About AO

Arcana Obscura is a one-woman business, owned and operated by myself, Kate Hockstein, out of my studio in NYC.
The jewelry that you receive will not be the exact piece in the photos- I will create it for you upon receiving your order. Every step of the process involves a human touch, so the piece that you receive will be an original and subtly unique work of art. Currently I do not stamp my sterling jewelry, but please be assured that it is made of solid .925 sterling silver. I do not use metals containing nickel.


You're welcome to request a particular finish when you place an order. I can apply a matte or shiny finish to each piece. Everything in my shop can be cast in 14k rose gold, 14k yellow gold, or sterling silver. Silver pieces can be highly oxidized (darkened), partially oxidized (details darkened for contrast), or not oxidized (bright, pure silver). Please note any finishing requests in checkout.

I create the majority of my designs in wax, from which a silicone mold is made by a local company specializing in fine jewelry casting. I then have each piece of jewelry cast from this mold in either 14k gold or sterling silver. After casting, I do all the finishing: sizing, polishing, and in the case of sterling silver, adding oxidation.

The granulated pieces in my collection are cast not from wax but from 22k gold. The casting and finishing processes are the same, but the creation of the original from which the mold is made involves an ancient form of goldsmithing, in which I create the wire, sheet, and each tiny granule through a long, slow process of heating (annealing) and hammering (tempering). I then arrange the parts and fuse each tiny piece together using a torch.

Some basic info on lost wax casting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost-wax_casting

High-karat gold granulation: http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/granulation.htm

All of my packaging is 100% recycled, biodegradable, and made in the USA. I recycle and reuse metals and purchase recycled materials, and use vintage gemstones whenever I can. I constantly strive to reduce both the environmental and human impact of my business.