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David Thorp
Mercurius Jewelry
"I take joy in finding the spirit within metal, stone, and crystal to transform them into precious objects."
Founded in 2007, Mercurius is an Oakland-based ethical fine jewelry brand that borrows its name from the centuries-old philosophy of Alchemy. Husband-and-wife team Alisa and David Thorp are captivated by alchemical theory, which posits that elements in perfect balance—air, fire, water, and earth—are forces of nature that can unleash the spirit within matter and reveal something greater than the sum of its parts. Handcrafted from unique materials that showcase the abundance, mesmerizing patterns, and stunning variation of the natural world, the timeless and talismanic jewelry invokes a sense of magic and elemental balance. Mercurius believes that the origin of each part is inseparable from the complete beauty of the finished object, so the team carefully sources all materials with a commitment to ethics and transparency.
David is a passionate maker and formally-trained metalsmith with more than 25 years of experience as a bench jeweler, and he brings his skills and expertise to every piece of Mercurius jewelry. He utilizes time-honored techniques—like lost wax casting and lapidary work—in conjunction with cutting-edge new technologies like CAD rendering and laser welding. In addition to exceeding the Green Business standards for waste reduction and resource conservation, Mercurius is continuously implementing new ways to conserve resources and increase efficiency while maintaining high standards of quality and service.
David is a classically trained bench jeweler, metalsmith, and designer. He has worked in the world of fine jewelry since 1997, after receiving a BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts. He apprenticed with Arts and Crafts Movement legend, Bob Winston, and European Master Jeweler, Thaddeus Hutten of Hutten Jewelers in San Francisco; and has worked as a bench jeweler at multiple fine jewelers in the Bay Area. David taught metalwork and jewelry courses at the Crucible in Oakland and at Sierra Nevada College. He has pioneered several innovative casting techniques and is currently co-authoring a book on this subject.
Founded in 2007, Mercurius is an Oakland-based ethical fine jewelry brand that borrows its name from the centuries-old philosophy of Alchemy. Husband-and-wife team Alisa and David Thorp are captivated by alchemical theory, which posits that elements in perfect balance—air, fire, water, and earth—are forces of nature that can unleash the spirit within matter and reveal something greater than the sum of its parts. Handcrafted from unique materials that showcase the abundance, mesmerizing patterns, and stunning variation of the natural world, the timeless and talismanic jewelry invokes a sense of magic and elemental balance. Mercurius believes that the origin of each part is inseparable from the complete beauty of the finished object, so the team carefully sources all materials with a commitment to ethics and transparency.
David is a passionate maker and formally-trained metalsmith with more than 25 years of experience as a bench jeweler, and he brings his skills and expertise to every piece of Mercurius jewelry. He utilizes time-honored techniques—like lost wax casting and lapidary work—in conjunction with cutting-edge new technologies like CAD rendering and laser welding. In addition to exceeding the Green Business standards for waste reduction and resource conservation, Mercurius is continuously implementing new ways to conserve resources and increase efficiency while maintaining high standards of quality and service.
David is a classically trained bench jeweler, metalsmith, and designer. He has worked in the world of fine jewelry since 1997, after receiving a BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts. He apprenticed with Arts and Crafts Movement legend, Bob Winston, and European Master Jeweler, Thaddeus Hutten of Hutten Jewelers in San Francisco; and has worked as a bench jeweler at multiple fine jewelers in the Bay Area. David taught metalwork and jewelry courses at the Crucible in Oakland and at Sierra Nevada College. He has pioneered several innovative casting techniques and is currently co-authoring a book on this subject.
