THE MATERIALS WE USE

POLYOXYBENZYLMETHYLENGLYCOLANHYDRIDE A.K.A. BAKELITE

Invented by Leo Baekeland in New York in 1907, Bakelite was the first completely synthetic plastic. It contained no petroleum or plant-derived ingredients. Its development changed the course of modern life, though not every consequence has been positive.

Bakelite does not melt and cannot be recycled like most petroleum-based plastics. The durability that once made it so remarkable has become a liability when the material enters the waste stream.

MARK DAVIS BAKELITE

The vintage Bakelite used in our work is recycling in its purest form. By repurposing a material that cannot be recycled, we help keep it out of the waste stream and give it a new life as something of lasting beauty and desirability.

Mark Davis Bakelite jewels are closer to postmodern “ivory” masterpieces than to common plastic jewelry. The material demands exacting handwork similar to techniques once used for natural ivory, without ivory’s associated ecological devastation. Its colors and patterns are exceptional in their own right.

For simplicity, we use “bakelite” with a lowercase “b” as a broad term for vintage thermosetting resins, including Bakelite, Catalin, Prystal, Beetle, Galalith, and others. All of the bakelite we use is vintage material. We search globally for material suited to fine jewelry, reclaiming it from sources that include old clocks, jukeboxes, game pieces, lamps, and billiard balls.

Thermosetting resins cannot be melted and reformed. Each piece is shaped by hand through sawing, carving, filing, sanding, and polishing in our South Carolina workshop.

MARK DAVIS WOOD

The woods used in Mark Davis jewelry are selected for natural beauty, durability, and sustainability. We use wood from managed resources and naturally fallen trees, as well as material reclaimed from architectural demolition. Every wood is shown in its natural color: we do not dye, stain, or paint it. Depending on the wood, pieces are finished with natural wax or durable lacquer.

MARK DAVIS GOLD AND PLATINUM

We use only recycled eighteen-karat gold and platinum in our jewelry, sourced from suppliers committed to environmental stewardship.

OTHER NOVEL MATERIALS

Curiosity is central to the way we work. Mark Davis pieces may incorporate unexpected materials selected for their beauty, character, and potential. If you have questions about a material used in a particular piece, please contact us; we will be pleased to help.

Visit our Sustainability section to learn more about our environmental responsibility and the role materials play in that commitment.