Black Orchid Jewelers

Owner Marc Fishbone has worked 20 years in the gem and jewelry trade. After attaining his diploma in jewelry repair, diamond setting, and wax modeling casting in 1997, he went to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) to learn about gems first-hand. He was able to get into the mines and see how the sapphires and other gems are dug out of pits ranging in depth from 4 to 35 feet. He worked with one of the country's largest gem dealers and learned about grading, cutting, and polishing stones. When he returned to the United States, he sold gems to jewelers from Key West to Bar Harbor. Marc returned frequently to Sri Lanka to find unique stones for his customers and his creations, and has since established a network of source providers for gemstones, diamonds, pearls, and other jewelry elements.

Fishbone actually began his career as a certified welder, a trade he practiced for seven years upon graduating from high school. Following that, he operated his own antique furniture restoration and repair business for 15 years. According to Fishbone, "While the connection between these professions - welder, furniture refinisher, goldsmith - may seem tenuous, each skill has built upon the preceding one and I use the techniques learned over the years in the design work I do today."

Black Orchid was named after a rare plant that Fishbone saw at a botanical garden in Sri Lanka. In addition to precious metal and gemstone jewelry, Black Orchid sells affordable beaded and shell jewelry from Bali, sterling silver jewelry, pearls, mermaid prints, and oil paintings by the renowned Max Horbund.

Custom Design

We will design a piece for you or work with you to design your own unique creation. We work in silver, yellow, white, and rose gold, and platinum. Custom jewelry is made by one of two methods: Lost-Wax Casting or Fabrication. Which process is used depends upon what you are trying to achieve. Both processes begin with a sketch. In some cases, the customer has an idea of what he or she is looking for, and the goldsmith will refine the sketch. In other cases, the customer is looking to the goldsmith to suggest a design.

Lost-Wax Casting involves carving a wax model, setting it in a steel flask, and covering it with plaster, leaving an opening to reach the wax. The wax is then melted out, and the mold is filled with molten metal. Fabrication involves shaping metal using various tools and techniques to form the desired design. Both methods require great skill and attention to detail to ensure that the final product meets the customer's expectations.

At Black Orchid Jewelers, we take pride in our ability to create one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect our customers' personalities and styles. Whether you have a specific design in mind or need guidance from our expert goldsmiths, we are here to help you bring your vision to life.