Carmen Jaeger: Goldsmith and Jewellery Design

About the studio:

Carmen Jaeger: Goldsmith and Jewellery Design is nestled onto a busy street in old town Lunenburg. We specialize in fine handcrafted jewellery with a focus on ethically sourced materials. The opportunity to transform gold from a piece sitting in your jewellery box into something you wear every day is not just a success for our clients, but also for us. Recycling fine materials means less waste and keeps our studio's production as circular as possible. Carmen Jaeger is the lead goldsmith and owner, she has an expansive professional history of producing inventive, unique and incredible works that capture the attention of jewellery lovers from Lunenburg to Frankfurt.

We work in 14k and 18k yellow gold, palladium white gold, sterling silver and high-quality gemstones. Working sustainably with a small team means we have more opportunities to take in custom work and expand our offerings to accommodate projects that align with our values. 

With our recent move to a larger smithing and gallery space, we've been able to build out our wedding band and engagement ring program. We love to explore traditional ring configurations as well as contemporary interpretations, to make sure your engagement ring reflects the couple you are, not the trends of the moment.

In Lunenburg, we are immersed in the creative legacy of the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Contributing to the artistic richness of this area is something we have done proudly since 2016.

We are fortunate to work in a community that celebrates our unique style. 

About the team:

Carmen Jaeger is the lead goldsmith and owner of the gallery. She moved to Canada in 2013 from Germany and has called Lunenburg home ever since. She completed her apprenticeship education in Hanau at the Zeichenakademie in June 2000 and has been a working goldsmith since she completed her studies. Having worked in multiple jewellery galleries in Germany, Carmen went on to own her first jewellery Gallery in Karlsruhe named Galerie 32. She opened her Jewellery Studio in Lunenburg in 2016 after quickly outgrowing her home studio. Carmen's work is distinctive, working in fine materials and gems with an eye for detail and texture. Carmen prioritizes sustainability in her practice, often finding ways to incorporate recycled gold and gems into new pieces, she is always inventing new ways to incorporate nature in her work. Carmen's intentionality with the process of material acquisition is an incredible asset. 

Jennifer MacQuarrie moved to Lunenburg in 2016 and joined Carmen as an apprentice in her studio a short two years later. Jenn's skills display a playful and intentional use of enamel and a variety of fine metals. Her work as a goldsmith celebrates texture and colour, playing often with techniques of material layering and dynamic use of fire with the torch. When in the gallery, Jennifer brings a great knowledge of the materials and smithing processes to empower clients with the knowledge they need when investing in a piece of fine jewellery that will last a lifetime. 

Kyra Lambert joined Carmen's gallery as a goldsmith’s apprentice in spring of 2024. She completed the Craft Create residency with Craft Nova Scotia producing a body of work titled 'Sappho’s Fragments' that went on to exhibit at the New York City Jewellery Fashion Week. Kyra’s work has been exhibited in galleries in Los Angeles, New York City, Ottawa and Halifax. Most recently, Kyra has been named Artistic Director/Curator of the Antigonight Arts festival. Apprenticing under Carmen has been and continues to be a constant source of creative inspiration, practical knowledge and education in ancient smithing techniques. With a background in arts curation, Kyra’s experience in commercial galleries connects traditional presentation style with contemporary exhibition ideas.

Laura Piquado moved to Lunenburg in 2020. An accomplished actor and potter from Brooklyn, Laura's professional experience in the arts lends itself to the ever-changing landscape of the gallery. Her attention to detail and interest in the process of smithing ensures an incredible retail experience for clients. Involved in many aspects of the Lunenburg arts community, Laura loves connecting people to the world of making. She incorporates her relationship with the natural world into her craft through material and process.