My name is Magyuris McKenna but my friends call me Maggie.
I am originally from the Republic of Panama. I spent my childhood in Panama City and in the mountains of Chiriqui, where I absorbed my sense of style and joy for life’s beauty. My grandmother especially imparted on me a deep love for the simple pleasures of life, as she focused on the beauty and grace in every place or encounter.
Over 20 years ago, I left Panama and moved to the United States. I love my new country and I have a deep appreciation for what makes this such a vibrant nation. My heritage will always be with me, and I respect the cultures that others contribute to the beauty that is America.
Together with my husband and children, I have found my forever home in the foothills of the "gentle mountains" of central Virginia.
I have always loved to create things with my hands, starting into jewelry with beads and wire, then learning about gemstones and metalsmithing. I found my passion for making jewelry growing as I learned more techniques and expanded my shop to enable more intricate designs. I have learned about jewelry-making from many fantastic artists, and through constantly challenging myself with new techniques.
My Jewelry
Jewelry may not define a person, but it no doubt makes a statement. What does wearing jewelry from my studio say about you? It says that you appreciate beauty and quality. That you prefer hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry over ordinary, mass-produced accessories. My jewelry is designed to complement and accentuate your best qualities – that you’re comfortable with your beauty and that you’re one-of-a-kind, creative, and exceptional.
Every piece of Magyuris jewelry carries an unconditional guarantee:
To use the Finest Materials
To be of the Highest Quality
To have Exceptional, Natural Beauty
To be Unique, Fun, and Creative
To be One-of-a-Kind
Materials
My designs assure that when I incorporate stones, they are the stars of the show. I integrate hand-stamped, textured, or hand crocheted precious metal settings to showcase the natural beauty of the specially selected stones.
My designs require intricate attention to detail, and likewise require me to be in constant search for the highest-caliber materials, which I source from the most trustworthy locations. In the end, the quality of materials and craftsmanship define the result and thus define the promise I make with my customers. My designs are all unique and each piece is one-of-a-kind.
Some of the materials I use are listed below.
Fine Silver- As the purest form of silver found in jewelry, Fine Silver contains 99.9% silver (with .1% being a small amount of trace elements). This purity comes with the benefit of being more tarnish resistant than its silver alloy alternatives. With that said, Fine Silver is not as durable and must be treated with greater care as to not damage or deform it.
Sterling Silver- The most common and well-known alternative to Fine Silver, Sterling Silver contains 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper or another metal (often nickel or zinc). As a combination of two different metals, Sterling Silver is a silver alloy. This has the desirable effect of increasing durability, allowing for pieces to be more capable of surviving daily use. However, the specific types of metals used in combination with silver in this case, lead to Sterling Silver being very susceptible to tarnishing. Sterling Silver is therefore considered high maintenance in comparison to Fine Silver or other silver alloys.
Argentium Silver- A relatively new alternative to Fine Silver, Argentium Silver contains at least 92.5% silver (though often higher - I use 93.5%) and a combination of copper and germanium. As a combination of different metals, Argentium Silver is a silver alloy. This has the desirable effect of increasing durability, allowing for pieces to be more capable of surviving daily use. What makes it different from other silver alloys, however, is its use of germanium. Whereas the metals combined in other silver alloys have the undesirable effect of making pieces more susceptible to tarnishing, germanium actually has the opposite effect. Essentially, Argentium Silver has the benefit of being as, if not more, durable as Sterling Silver, while being nearly as tarnish resistant as Fine Silver.
Gold filled- A lesser costing alternative to solid gold that is created by heat- and pressure-binding a layer of karat gold to a brass (or other base metal) core. This differs from gold-plated materials (another alternative that uses a microscopic film of gold instead) in its greater tarnish resistance of the base metal substrate, as well as overall durability. In order to receive the quality designation of gold-filled, the material must have a layer of gold that is at least 10-karat mechanically applied to a base metal; the karat gold layer must also be at least 1/20 (5%) of the item’s total weight.
The Process
Genuine “wearable art” is the result of processes that honor the integrity and natural beauty of the elements they contain. A work of art follows an evolutionary process, which adheres to rigid standards that ensure each step is taken with care and precision to release and showcase the deepest, collective beauty of the gems and precious metals within.
Such a standard of craftsmanship takes time and comes with a price. But that high standard is an uncompromising element of every piece I make. People tell me I have an obsessive attention to detail – poring over every design, carefully selecting every stone, hand-stamping every piece of metal, and intricately weaving and crocheting every thread of silver wire.
Are there ways to compromise such a process and cut corners to reduce prices? Absolutely and you can walk into any jewelry store and find products that do so. But when your loved ones and special moments are worthy of something more – heirloom-caliber jewelry that is a true labor of love – that’s when you’ll be glad you discovered Magyuris Jewelry Studio.
Commitment to Quality & Service
My commitment to quality and service exists on two levels.
First, my ability to please you with my product is only as good as my pledge to have your piece in your hand when you need it. When I make a promise to deliver my product to you in a certain period, you will have it by then. No excuses.
Second, I stand unequivocally behind the quality of my jewelry. All of my designs are 100% hand made, most of them one-of-a-kind. That said, the few designs where I've made multiple pieces may have slight variations between them. Should your piece arrive to you in a condition that is unacceptable or different than what was shown or described, you may return the merchandise to me for a full refund. No exceptions.
I have extremely high standards, and for every piece I'm ready to sell, there are many attempts that didn't make it that far. By the time a design makes it to my website, rest assured that I am satisfied you will love it!
I hope to continue growing as an artist and will always bring my passion for beauty and my joy for life into every piece I create. My promise to you is that I will continue to search sources around the world for the highest quality gemstones, and only use the best in my designs.
Handmade jewelry from Magyuris Jewelry Studio is not cheap. You are paying for the best quality materials and the craftsmanship, originality, and the unique nature of these designs. You can be certain that every design I make is unique and all are 100% handcrafted by me in Ruckersville, Virginia.
My highest priority is your satisfaction. I hope you enjoy the results!
