My life story: from my first handmade pendant at 19 to my last sale before retiring.

My name is Sheryl Duncan. I am a jeweler at heart. I have been making jewelry by hand since I was 19 years old. But the time has come for me to put down my tools, and enjoy my retirement. My wish has always been to see my grandchildren grow up, and I am blessed to finally be able to fulfill this wish.

 

I would like to take you through my story from childhood to the present day, in which I am still in my workshop every day.
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Over 15,000 American
women love my craftsmanship

Born in Savannah – between tradition and precise craftsmanship

I would love to tell you how I started my jewelry business. I was born in 1956 in Savannah – a city whose old town streets, baroque façades, and traditional shops have combined craftsmanship and humanity for centuries.

 

Even as a child, I grew up surrounded by gleaming displays and the gentle ringing of the shop doorbell. My parents ran a small but respected jewelry shop in the city centre. There, I learnt early on what it means to create something lasting.


Love of jewelry – quietly grown, deeply rooted

Although my parents hoped for a more secure future for me, I found myself drawn to the back of the shop – to the workbench.

 

While other kids played outside, I spent my afternoons polishing jewelry, sorting beads, and watching for hours as raw metal was shaped into something delicate. Those quiet moments stayed with me. They shaped not just my skills, but my sense of purpose.
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My first pendant – simple, delicate, meaningful

Me at work in my parents' workshop

At nineteen, I stepped up to the workbench on my own for the first time. With my father by my side, I crafted a simple silver pendant – an oval shape with a delicate hammered finish.

 

My mother placed it gently in the display case. That same day, a customer came in and bought it.

For the first time, I felt that my hands weren’t just copying – they were speaking. They could create something that told a story.
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I took over the workshop at the age of 32 – young, but full of vision.

After my parents retired, I faced a decision: sell or continue. I chose the bold path — restructuring operations, hiring temporary staff, and renovating the showroom. All with the goal of blending tradition and modernity.


A fire that destroyed everything — and reignited it all.

In the summer of 1993, the unimaginable happened: a short circuit in the workshop sparked a fire that destroyed everything – tools, jewelry, photos.

A picture of the completely burnt down shop
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Rebuilding with heart, hands, and hope

But instead of giving up, I picked up my hammer – and found a new beginning in an old barn.

 

The conditions were bare, but my passion was alive. With borrowed tools and handwritten order lists, I started from scratch. Customers came – not just to buy, but to encourage me.


A new business — and a new love

Three years later, I reopened in the old town – this time with even more personality.

 

It was during this time that I met Matthew, an art historian with a love for detail. We married a year later, and soon after, our daughter Eva was born.

Me with my new jewelry shop in the background.
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From one-of-a-kind pieces to a digital studio — with Eva by my side.

Sixteen years later, Eva began working in my business. She helped guide the company into the digital age — first by selling on Amazon, and later through our own online store.

 

I remained at the heart of the workshop, Matthew helped with shipping, and Eva took charge of strategy and design.

Matthew, Eva, and me in the workshop

Loss and legacy — memories cast in metal

Matthew passed away suddenly in 2021. It was a shock — but I kept working, not out of obligation, but out of conviction.

Today, a quote of his hangs above my workbench: “What comes from the heart, stays.”


It's time to say goodbye 

I have decided by mutual agreement with Eva that I will retire. We are both convinced that this is the right time. 

 

After the last pieces of my handmade jewelry are sold, I’ll be spending my time with my grandchildren. I look forward to watching them grow up and creating a close bond with them.

“My Final Sale, before I say goodbye”

This will be my final sale. I will be selling my last handmade stock with big discounts of up to 80%. This way I can be sure it will end up in a good place.

MY FINAL sale - up to 80% off