Creating wooden jewelry: what type of wood to use?

Jewelry is no longer a mere accessory; for us, it's an integral part of a person. The style and material of a piece of jewelry are a deliberate choice, highlighting each individual's values ​​and tastes.

In jewelry making many materials can be used : metals (such as gold, silver, or copper), glass, ceramics, or polymer resin, but also wood . Whether one chooses to work by hand or in large-scale production, the choice of material is primarily a matter of taste and style.

At Wooper, we've chosen to work with wood because it's a natural and renewable resource that allows us to create unique and authentic jewelry . We don't do mass production, but rather handcrafted wooden creations designed especially for you.

So today, we're giving you a little presentation on jewelry making , how to care for them, and what kind of wood to use when you're a craftsman.

Choosing wood as a raw material

One of the reasons we wanted to create Wooper is to offer you unique, nature-inspired jewelry: wood was the obvious choice! It's not only a raw and natural material, but also a sustainable one. Very pleasant to work with, it's full of surprises: its color can vary depending on the grain, and its malleability depends on the type of wood.

By choosing a wooden piece of jewelry from Wooper, you can be sure you're getting a necklace or bracelet made from 100% Swiss wood. In fact, from the very beginning, we've worked with a local carpentry workshop, where we collect any unused wood whenever possible. No trees are cut down specifically for our creations!

We design your jewelry with love and handcraft it from a wood chosen for its superb qualities: beech wood. It is FSC , which guarantees responsible and sustainable forest management.

Creating jewelry: what type of wood to use?

It was obvious to us to create our jewelry with beech wood: Switzerland is a country where the forests are full of these magnificent trees. A typical forest tree, it has adapted perfectly to the region's soil types. But many designers prefer to use other types of wood that better suit their criteria or design styles. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the different types of European wood that can be used:

• The olive tree: this is a Mediterranean tree. Very robust, it offers a beautiful range of colors and is also a favorite of wood turners.

• The cherry tree: a beautiful red color, sometimes pinkish, which allows for the creation of original designs. It is also highly prized by sculptors and luthiers.

• Boxwood: it's the hardest wood in Europe! Woodworkers also appreciate it for its unique colors thanks to its very tight growth rings.

• Chestnut wood: supple and easy to work with, it has shades ranging from white to brown. This allows for the creation of jewelry with very soft color nuances.

• Oak: This is a hardwood. Its grain is very elegant and allows for original and warm creations.

• Beech: have we already told you it's our favorite wood? Robust and durable, it also boasts superb colors. Highly aesthetic, it's the key to all our creations: necklaces , jewelry, bracelets… all you have to do is choose!

Nature is full of treasures, and although we choose to use its resources, we must bear in mind that not everything is eternal! It is essential to take them sparingly and consciously.

That's why we're happy to be able to use wood that comes directly from the carpentry workshop located very close to us. This way, the beech wood doesn't travel thousands of kilometers: local and environmentally friendly are important points for us.

If you haven't yet taken the time to read our article on the actions that are important to us, don't hesitate any longer: it's this way !

Caring for your wooden jewelry

Working with wood and crafting jewelry requires patience and precision. Therefore, it's important to be able to care for these small wooden creations over time. Your earrings , or the tag for your four-legged friend, will retain their shine with regular maintenance. And it couldn't be simpler! We'll give you a few tips to keep your beechwood jewelry looking its best for as long as possible:

• First, if you don't wear it constantly, you can store it in a clean place. Choose a small jewelry box or hang it in a cabinet. This will protect it from dust and humidity, depending on where you live.

• Remember to clean them regularly: a small damp cloth will be more than enough to remove all particles like dust or other dirt. We advise you to dry them thoroughly so they don't retain moisture.

• If you wish, you can nourish it with linseed or rapeseed oil if you don't use your jewelry to diffuse essential oils. Simply soak a small cloth with a little oil and gently rub it onto your jewelry. You don't need to do this every day, but once a month will help restore its shine.

Wood is a noble and natural element used since the dawn of time for various functions: heating, shelter and construction.

Today, it's also part of our beauty accessories. Yet, essential to life, wood and our forests must be protected!

At Wooper, we chose to bring our ideas to life through this material that inspires us. Like any craftsperson, we asked ourselves which wood to use for our creations. And it was after numerous tests that we were able to see what best suited us in terms of quality and ethical sourcing: beech met all our needs. This robust tree, which grows naturally in Swiss forests, is the foundation of all the jewelry in our shop.

We still have a thousand and one ideas for future creations using this natural essence! Feel free to tell us in the comments what new items you'd like to see in the shop!