Spotlight: Jade Moran

Long before SoWa was even a twinkle in local artists’ eyes, Jade Moran was creating intricate wedding rings, necklaces, and the occasional tiara in her Somerville studio. After graduating from NYU and working for a few New York jewelers, she moved here and opened her workshop a decade ago.

The 35-year-old jewelry designer’s technique is rather, um, orthodontic—and we mean that in the best possible way.

She carves her designs into wax with dental tools (“they provide the best control”) and makes a plaster impression before shooting molten silver or gold into the mold. Like your adolescent retainer, the results are uncannily precise and utterly unique.

One-of-a-kind 18-karat gold bird pendants on sterling silver chains, $295 each, 257 Highland Ave., Somerville, 617-628-3929, jademoran.com.