David Thorp is a passionate maker and formally-trained metalsmith with more than 20 years of experience as a bench jeweler, and he brings his skills and expertise to every piece of Mercurius jewelry. He also trained extensively in Asana Yoga, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and is familiar with Vedic Astrology (Jyotish). One of his specialties is creating custom jewelry to support astrological remedies (upaya) utilizing high-quality gems.
Alisa Thorp is currently studying gemology at the GIA and seeks out exquisite, ethically-sourced materials. She has a degree in Environmental Biology but followed her heart to study and teach yoga for more than a decade before taking over the operations of Mercurius.
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.
All pieces are designed and handcrafted at the couple’s studio in Oakland, California, where David utilizes time-honored techniques – like lost wax casting – in conjunction with cutting-edge new technologies – like CAD, 3D printing, and laser-cutting.