Claire de Lune: A Celestial Jewelry Collection in Sterling Silver and Montana Sapphires

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Written By Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds’s Claire de Lune Collection: Salina chandelier earrings featuring 1.5 carats (total weight) ethically sourced Montana sapphires and rhodium plated recycled sterling silver. Photo credit: Julie Stanley/JuleImages

Elegant, timeless, and born under the light of the full moon

Inspired by the silver shimmer of moonlight, Claire de Lune is a minimalist fine jewelry collection handcrafted in ethically sourced Montana sapphires and tarnish-resistant sterling silver. These one-of-a-kind designs are a modern heirloom—classic pieces meant to be cherished for generations.

A Spark of Imagination Beneath the Full Moon

"Mama, what kind of jewelry does the Lady in the Moon wear?"

That question from my 8-year-old daughter—murmured between bites of sticky s’mores by a glowing backyard fire—planted the seed for this collection. As she imagined sparkles, moonbeams, and magic wands, I saw shimmering earrings and pendants forming in my mind’s eye.

And just like that, Claire de Lune was born—a dreamy collection of six handcrafted sterling silver pieces accented with ethereal pastel sapphires from Montana’s famed gem-rich earth.

The Craft: How Claire de Lune Came to Life

Each Montana sapphire is nestled securely in a sterling silver bezel setting, known for both strength and elegance. These free-moving stones shimmer with every gesture, playing against satin finished silver—like moonlight dancing on water.

To enhance durability and beauty, every piece is finished with a protective layer of rhodium electroplating, the jewelry industry’s standard for making silver tarnish-resistant and easy to maintain.

Jewelry Inspired by Moonlight and Magic

From ancient myths to childhood wonder, gazing at the full moon has always sparked imagination. The Claire de Lune Collection captures that lunar magic—transforming fleeting moments of awe into enduring works of wearable art.

Whether you're stargazing, storytelling, or simply savoring stillness, wear a piece of the moon—and carry that quiet enchantment with you, always.

The Claire de Lune Collection

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

The creative journey of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds—from childhood spark to timeless, handcrafted treasures.

“My love story with jewelry began before I was born. My parents met across a jewelry counter—my mother, a jewelry department manager; my father, a police officer working loss prevention in his off-duty hours. That moment of serendipity set everything in motion.

By five, I was working on my first designs in pop-beads and jelly bracelets, completely captivated by Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman—especially those iconic power bracelets and her gleaming tiara. I didn’t want to just wear magic, I wanted to make it. With babysitting money and a fierce sense of purpose, I bought beads and wire from the local craft store and taught myself the fundamentals. That curiosity turned into a calling.

I took my first metalsmithing class in high school and never looked back. I went on to earn a BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Kent State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University—equipping me to build a business rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, and soul.

Since founding my namesake jewelry company in 2001, I’ve focused on creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind designs—each one handcrafted using traditional metalsmithing techniques and ethically sourced materials. My work is intimate and intentional: forged in fire, shaped by hand, and designed to stir something deep within you. Every gemstone, every metal, every story that inspires a collection is carefully chosen, researched, and refined. This is slow jewelry with a purpose: to help you mark what matters most.

My pieces have graced red carpets at the Emmy Awards, runways at New York Fashion Week, and exhibitions around the world—including aboard the United Nations Peace Boat. Collectors, stylists, and editors seek out my work, but what means the most to me is when a client says, “This feels like it was made just for me.”

Because it was.

Jewelry, to me, is personal mythology made tangible. It’s a way of preserving the past, celebrating the present, and passing something meaningful into the future. So when you open your jewelry box, you're not just looking at beautiful objects—you're holding pieces of your life’s story. And maybe, just maybe, you're beginning a new chapter.” - Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

michellepajakreynolds.com
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