America is a huge jewellery market, full of spectacular advertising, which mostly regard high end diamond companies or big wholesale vendors. In the variety of exclusive campaigns, there is little space for the companies offering jewellery for the middle-class that are not connected with the chainstores. Starborn Creations is one of the few mid-class manufacturers which has an original and characteristical brand image as well as recognizable quality and design. Apart from their good advertising at the shows, they also have an interesting approach in direct selling – i. e. all the offered pieces have the labels with detailed information regarding the minerals used and their origin. Among some mysterious stones from different countries, they offer an interesting line of amber jewellery.
Mr. Arne Christophersen, the president of Starborn Creations, agreed to give a short exclusive interview for amber.com.pl
Starborn Creations is among the most dynamically developing jewellery manufacturers in the US. How is it organized?
My company is mostly focused on wholesale. We have a very efficient internet store, and we also sell directly at the shows in Japan, Germany, Hong Kong and the U.S. The heart of the company is in Maui (Hawaii), where the four artists (including my wife), work in the design studio. The head of Starborn – the office – is based in Sedona, New Mexico (U.S.) and we have another office in Hong Kong and Maui. Apart from this, we also have the production in Bali all our jewellery is hand made.
Bali has recently become a very popular location for jewellery factories...
Yes, we moved there in 1999. Before, we also produced jewellery in Poland and Mexico, but it became too expensive.
How did you become interested in amber?
I come from Germany where amber is very well known. I worked with this stone a lot and I also designed my own amber jewellery back in the nineteen-eighties. It was just the problem of buying amber that made me turn into other stones and reduce the use of amber in my offer, especially when I moved to the U.S.
What kinds of amber do you sell?
I mostly have the Baltic and Chiapas amber in my offer. I combine it with different minerals, like drusy, larimar, amethist, meteorite and moldavite, as well as jaspar, citrine and topaz. I also have some exotic combinations – baltic amber with jaspar from the Gobi desert and amonites.
... And you were the first one to sell amber in carat weight. Why? Is it about the prestige? 
The reason is that Americans use different measure system than Europe – and carats are of course more understandable for them. Secondly, yes – carats are inevitably associated with diamonds and other precious stones.
How would you describe the recent changes in the amber market within the U.S.?
The amber market is recovering after a disaster – caused by the price drop back in the recent 30 years. Selling amber jewellery per weight and in big quantities also depreciated this material a lot. Now the situation is improving, as well as the designs themselves became more temporary and fashionable. What I observed recently is the polarisation of the market – but this regards not only the prices, but also the designs. People are ready to pay for the design, regardless if it's a precious stone or amber.
Do you have any plans related to amber for the future?
Yes, I am planning to extend my amber collection – amber has become quite popular and moreover – valued in America. I just hope it will be easier to buy as raw material.
Photos: Malgorzata Gliwinska
