ARTIST'S SPOTLIGHT - janine binneman
- eliane de luca peres
- May 1
- 3 min read
Janine reached out to me over three years ago, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the connection we’ve built since then. Her work is absolutely stunning, and her passion is truly inspiring. Over the years, we've bonded over our shared love of rings, cats, and so much more.
I always enjoy following her adventures—she travels often, and I love "tagging along" virtually. Her Top Tip Tuesday series is a gem (don’t miss it—it’s practically a public service), and of course, I’m constantly in awe of her beautiful cluster ombré rings and all the colorful pieces she creates.
We’ve shared plenty of laughs, whether it’s over the occasional rude comments that show up on our pages, the frequent use of tweezers that comes with our age, or the delightful chaos our fur babies get into.
It’s been a joy to support her, and I deeply appreciate the support she’s shown me in return. When my daughter traveled to South Africa last year, Janine kindly offered to welcome her for a studio visit—which, unfortunately, didn’t pan out due to timing. But next time, for sure!
This self-proclaimed mermaid is fabulous, funny, and full of energy, and I’m so glad she’s sharing her story here today.
I have been an independent jewelry designer for nearly thirty years- I can’t believe it’s been that long! I am a qualified goldsmith and gemologist BUT it is a world that I fell into ALMOST by accident.
I took a gap year after school and ended up in Southern Italy as an au pair; I wanted to study Graphic Design and did my university portfolio whilst living in Italy- my inspiration was influenced by the opulence and colors of Italian Design- especially living on the Amalfi coast with its incredibly bright and beautiful Ceramics. The University loved my portfolio but decided I would be better suited to studying jewelry design and manufacture- and voilà! here I am!
I am obsessed with Colored gemstones and sharing the never-ending variety and array of these magical creations of Mother Nature is my passion – most of which I find myself from dealers or mines themselves all over the world. I will only source via transparent and ethical supply chains and if it’s a woman owned business, I get even more excited. One on my most treasured connections is with a group of Artisanal Women Miners in Kenya who I buy my Mermaid Sapphire rough from.
I am an inherently curious and excitable soul and being given an opportunity to explore and express someone’s story through the unique jewelry I create for them is both a passion and a privilege. My heart literally does star jumps. My design process leans into the connections I make with my clients, be it in an in-person design consultation or an online conversation and from there the magic begins – exploring the colors, the meanings, shapes and sizes of the stones that speak to the client. It’s an organic process and no two Janine Binneman multi-colored, cluster rings have ever (or will ever) be the same.
Some of the rings I create may include stones from a client’s inherited jewelry or I may source a specific focal gem for their cluster – either way, there is always a story to tell about each final piece. Importantly, the recipient will have been on the sourcing and design journey with me – I believe this is what makes each and every cluster so much more valuable to the wearer, they are deeply embedded in the process. I have clients choose stones according to their intentions, their children’s (or dogs) birth months, because ‘green is their good luck color’ and blue the color of their partner’s eyes. The important thing is that the story is theirs and theirs alone.
