If you have visited some of the large gem, mineral, or jewelry shows in Tucson or Denver, or flipped through a gem show EZ-Guide, you probably have seen those eye-catching photos of models wearing multiple, stunning complex bracelets and necklaces that feature beautiful, one-of-a-kind gemstones from around the world. All these colorful designs belong to Starborn Creations, a company based in Sedona, Arizona, the heart of alluring Red Rock Country.
The man behind it is Arne Christophersen, founder and CEO. I recently had the pleasure of talking with him about his origins, inspirations, and worldwide work. Arne was born in Leipzig, in northern Germany, and grew up there collecting rocks and amber on the Baltic Sea shores. He studied economics but is self-taught in the lapidary and jewelry fields. Arne gathered a lot of experience by visiting Idar-Oberstein — the German town that is the European center of gem processing and one of Germany’s leading jewelry towns — and going to gem centers around the world, including Bali and India.
He moved across the pond and settled in Sedona in 1995 and established Starborn Creations in 1996. Although, as he says, “Sedona has its limitations for an international company,” Arne finds inspiration and beauty there. He prefers the colder weather of northern Arizona, compared to the deserts Arizona is more famous for. He often goes collecting in the area with his daughter for quartz crystals and jaspers.
Arne spent three years in Taxco, Mexico, learning the silversmith craft, but once he discovered Bali in Indonesia, he had most of his jewelry executed there. He said that “the craftsmanship is better in Bali, and their artistic eye is great.” Arne has developed strong relationships with cutters and silversmiths there; some of his employees have been working for him for over 25 years. All his cutting is done in Bali, except for some fire agate cabochons cut in the U.S., and a design office and production workshop are located on the magical Island of Bali.
Their company name, “Starborn Creations,” has its origins in his initial line of meteorite and moldavite jewelry created in a small Arizona workshop featuring c
Many of the sea-inspired motifs include larimar gemstones, aquamarines, drusy gems, and pearls. Among their currently featured items are striking drusy-coated shells and colorful half-sliced ammonites inlaid with abalone shells.
They have a huge jewelry inventory with pendants, earrings, and bracelets, but they also create interior décor items with crystals, lamps, luminaries with amber and gemstones, and decorative carvings.
They are continually inspired by the natural beauty of fossil
One comment stood out from our discussion. Arne said, “It is a worldwide team effort,” referring to all the people involved with the mine sourcing of the stones and the cutting in Bali, India, and the U.S., bringing back rough material in barrels and sorting it here in Sedona before it is sent out again for cutting and jewelry making.
Starborn Creations participates in U.S. wholesale gem and mineral shows in Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Tucson, and worldwide at the Saint Marie-aux-Mines, France; Munich, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan.
For more information about Starborn Creations products, photos, address, contact information, website and social media links, and the shows where they sell, visit Starborn Creations profile page on the Xpo Press website.
Helen Serras-Herman, a 2003 National Lapidary Hall of Fame inductee, is an acclaimed gem sculptor and FGA graduate gemologist with over 40 years of experience in unique gem sculpture and jewelry art. See her work at www.gemartcenter.com and her business Facebook page at Gem Art Center/Helen Serras-Herman.
All photos courtesy of Starborn Creations.