Earthy, organic, and sculpted by fire, jewelry from Variance Objects marries the most beautiful characteristics of nature with the passion of its creators. The result is fine jewelry that is unique and totally wearable.
In anticipation of their in-store trunk show, Saturday, October 11th, 2025, we chatted with Nicole and Scott (the artists behind the line) to discover more of what inspires them. Here's what they had to say:
Your work really stands out in the world of fine jewelry. How did Variance Objects begin?
I was interested in both Victorian jewelry and gemstone specimens while I was finishing graduate school for Landscape Architecture and Urban Design. One day, the idea for Variance just showed up—I imagined cool gemstone jewelry with the mixed material quirkiness of antique jewelry. From there is was just a matter of figuring out how to make it.
The elemental nature of the line is very intentional and inspired by the materials. The materials come from the earth's processes, which are fiery and intense. We attempt to stay true to these processes in our jewelry.
You’re known for mixing metals by hand. Can you walk us through that process?
It is a process using the torch. Different metals melt at different temperatures. We use the torch like a paint brush, pulling and coaxing the materials together. It is a much more aggressive approach than traditional jewelry metal work.
What first drew you to using raw and uncut stones?
Once I had the idea for a line, I was surprised that I couldn't find any contemporary jewelry with more natural looking stones. That made me want to do it even more.
How do you choose the gemstones you work with?
We look for what we think are the most beautiful characteristics in a stone. Similar to the rest of the gemstone world, we look for beautiful color, luminosity, and structural integrity. We also want stones with natural formations and surface textures. Traditionally, these qualities would get cut and polished out of the stone. Instead, we accentuate these qualities in our cuts.
Is there a stone you’re especially drawn to working with right now?
On our last trip to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, we sourced some really nice sunstone, tourmaline, and opal. I am really enjoying these stones right now.
How do you balance unpredictability with design intention?
The trick to the balance is embracing the unpredictability and being willing to start over when the chaos doesn't work out. But with experience, it is rare for things to not work out!