About Us

ABOUT BRAVAIS FINE JEWELRY

The Brand

Bravais Fine Jewelry, established in 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts, redefines fine jewelry through the unique lens of materials science education. Founded by Professor Abigail Koppes, a Chemical Engineering & BioMaterials Science professor at Northeastern University, Bravais is the only jewelry brand in the world created by a materials science professor—bringing graduate-level expertise to help you understand every piece.

Named after the Bravais lattice (the crystal systems in crystallography), Bravais Fine Jewelry celebrates the atomic structure and natural beauty of gemstones. Every piece is one-of-a-kind, meticulously handmade, and features complete treatment transparency based on supplier documentation and independent laboratory reports—a rarity in the jewelry industry.


What Makes Bravais Different

Materials Science Expertise

As a professor with over 20 years of materials science research, I understand gemstones at the atomic level. I know exactly what happens when a sapphire is heated to 1800°C or when inclusions form during crystal growth. This expertise allows me to:

  • Explain treatment transparency (heated, unheated, irradiated, clarity enhanced) based on supplier documentation
  • Appreciate and showcase inclusions as the "fingerprint" of each stone's geological story
  • Select stones based on their unique character, not just the traditional "4 Cs"
  • Educate you about the crystallography and science behind your jewelry

I'm your science translator—I help you understand what reputable dealers disclose and what independent labs verify.


Treatment Transparency as Standard

Unlike most jewelers who don't disclose treatments, every Bravais piece comes with full documentation:

  • Heat treatment status (heated or unheated) per supplier documentation
  • Irradiation disclosure
  • Clarity enhancement information
  • Provenance details when available
  • You always have the right to obtain independent verification

You deserve to know exactly what you're buying—whether it's a $1,500 heated sapphire or a $15,000 unheated Paraiba tourmaline. I provide treatment information based on documentation from established gem dealers, and for significant purchases, independent lab reports verify the details.


Rare Gemstone Inventory

Over 10+ years of collecting, I've curated an extensive inventory of rare gemstones from reputable vendors:

  • Paraiba tourmalines (Mozambique teal-green to blue)
  • Montana sapphires (American ethical sourcing)
  • Benitoite (California's state gem, rarer than diamond)
  • Mahenge spinels (vivid pink, premium provenance)
  • Sphene, alexandrite, demantoid garnet, and more

This collection represents years of strategic sourcing from established dealers worldwide, with documented provenance and laboratory verification for high-value stones.


Signature Techniques

  • Bombe rings: Hand-carved organic forms using traditional lost-wax casting
  • Inclusion storytelling: Celebrating natural inclusions as geological narratives
  • Carved wax designs: Every custom piece starts as a hand-carved wax model
  • Coffin cut innovations: Hidden heart or skull engravings beneath stones (my unique technique)

The Collections

Stone & Wild

Our flagship collection draws inspiration from New England's natural landscapes:

  • The rugged Maine coast
  • Sandy Cape Cod dunes
  • Serene White Mountain lakes
  • Vermont's vibrant fall foliage
  • Pristine winter peaks

Each piece captures the essence of these seasonal wonders through rare gemstones and hand-carved precious metals.

Current Collections:

  • Collection 1 "Debut" (2026): 22 pieces featuring Paraiba tourmalines, Montana sapphires, and benitoite
  • Collection 2 "SPECTRUM" (Early Summer 2026): 27 pieces including bombe ring debuts, Mahenge spinel suite, and teal sapphire trio
  • Collection 3 "PHENOMENA" (Fall 2026): Celebrating optical phenomena in gemstones
  • Collection 4 "HOLIDAY SUITE" (Winter 2026): Emeralds, pearls, and winter birthstones

Vital Medical ID (Launching August 2026)

As someone living with post viral autoimmune Small FIber Polyneuropathy (SFPN), Sjogren's Disease (SD), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and dysautonomia/POTS, I designed the Vital collection because I needed medical ID jewelry that I would actually want to wear. Vital combines safety with luxury—medical alert bracelets featuring laser-engraved QR codes for emergency information with diamonds and sapphires, designed for 24/7 wear in 14k gold or trusilver.

Compliance matters. If you won't wear your medical ID because it's ugly, Vital solves that problem. Your safety doesn't have to compromise your style.

Bourgeoisie (Coming 2026)

Activist jewelry with a purpose. The Bourgeoisie collection features "Let Them Eat Cake" and "Eat the Rich" charms, with 50% of silver proceeds and $200 per gold set donated to food insecurity charities.

Ethical Sourcing & Sustainability

Gemstones

  • Sourced from select, reputable vendors with documented provenance
  • American ethical premium: Montana sapphires, Oregon sunstone, California benitoite
  • Diamonds: Kimberly Process certified, conflict-free
  • Lab-grown diamonds or moissanite welcome (same chemical structure as natural)
  • International provenance documented by suppliers: Paraiba, Mozambique ruby, Mahenge spinel, Sri Lankan sapphire
  • Independent lab reports available

Metals

  • 14k gold: Recycled materials from SCS-certified vendors
  • 14k palladium white gold: Nickel-free, no rhodium plating required, warm white tone
  • TruSilver: 100% recycled and purified nickel-free sterling silver with superior mechanical properties and reduced tarnishing
  • Also available: 18k gold, platinum, rose gold, green gold (custom orders)

     

    Casting House

    Our casting partner uses 100% recycled metals and is SCS certified for ethical gold and silver sourcing.

The Philosophy

At Bravais, I celebrate the imperfect beauty of natural gemstones. Inclusions aren't flaws—they're the geological story of where and how a crystal grew. Silk inclusions, mineral inclusions, liquid inclusions, color zoning, and visible growth patterns make each stone truly one-of-a-kind.

I design for the stones, not around them. Each piece is created to showcase the unique character of its gemstone centerpiece, making every item a wearable work of art.

You're not just buying jewelry—you're investing in:

  • Heirloom-quality craftsmanship
  • Complete treatment transparency
  • Graduate-level materials science information
  • One-of-a-kind rare gemstones
  • Sustainable, health-first production model
  • An independent, woman-owned business

About the Artist

Abigail Koppes, Ph.D.

Founder & Artisan
Chemical Engineering & Materials Science Professor, Northeastern University

Professor Abby brings over 20 years of materials science research and artistic mastery to Bravais Fine Jewelry. As a tenure-track professor at Northeastern University in Boston, she seamlessly integrates cutting-edge materials science education with traditional jewelry techniques like lost-wax casting and hand-carving.

Background:

  • Ph.D. in Materials Science
  • 20+ years research experience in crystallography and materials characterization
  • Professor of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science at Northeastern University
  • 10+ years rare gemstone collecting from reputable vendors
  • Living with post-viral chronic illness [SFPN, MCAS, SD, ME, and POTS (inspiration for Vital medical ID collection)]

Expertise:

  • Crystallography and Bravais lattice systems
  • Gemstone treatment education (heat, irradiation, clarity enhancement)
  • Traditional lost-wax casting and hand-carving
  • Rare gemstone sourcing from established dealers
  • Ethical materials sourcing

Philosophy: "As a scientist, I cannot help but see the beauty in the internal story of the environment in which crystals grew. Inclusions aren't flaws—they're the fingerprint of geological time. Every stone tells a story, and I believe you deserve to understand that story with complete transparency—based on supplier documentation and independent laboratory verification."


The Bravais Difference

🔬 Only jewelry brand founded by an engineering professor
💎 Rare gemstone inventory from reputable sources
🌍 Complete treatment transparency on every piece (supplier documentation + lab reports)
✨ Signature bombe ring technique
🏔️ New England-inspired designs
♻️ Recycled metals, SCS-certified ethical metals
🇺🇸 American ethical gemstones featured
💜 Sustainable health-first production model
👩🔬 Graduate-level materials science education
🏥 Medical ID jewelry that doesn't compromise on beauty (Vital collection)
📋 Independent lab reports included for pieces $5,000+

One-Person Shop, Handmade with Love

Every piece of Bravais jewelry is hand-sourced from established dealers, hand-selected, and hand-fabricated by Professor Abby. Nothing is mass-produced. Each item represents hours of careful work—from sourcing rare gemstones to carving wax models to setting stones by hand.

As a one-person artisan shop, I operate on a sustainable, health-first business model. Production timelines may be affected by personal circumstances, but every piece receives my dedicated attention and care.

Quality control team:
Cheese and Draco, my two Siberian Huskies, provide essential "supervision" and occasional wax carving theft. Follow their shenanigans on Instagram @BravaisFineJewelry and TikTok @BravaisFineJewelry.

Bravais Fine Jewelry
Handmade by Professor Abby Koppes
Boston, Massachusetts

📧 BravaisFineJewelry@gmail.com
📷 Instagram: @BravaisFineJewelry
🎵 TikTok: @BravaisFineJewelry