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Whimsy & Elegance

F&B Profiles

Whimsy & Elegance

Photographed by Daniel Kullman
Text by Bobbi Groover


It has often been said that each life has a story to tell. All the twists and turns of the tale add color to the saga and make each chronicle unique. The same can be said of the fine jewelry designs of Diana Widman.

Whether creating new designs, crafting custom orders, or bringing new life and sparkle to heirloom pieces, every piece in her collection has a story to be expressed and the perfect medium through which it should be told.

With a background in art history and studio art, Diana started her career in printmaking and etching. She always enjoyed drawing, fine jewelry and studying rocks and stones so after enrolling in a gemology program, it was a natural transition to combine the three. She has now come full circle, and in addition to folding her lovely paperwork etchings, she is folding sheets of sterling silver and gold. With a technique from Korea called Keum-boo, 24kt gold is fused to sterling silver to produce exquisite, eye-catching jewelry. Diana utilizes all the colors of various fine stones to bring out nature's bounty of hues. For example, she blends "...chrysoprase and sapphire; bolder opal, tsavorite and spessartite; melanite and champagne diamonds - the gems' beauty intensifies when used as a palette." All of Diana’s work is elegant yet playful enough for everyday wear. She utilizes many curved forms to imply motion and movement. A simple gold and silver squiggle form can be as intriguing sporting pearls as well as beautifully surrounding multicolored sapphires and diamonds. The same squiggle features a hidden pin, making it usable as a posed conversation piece or a pendant. Its utter simplicity brings out the beauty of the gems nestled along its lines.

Each unique stone comes as a story needing to be told - its color, weight, form and shape - all need to be considered. Diana makes drawings, puts them away and comes back again to rework them, until the story is told and the picture complete. Then the picture is produced with the highest standards and consideration for detail. Rings, pins, pendants, bracelets, earrings - her design creations are timeless. From a casual breakfast meeting, to a stroll through the park, to a formal black-tie dinner, they are meant to sparkle and capture a second glance every day and later be cherished as heirlooms by future generations.

A member of several professional jeweler associations, Diana "...is currently finishing the Colored Stone portion of the Graduate Gemologist program at GIA." 

F&B Profiles
Whimsy & Elegance
Photographed by Daniel Kullman
Text by Bobbi Groover
November 2005


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Press

  • JCK Magazine: Holiday Survival Guide

  • Featured as a Top American Couture Designer

  • Cover of MJSA Journal, March 2018

    Cover of MJSA Journal, March 2018

  • Featured in The Knot

  • Featured in MJSA Magazine

  • "Rough Slices" by Lorraine DePasque

  • No One Way to Success Blog

  • "The Art of Jewelry" Blog

  • Featured in Professional Jeweler Magazine

  • The Helene Stelian Blog

  • Featured in Farlang

  • Classic Chicago Magazine

Read more …Press

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This policy was updated on November 7, 2019.

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Transaction Privacy Policies

In connection with your transaction, we may obtain information about you as described in this notice, which we handle as stated in this notice.

1. We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:

  • Information that we receive from you on applications or other forms
  • Information about your transaction with us, our affiliates or others.

2. We may disclose all of the information we collect, as described above, to companies that perform marketing services on our behalf or to other institutions with whom we have joint marketing agreements. We may not make such disclosures about you as a consumer, customer, or former customer.

3. We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to guard your nonpublic personal information.

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FAQ

1. How long will it take to complete my custom order?

Custom orders usually take three weeks to complete after we have settled on all the design particulars and we have received the 50% deposit. Rush projects are possible too. Please inquire about that process. We will keep you updated on our progress with your piece, so you'll know when it will be ready.

2. Can we use my old gold jewelry to make a new item?

Most of the time, we cannot use gold that you bring us to make something new. All gold is alloyed with other metals (unless it is 24KT solid gold). It is impossible to know what percentages of other metal alloys were used. So, reusing your old gold might produce a metal with unknown impurities, rendering it unstable. Your new piece will be constructed with freshly refined gold (recycled and purchased as such.) However, if you have old gold, we can credit it toward your new piece.

3. Where do you get your gemstones and how do you know what to buy?

I have been a professional designer and buyer for over 2 decades and have developed reliable international gemstone connections. My graduate gemologist credentials plus immersion in the global marketplace allows me to evaluate stones prior to purchase and I pre-screen them for each individual project. I am a designer-member of the American Gem Trade Association, (AGTA) an alliance of dealers, designers, and manufacturers who adhere to strict gemstone disclosure guidelines.

4. How do I keep silver tarnish-free?

  • You can purchase anti-tarnish products from Tarni-Shield™ to keep in the bag with your silver jewelry. It inhibits dark oxidization which normally occurs on all silver items.
  • Second, if your piece has a satin finish on it, you can make a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub it all over the piece, being careful not to rub onto stones or pearls. Rinse thoroughly and dry the piece off immediately.
  • Third, you can purchase jewelry cloths that are embedded with a mild polishing rouge. They are great for cleaning off tarnish and you finish by lightly buffing with a clean, old tee shirt. Voila!

Shipping & Returns

Shipping and Sales Policies

At Diana Widman Design, we realize that sometimes you change your mind. To better take serve you, please follow our simple return guidelines:

  1. First call or email us within ten days of receiving your item with the details of your return. We will provide a return authorization number which you need prior to returning the item.
  2. Next, return the piece by insured mail. Wrap it very carefully because we cannot accept items damaged by return shipment.
  3. When we receive the piece, we will refund your money, (less shipping), providing the item is in new undamaged condition-- including, but not limited to scratches, dents, dings, bent pieces, and /or missing parts.

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