Who is Liza Michelle?
Liza Rifkin is a studio jeweler and metalsmith based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, with over a decade of experience at the bench. She founded Liza Michelle Jewelry after building her practice through the craft-show circuit and independent studio work.

What is Liza Michelle Jewelry?
Liza Michelle Jewelry is a bespoke fine jewelry studio specializing in custom consultation, one-of-a-kind pieces, and designed-to-order collections alongside select ready-to-ship work. The studio focuses on bridal, commemorative, and everyday heirloom pieces.

Where is the studio located?
The studio is located in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and works with clients locally and virtually across the U.S. and internationally.

What materials does she work with?
Liza works primarily in recycled gold and carefully sourced stones, including Misfit Diamonds, salt-and-pepper diamonds, Montana sapphires, and select lab-grown options. Material choices are made with both character and ethical considerations in mind.

What does “delicate heft” mean?
“Delicate heft” is Liza’s term for jewelry that feels light and effortless on the body while remaining genuinely durable and structurally sound. Pieces are engineered so clients notice comfort and presence, not fragility or bulk.

How does she approach ethical and sustainable sourcing?
Liza uses recycled metals and vetted stone suppliers, paying close attention to how materials move through the supply chain. She’s candid about the nuances and limitations of “sustainable” claims in fine jewelry and audits sources regularly.

What is her custom design process like?
Custom projects begin with either a 15-minute intro call or a full design consultation, supported by a detailed questionnaire. From there, clients collaborate with Liza through sketches, stone sourcing, and iterations until the design and budget feel right, with typical timelines of 6–12 weeks from concept to finished piece.

How does she design for comfort and everyday wear?
Comfort and wearability are core design tenets: Liza considers ring height, band thickness, settings, earring mechanisms, and chain behavior in daily life. She designs for clients who work with their hands, live active lives, and want pieces they can wear constantly without irritation or damage.

What kinds of bridal pieces does she make?
The studio creates custom and designed-to-order engagement rings and wedding bands, as well as stackable bands that evolve over anniversaries and life milestones. Her VOW collection is built from past custom designs and offers clients highly customizable bridal options. 

Does she redesign heirloom jewelry?
Yes, heirloom redesign is a significant part of her practice. Liza works with inherited stones and pieces, documenting them before transformation and guiding clients through both the technical and emotional aspects of turning older jewelry into wearable heirlooms.

How does she work with clients who aren’t local?
For non-local clients, consultations, design reviews, and stone selection happen via video calls, email, and detailed photo/video documentation. Finished pieces are shipped via insured carriers with tracking, and many custom projects are completed entirely remotely.

How does she balance hand-sculpted work and CAD?
Liza’s design process is highly tactile and bench-driven, treating jewelry as small sculpture that must function on the body. She uses process choices (hand-sculpted wax, traditional bench techniques, and CAD where appropriate) based on what will produce the desired feel, detail, and durability in the finished piece.