WFS 312 – The Artisan Workshop and Fish Jewelry with Tom Tietze

Show Notes: wetflyswing.com/312

Presented By: Dette Flies, Reyr Gear, Bearvault, Jackson Hole Fly Company

Sponsors: wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Tom Tietze, jeweler and headman of the Artisan Workshop, shares his story of how he became a jeweler. An amazing story that started with what he felt was a “disaster” led him to find his purpose in life. Find out how Tom makes custom fish jewelry and sea life designs through gold and silver smithing. Tom talks about how his hero, Jacques Cousteau, inspired him to become passionate about marine biology. He put the two things he loves together (sea life and jeweling) and so he makes very unique sea life jewelries.

Tom also teaches about the wonderful art of jewelry-making around Portland Oregon. He’s been doing it for 40 years and wants to pass on his skills through apprenticeship before he retires. Another artist with an unbelievable passion for his craft – Tom Teitze, rhymes with pizza!

Fish Jewelry Show Notes with Tom Tietze

05:50 – The Chinook trout and salmon ring

06:15 – Tom can make a customized ring based on the fish you want him to copy – he talks about the process

07:25 – Tom has been making rings for 40 years now

08:05 – The brook trout ring

08:21 – Some people use the chinook ring as their wedding ring

12:35 – The silvers that are available nowadays have better quality – there’s silver that’s alloyed with germanium where it doesn’t tarnish easier than regular silver and it’s much hard. There’s also one that’s called continuum silver – this one is as hard as gold

13:41 – The average wedding ring in gold is about $1000-$2000, continuum silver costs $400-$800, and germanium silver costs $200-$400

18:15 – Tom likes the challenge of making a new species that you want on a ring

20:00 – Tom used to work for spectrum design jewelers for 10 years and worked for different shops in Portland – he can also do platinum work

21:30 – Tom started training an apprentice now so that he can pass on his skills before he retires as a jeweler

23:15 – Tom offers some workshops in Portland area to teach people about his art

24:23 – Tim Flagler was on the podcast at WFS 279

25:58 – Check out The Artisan Workshop website to connect with Tom

29:47 – Tom talks about Jacques Cousteau – how it influenced him in the early days

36:44 – With every purchase you make from Tom, he will donate 20% of the earnings to Trout Unlimited

39:48 – Wetflyswing.com/catseye is where you can see what Tom was talking about

40:30 – Tom recommends visiting the Multnomah Arts Center in Portland – they have classes

41:00 – RioGrande.com is a provider of jewelry making tools – Ganoksin.com is also a great resource, a network of jewelers that mentor each other

42:20 – Tom will take a trip to Montana with his family and will be taking some trout pieces to connect with some galleries there – if you know someone from Montana who’s in the art industry, you can refer Tom

44:19 – Ray Troll was on the podcast at WFS 299

Fish Jewelry Conclusion with Tom Tietze

Tom Tietze shared his story of how he became a jeweler. We found out how Tom makes custom fish jewelry and sea life designs. Tom talked about how he put the two things he loves together (sea life and jeweling), making unique sea life jewelries. Tom wants to pass on his skills through apprenticeship before he retires. An artist with an unbelievable passion for his craft – Tom Teitze, rhymes with pizza!

Show Notes: wetflyswing.com/312