The Literal Necklace

“THIS GOLD WAS MIND BY LUIS IN PERU”
18kt Fairmined yellow gold, mined by Luis Celadita Abel III hanging on an 18kt mercury free gold chain from lucila huenca-sereyacu with an 18kt fairmined yellow gold clasp.

Part of the Literal Series designed by Emily Phillippy of Emily Chelsea Jewelry for the Reciprocity Show 2024, part of NYC Jewelry Week.
The Literal Series is a tribute to the often-overlooked individuals of the jewelry industry—the miners whose labor and dedication lie at the heart of each piece. This collection shifts the spotlight from the designer to the miner, honoring their essential role by plainly and proudly displaying their names directly onto each piece. In stripping away fine details and ornamentation, these designs embody the raw beauty of gold in a less refined state, a nod to the material’s origins and to the hands that mined it.
The Literal Series challenges the conventional hierarchy of the jewelry-making process, where the designer often receives acclaim while the miner remains anonymous. Here, I aim to create an unembellished celebration of the miners’ work—a reminder that the story of each piece begins not with design, but with the miner’s labor and resilience.