant to stand the test of time. This makes every piece of jewelry special, intentional, and truly one-of-a-kind.
What kind of tips can you offer to any future designers (like yourself)?
We think one of the best things you can do as a young jeweler/designer is to take classes and/or study under a mentor. You will cut years off your learning curve and won’t develop bad habits that you’ll have to re-learn the proper way in the future. There are so many resources available to jewelers today – schools such as the GRS Training Center and New Approach are great places to start!
All info and imagery thanks to Matthew and Lauren