Artists and Innovators in Damascus Steel and Mokume Gane

Steven Midgett

Steven is internationally recognized as a master of Damascus Steel and Mokume Gane. His fascination with these techniques spans more than four decades, and he has specialized in jewelry made of these patterned metals since 1989. A JCK Rising Star Designer, Niche Award and two time American Vision Award winner, Steven has taught workshops on Mokume Gane and lectured about his work and research throughout the US, and around the world. His metalwork has been featured in many magazines including, JCK, National Jeweler, Colored Stone, Lapidary Journal, Ornament, and AJM among others, and is also found in many contemporary books on jewelry making. He is the author of the 1995 book and instructional video, Mokume Gane in the Small Shop, and also the 2000 hardcover, Mokume Gane: A Comprehensive Study, which is still considered the preeminent text on the subject. Since its publication, the book has been printed in both German and Russian editions and is largely credited for the expansion and popularization of the technique in those countries. The book (with updated information) has now been published online at the Book link in the menu bar above and is available free of charge for students, professionals, researchers, and collectors.

In 2002, Steven was invited by Japan’s Tokyo University of Fine Art to lecture, and demonstrate technical improvements to the ancient Japanese art of Mokume Gane that he and other metalsmiths have developed in the West. His continued exploration and research into exotic metals and bonding techniques led to the development of extrusion patterned metals and 2009 Steven, and his then partner, James Binnion, received the prestigious Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers Innovation Award for this work. Also in 2009, Steve was a featured speaker at the International Titanium Association annual conference in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Steven was awarded the JCK Jewelers Choice Award for a groundbreaking palladium, and tantalum men's wedding ring in 2011. In 2012 a holloware Mokume Gane vessel of his was honored with a Saul Bell Award from Rio Grande Jewelers Supply. That same year Steven was a featured presenter at the Society of North American Goldsmiths (The Heat Is On) Conference in Phoenix where he gave an overview of past, current, and emerging technologies for Mokume Gane and Damascus Steel. With Jacob, Steven continues to pioneer new patterned metals processes for their jewelry and beyond.

Sculpture has been a life long interest for Steven, and he has worked extensively in clay, rammed (compacted) earth, steel, and copper. Aside from his work, Steve has a keen interest in the primitive and traditional skills of archery, bow making, wooden boat building and sailing. His best job ever was raising his three amazing children.

Jacob Midgett

Jacob grew up hunting stumps with a handmade bows and arrows and catching crawdads in the creek behind his father's workshop. When he was four years old, his dad gave him a butcher knife to chop kindling with and he quickly developed a lifelong appreciation of working with his hands. Not long after, he began receiving metalsmithing lessons in the studio and began learning the ways of metal. His first paying job was as a blacksmith's assistant, pumping the bellows for his big brother's coal burning forge at 25 cents an hour.

As he grew up, he continued to work with his hands and developed a passion for ceramics and woodworking. This, plus his love for competitive soccer, landed him a scholarship to The Savannah College of Art and Design, where he received a BFA in Industrial Design. During his time at SCAD, he was selected to work on projects for companies such as JCB, VTech and The McGee Group. Through these design opportunities, and others, he traveled to Las Vegas, Hong Kong and France – touring factories, attending trade shows and presenting product concepts.

After Graduating in 2009, Jacob worked for the advertising powerhouse Crispin, Porter and Bogusky before pursuing ambitions in the Boulder, Colorado tech start-up community where he worked as a designer for Agloves, the inventors of the first capacitive touch screen glove. In late 2012, he left Agloves and joined forces with his father to develop new-era processes in the demanding field of Damascus Steel and Mokume Gane patterned metals. Jacob admires the pioneering work his father has done in the field, and since the creation of Steven Jacob has played a critical role in expanding their technical expertise with these materials, as well as pushing the boundaries of design for utilizing these amazing metals.

Since Steven Jacob’s humble beginnings as an Etsy shop selling the first generation of Steven Jacob jewelry designs, and a year later launching our their own website, Jacob has been blown away by the incredible reception their work has received from people looking for original, authentic, artisan-made wedding rings that are built to last a lifetime. Following the opening their Etsy store and website Jacob has guided thousands of clients through the process of designing their perfect rings and received over 1200 five star reviews (with zero one, two or three star reviews!) from happy customers looking for the kind of personalized experience Steven Jacob provides. With the opening of their new workshop and showroom in the trendy Prospect area of Longmont Colorado, they are even better able to offer the personalized service for which they are known. Reach out to Jacob today and make a private appointment to meet the maker, find your ring size and design the ring of your dreams.