Given Gold Jewelers

Given Gold Jewelers Fine jewelry store specializing in bridal and custom design on Oakland's Piedmont Avenue since 1974. Buyers of gold, platinum, diamonds, fine watches.

Given Gold Jewelers is a locally-owned jewelry store serving clients in the Oakland area. We sell custom and ready-made jewelry, as well as offering jewelry and watch repair services. No matter what style you are looking for, we can put together a piece that will truly speak to your heart. Stop in today or contact us for more information!

A meaningful pendant that we just finished for a client in 18k gold
04/12/2024

A meaningful pendant that we just finished for a client in 18k gold

Gorgeous fancy yellow diamond ring. We set a total of 97 yellow and white diamonds in this ring for a dear client.
04/09/2024

Gorgeous fancy yellow diamond ring. We set a total of 97 yellow and white diamonds in this ring for a dear client.

02/17/2024

This is not my line, but I use the same torch and have very similar experiences. The relationships that artisans develop with their tools is very personal. My torch, certain pliers, that original hammer. We all have them. The timeless aspect of a vintage tool that one grows with and grows old with. Even better if it was handed down from an old time craftsman. These tools are especially treasured as they help us create new treasures.

"A Boy and His Torch.

The torch begins things and the torch can end things. I like that about it. I like that it channels something as elegant or brutal as fire and relies on my skill to decide which it will be. On a good day I can solder the wings onto a fly (I tell students) but on a less good day I ignite the stray things on my bench and singe the cat. On a bad day I have the RMT: Reverse Midas Touch and the torch in my hand can reduce a week of work to a puddle But , ironically, on an average day in my studio the puddle is where things begin. In a clay crucible I melt scrap and false starts and pour that hot little puddle into fresh ingots, which I roll into sheet, draw down into thin wire or forge. I like that too, the recycling. It takes some of the fear and caution away since I can always start again.

There’s a zone between the molten puddle and solid metal. Cranking up the oxygen or propane, tweaking the flame or pulling the fire away gives me control enough that I can play for a while in that semi-melt zone. Metals act like clay there. At around 1600 F a sheet of silver begins to sag and then crumbles or breaks; a bit more heat and edges round and broken bits begin to fuse together. More still and you can burn a hole right through the middle of a solid sheet. Hmmmm. Too much heat and you start again. I try to stick to the first three and avoid the last.

I’ve used this particular torch for thirty years--I know, I know, I must have been a baby when I found it back in New York. I write “found” because I’m not sure how I came by it. Probably, it was used, which I also like. It’s traveled with me across the country and from studio to studio. The torch is an old-school Hoke, the style that the old timers used and my teacher had at his bench. Like ducklings following a bowling ball, I’m sure that I imprinted on his. Different tips screw on to produce larger or smaller flames, as the job requires. They are tiny and made of brass, although mine are charred and scaled. The character of the flame is adjusted by balancing the mix of propane and oxygen. It’s a bit like fiddling with the hot and cold valves in the shower. A big bushy flame is gentle and heats big things evenly; a hissy, pointy little flame is hot enough to spot heat and weld-- Ninja Soldering: get in, do the job and get out. Linger too long and you do serious damage. The torch giveth and the torch taketh away."

Client almost cried when she saw this ring. If it were any larger than 3.5, I may not have wanted to part with this ama...
04/21/2023

Client almost cried when she saw this ring. If it were any larger than 3.5, I may not have wanted to part with this amazing ring. The pictures don’t really show, but the stem running through each leaf is polished while the leaves themselves have a soft sandblasted finish.
Some days I actually love my job.

A very nice client asked if we could duplicate her old costume snowflake pendant in white gold and diamonds. We did an...
03/22/2023

A very nice client asked if we could duplicate her old costume snowflake pendant in white gold and diamonds.
We did and she loves it! She called us within an hour to say that her friends are already ogling her new pendant.

Remember the little guy. We keep@the wheels of society greased. We are you neighbors and employers. We are your custo...
11/26/2021

Remember the little guy. We keep@the wheels of society greased. We are you neighbors and employers. We are your customers and your teammates.

Stunning ruby ring that we just completed. Client originally wanted to reproduce a lost ring. We decided to take it up ...
11/10/2021

Stunning ruby ring that we just completed. Client originally wanted to reproduce a lost ring. We decided to take it up a notch.

Gone in 60 seconds. This Rolex 16750 went as quickly as it came. There is a funny story about me and this model invol...
11/05/2021

Gone in 60 seconds. This Rolex 16750 went as quickly as it came. There is a funny story about me and this model involving a capsized catamaran. We both survived. .

Beautiful, minimalist design. Surprisingly, these are often the most challenging. There is nothing to distract the eye...
10/24/2021

Beautiful, minimalist design. Surprisingly, these are often the most challenging. There is nothing to distract the eye from any flaws in ex*****on. Thin but not fragile, simple but not plain. This ring was commissioned by a local broadcaster as her engagement ring. oaklandjeweleydesign customjewelryoakland

Vintage tech. Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox alarm watch. Just back from restoration.
08/31/2021

Vintage tech. Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox alarm watch. Just back from restoration.

Beautiful upside down set citrine. This ring belonged to the mother of our client. We faceted and set this citrine bott...
04/06/2021

Beautiful upside down set citrine. This ring belonged to the mother of our client. We faceted and set this citrine bottom up. Very different from the original. Our client was in tears thinking about her mother.

Address

3974 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA
94611

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 10:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

(510) 652-4186

Website

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