Tattoos Are (Not) Forever

They say tattoos are forever. It’s the standard line people use to talk themselves out of, or into, getting inked. But as a jeweler, I’ve come to realize that forever is a bit of a moving target. Sometimes, the ink stays, but the person carrying it has to go.

It took Rini a long time to send that first message. When you’re reaching out to a jeweler to memorialize a son lost at sixteen, you aren’t just commissioning a piece. You’re trying to find a way to hold onto a ghost.

Meidan was sixteen. He loved the color purple, and he loved tattoos. He had four of them - an impressive collection for a kid who was just getting started, reminded me of myself at that age. One of them, a spiked, geometric floral design, practically jumped off the skin when I saw the photos.

From Ink to 14K Gold

When I’m at the bench, it’s usually just me, my tools, loud music, and a lot of internal monologue that would probably sound concerning if I said it out loud. But pieces like this change the atmosphere of the studio. You aren't just filing metal, you’re translating a life.

Meidan’s tattoo was sharp, symmetrical, and full of energy. To bring that into the physical world, we went with 14K white gold and a deep, vivid Ruby. Even though Meidan loved purple, the ruby adds this literal heartbeat to the center of the geometric spikes.

Matter, Spirit, and the Bench

People think jewelry is about fashion or looking good at brunch. Sometimes it is. But the best work - the stuff that keeps me doing this - is about the connection between matter and spirit. It’s about taking a memory that feels like it’s slipping through your fingers and giving it weight. Something Rini can touch when things feel heavy.

Life is short, sometimes unfairly so. No one stays here forever, so the goal is simple: do good while you’re here, and maybe leave something beautiful behind.

It was a privilege to help Meidan’s art live on in a different form.