Not yet recognizing that her continuous affinity for making gifts of jewelry for herself and her loved ones was a calling, Emily relegated her penchant for jewelry design to a hobby while she pursed a professional path that was more aligned with conventional wisdom. Eventually, she realized she needed to pursue her passion as a career and threw herself full force into learning everything she could about the industry. She travelled to Tucson to learn about stones, she asked questions of friends and sought guidance from mentors who came to her aid, all while maintaining a deeply engrained spirit of independence that guided her creative vision.

Emily’s work evokes a sense of nostalgia. Infused with emotions, the designer’s enthusiasm is evident throughout her collections, and she brings an exalted status to the stones with which she works, elevating her whimsicality and playfulness through the use of exquisite materials. She takes a fearless approach to color and stone combinations, often mixing matte finished cabochons with faceted, radiant gems. Her most recent collection launch, aptly named Dress Up, was conceived of during the darkest days of the pandemic, when the artist was dreaming of the “after” and anticipating the jubilance of reengaging in the fullness of life. It is replete with a sense of joy that verges on kitschy, produced with an exceptional level craftsmanship that lends the collection gravitas.

Emily P. Wheeler is a certified member of the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC), a unique distinction that ensures the company has done extensive diligence across all areas of their design, sourcing and fabrication process to promote ethical and environmental sustainability. Always cognizant of each of the hands that had a part in the creation of her jewelry, at every part of the ecosystem, Emily’s commitment to the ongoing efforts towards fully transparent and ethical practices is fueled by her feelings of responsibility to protect the earth and the humans whose lives are impacted by the industry as a whole.