The shop creates customjewelry and can revamp existing items.[/caption]
Thomas and Michelle Anselment are the husband-and-wife team behind Atelier Thomas Anselment, a Georgetown shop that specializes in custom and handmade fine jewelry.
Thomas began training as a goldsmith at age 16 in his native Germany. The process to become a certified master goldsmith in Europe was a long one, he said. Thomas also said there is no American equivalent in terms of education.
“There aren’t a lot of people in the United States, let alone Texas, that have his education,” Michelle said. “It’s just very unique.”
He uses a method called cold forging, which involves work-hardening and annealing the material repeatedly. It compresses the molecules, removes impurities, and makes the piece more dense and durable. It also smooths the metal and allows the piece to shine more, Thomas said. Cold-forged pieces will have less wear over time.
Thomas started his own business almost 10 years ago. The business eventually grew to the point that Thomas and Michelle opened their own retail space in summer 2015 in order to work directly with customers.
Thomas works with clients to design custom pieces, sometimes taking their existing jewelry and using the materials to create something new.
Thomas uses a method called cold forging to create his custompieces.[/caption]
“Conversation is really the most important,” Thomas said. “You have to listen. Listening is the most important thing to me for the customer to find out what they really like.”
Most people come in several times to sit down and talk with the Anselments throughout the jewelry-making process. Michelle said relationships with customers are important in their line of work.
“We develop the relationship with people because we see them over a period of time,” Michelle said. “At the end, they’ve come up with a design, picked what they wanted, [and they will have the piece] for a lifetime and to pass on to family members.”
Atelier Thomas Anselment 103 N. Austin Ave., Georgetown 512-688-5204 www.thomasanselment.com Hours: Tue.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Sun.-Mon.
