It was in 1972 that I first took a hammer and homemade tools to fashion silver into simple ornaments, the beginnings of a long journey to the present. Learning the craft and trade of jewelry making and design came easily to me. I also had the joy and satisfaction of living and working in New Mexico, the capitol of silver and stone.
MAGNUS STUDIOS
A BRIEF HISTORY
BEGINNING
My influences were the great wealth of Southwestern Indian jewelry styles. Mostly self-taught, I tried them all, and was able to master a variety of techniques for metalworking, as well as lapidary gemstone cutting.
SANTA FE
My early visits to the ancient turquoise mines (Turquoise Hill) near Santa Fe were instrumental for me in learning the art of stone cutting. Today I own those old mines, "Tiffany", "Castillian" and "Alicia Lode", and continue to cut stones from these hills for my fine jewelry line.
NEW DIRECTIONS
It was in 1978, after a year and a half as production manager with a Gallup , NM Indian jewelry manufacturer, that I made the decision to steer away from purely Native American influences, and go towards American and Western design in a more contemporary style.
My vision was to create fashionable items for the leather trade. Belt buckles was an untapped field with virtually no competition. This was the beginning of what became Heartline (so named for the heart-shaped feature on the back of the four-piece buckle tips).
Today, the competition in the fine buckle niche is fierce (though most of my competitors are also friends) and this keeps my company and me on its toes trying to keep up with the needs of the current market.
The company has grown and become modern and sophisticated, supporting many dedicated craftsmen and staff. These 25 years have been a long and wonderful run. But after all this time, I'm pleased to note, that amongst our best selling items are my very first buckle designs.
Also, I am back working with turquoise and loving it!
Los Angeles, Late 60's
First Concho Belt
The Land, 1880's
The Land, today
First Production Facility, the Pumphouse
Second Facility, DeVargas Street
Today's Facility, Early Street
Painting at the Mines
Magnus in His Studio
Two contemporary designs
Contacts & Company Information
Magnus Studios
905 Early Street
Santa Fe, New Mexico
505-983-6777
Fax: 505 983-0810
email:
info@douglasmagnus.com
web site home:
www.douglasmagnus.com
all designs
© magnus studios, 2007
ABOUT CERRILLOS TURQUOISE
Natural Cerrillos Turquoise is very rare & no two stones are alike. Each piece of Cerrillos Turquoise and gold jewelry shown on this web site is unique and may not be available for purchase at this time due to prior sale.
If you are interested in a similar, but not exact piece of Cerrillos Turquoise jewelry, please call or email to discuss the project.
TURQUOISE IS NOT
ALWAYS WHAT IT
APPEARS TO BE
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Go to Turquoise Revealed for the complete run down on what you might be buying that you think is turquoise!
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Plastic is being sold by vendors in Southwestern cities as Turquoise. New Mexico has LAWS governing the manufacturing and sale of Indian Jewelry and Turquoise, please support these laws by purchasing products that state the source and contents of materials.
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Magnus Studios features only the finest grades of turquoise, sterling silver and gold available, and states fully the origin and content of the pieces!
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COPYRIGHT INFO
Magnus Studios continues to deliver Industry Progressive Designs and Technology. There are many profiteering manufacturers who produce "Knock-Offs" of our designs, thereby not investing the design resources or the high quality materials for their cheap reproductions.
Our designs are unique and also copyrighted. Purchasing the many reproductions of Magnus Designs only supports and condones criminal activity. All copyright infringements are prosecuted as the law dictates. If you see or purchase a "knock-off" design, please contact us anonymously. Thank you for your continued support.
