Jay Strongwater

Jay Strongwater's work has always lived somewhere between jewelry and decoration. "I'm fascinated by the idea of taking our everyday belongings and turning them into a beautiful collage of metal, enamel, and sparkling crystals," he has said, and that sentence still describes every frame, box and ornament that carries his name.

From Jewelry to Jewels for the Home

Jay's career began in 1981, while he was still an art student. A necklace he made for his mother drew such enthusiastic praise that he took a set of jewelry samples to buyers in New York, and a growing business was born. Before long his big, bold jewelry appeared on fashion runways, on magazine covers and at prominent jewelry counters across the country.

The turn toward the home came almost by accident. In 1995 Jay created a jewel-encrusted picture frame using components from his own jewelry collection. It struck a chord, and by 1998 his Jewels for the Home line had overtaken the fashion business entirely. Since then the house has grown to include frames, figurines, decorative boxes, vases, clocks, mirrors, furniture and holiday collections, all speaking the same jeweled language.

The Making of a Jeweled Object

Collectors often say they can feel the hand of the artisan in a Jay Strongwater piece, and the materials explain why. Most designs start as a sculpted metal form, usually pewter or zinc, which is then finished in 14K gold, sometimes 18K gold, or a silver tone, often with a light brown antiquing that brings out every contour of the sculpture.

Color comes next. Enamels are painted on by hand, sometimes in translucent layers that let the metal glow through, and then crystals are set one by one. Many pieces use Swarovski crystals, others European crystal or Preciosa stones, chosen in shades such as rose, sapphire, olivine, topaz and opal to suit each design. A single box can hold hundreds of stones; the Elton John Rock Box, shaped like a grand piano, is set with more than six thousand. Frames are finished with thoughtful details, such as the signature pierced fleur-de-lis back plate and kickstand on the classic Lucas frame.

The holiday ornaments follow their own path. Many are first sculpted in clay, then mouth-blown in glass by old-world glass artisans in Poland, before being hand-painted with enamels and glitter and set with crystals. The house's "12 Days of Christmas" ornament series began in 2016 with a Partridge in a Pear Tree and continued in 2017 with Two Turtle Doves.

Signature Collections

Stone Edge is the house's quietly elegant frame family: a smooth field of enamel, sometimes translucent, bordered by a continuous edge of faceted crystals. It suits a desk or a bedside table as easily as a formal living room. Bejeweled turns up the sparkle with large faceted stones, pearls and rich gold finishes.

The butterfly is a signature Jay Strongwater motif, and the Butterfly collection gathers jeweled wings on frames, boxes, figurines and ornaments. Delft Garden works in shades of blue and cream, pairing striped and floral enamels with the signature butterfly, while Peacock draws on the iridescent sapphire, emerald and purple of the bird's plumage.

Music has also inspired the house. The Beatles collection includes a Sgt. Pepper's box and a Yellow Submarine frame that bring the band's imagery to life in enamel and crystal, and Elton John captures the flair of the performer's glittering style.

Giving, Displaying and Caring for Your Pieces

Jay Strongwater pieces are made to mark moments. A frame is a natural gift for a wedding, a new baby or a graduation, and a small enameled box can hold a ring or a handwritten note. Ornaments are often given one a year, so a collection grows alongside a family and comes out of its boxes each December like an old friend.

When displaying several pieces together, try grouping by color or by theme: blue and cream Delft Garden designs on a single shelf, or a cluster of butterflies across a mantel. Varying heights, with a figurine raised on a stack of books beside a low box, gives a display the rhythm of a jeweler's window.

Care is gentle. The house recommends wiping pieces softly with a damp cloth and avoiding anything abrasive. Ornaments are best stored wrapped in acid-free tissue paper in their original box, or in an airtight container, when the holidays are over. With that small effort, the enamel keeps its color and the crystals keep catching the light for years to come.