Community Highlights: Meet Chrissy Liu of Chrissy Liu Jewelry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrissy Liu. 

Hi Chrissy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
In search for a creative outlet after leaving my career as a healthcare administrator to be a stay-at-home mom, I took my first metalsmithing class in 2018 and was instantly hooked. 

As an avid lover of fashion and jewelry, I have always been drawn to bold pieces. My love for big and bold stems from the fact that I am five feet tall and it drives me crazy when fashion dos and don’ts put parameters on what I should or shouldn’t be wearing because of my size. 

As I learned to create jewelry, I naturally gravitated toward making bold pieces, and being a new mom, my primary goal was to make pieces that were wearable as well. 

As a jewelry designer, I am inspired to design and create pieces that are not only bold but also unique and something you won’t see everywhere. 

I love working with one-of-a-kind stones to create a piece that will stand out. I also use a lot of diamond accents in my work. I feel like diamonds can and should be worn every day, and smaller accent stones make this precious stone approachable. 

Mixing metals has always been something I have done in my personal jewelry wardrobe. I absolutely love creating mixed metal pieces of gold and silver, whether it is through accents of 14K and 18K gold or by using the ancient Korean gilding technique of Keum Boo, which bonds 24K gold to fine and sterling silvers. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I launched Chrissy Liu Jewelry at the tail end of 2018 and began selling my work in March of 2019. After only a year in business, the pandemic hit. Our family lives changed dramatically in that my husband didn’t have to travel for work so he was now full-time working from home, and we chose to keep our toddler home with us full time. We had 18 months of juggling my business, my husband’s work schedule, and keeping our little one home and safe. Even with all of that, I had a very successful 2020 and 2021, so despite the chaos, I still managed to grow my business, which I am grateful for. 

We’ve been impressed with Chrissy Liu Jewelry, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I believe in creating quality jewelry that is unique, bold, and wearable for every day. I strive to use recycled metals whenever possible to reduce my carbon footprint. I am very particular about the gemstones I use in my work. I pride myself in using high-quality stones from lapidaries that know where their stones have been sourced and stand behind their work. I also use conflict-free diamonds that have been ethically sourced. Most importantly, I believe that there are no rules when wearing jewelry. Jewely is for everybody and every age. I try to create designs that can be worn by both women and men using unique textures and finishes. 

From the start of my business, Chrissy Liu Jewelry has always been about giving back to the community through donations. In the last year, CLJ has supported an animal rescue organization in Seattle, WA; a non-profit that feeds medically vulnerable residents of Colorado; the ACLU; a legal organization ensuring equal access to voting rights; healthcare workers fighting on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic; and a non-profit that helps visually impaired and blind people ride bicycles in NYC. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I grew up vacationing in Walt Disney World. Our grandparents would often join us as we trekked through the park from morning until it closed. After the park closed, we would always go to a diner for late-night hamburgers and milkshakes. 

We were able to take our little one to Disneyland in 2019 but once Covid is past us, we can’t wait to take our Mickey Mouse-loving little one to Walt Disney World to start our own family traditions. 

Contact Info:

• Email: chrissyliujewelry@gmail.com
• Website: www.chrissyliujewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissyliujewelry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrissyliujewelry

Image Credits:
Credit Mallory High