In 1968, a young artist and her machinest husband began creating jewelry in their home. The couple's passion for graceful design and beautiful materials created Great Falls Metalworks, one of the few remaining U.S. based jewelry design and production studios. Today, 43 years after their first design, Great Falls continues its American artisan traditions under daughter and designer Flora Anne Brothers.
Great Falls crafts both fine and fashion jewelry using unusual, high-quality stones and metals. Every piece is custom made to order at Great Falls' ivy-covered 20th century former silk mill in Paterson, N.J.
Great Falls jewelry is made of 100% certified recycled precious metals. It features unusual stones sourced from fair trade mines around the world and cut at the company's own lapidary. Each stone is chosen, cut and set by hand to highlight its natural beauty.
Since the 1970's, Great Falls has been a leader in environmentally friendly jewelry making. Founders Jan Palombo and Michael Brothers were early followers of a small movement of European jewelers practicing what is now known as green manufacturing. Uniquely, Great Falls uses labor intensive manufacturing in place of chemicals and recycles all raw materials.
Jewelry crafted by Great Falls can be found in national and international catalogs, museum stores and galleries. The company is pleased to design custom pieces for museums and art galleries.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Jan Palombo
After completing college in Boston with degrees in History, Languages, Printmaking and Drawing, Jan took a job in the Yucatan doing archeological work. This included field drawing and translations into Mayan, English and Spanish. In 1965, after teaching in New Orleans, Jan joined the exodus to San Francisco where she made cloaks, clasps and jewelry for Jimmy Hendrix and other artists.
Her designs inspired by nature have garnered many awards. Letters of appreciation from Greenpeace, the sea otter designed for the Monterey Aquarium, the graphics and jewelry for the Amazon pink dolphin rescue effort, and "Accent Magazine" silver jewelry design award are but a few.
Jan continues using silver and gold to re-imagine creatures and objects she finds during her extensive travel.
Flora Anne Brothers
Growing up in an artisan family gave Flora an insight to design that led her to study art, art history, business and photography in Europe for 7 years before returning home to run the family business. Her work has been featured in gallery exhibitions and she has designed custom jewelry for exhibits including Frida Kahlo, Degas, Rembrandt and couture fashion.
Though the company has always been a green manufacturer, Flora has committed to this and uses only 100% recycled precious metals in her jewelry and prefers to re-use old materials. Under her direction Great Falls has expanded to international markets and the inclusion into the International Fine Jewelers Guild.
Flora has a vast knowledge and collection of gemstones and minerals and uses unique and rare stones in her designs. She is an avid hiker, skier and private pilot. She enjoys the world with her two gorgeous sons.
