Jeweler, clothing designer, perfumer, boutique owner, artist, and entrepreneur Sage Machado has been designing and manufacturing one of a kind handcrafted jewelry for 12 years. She travels the world to find beautiful vintage baubles that are then reworked into modern, yet timeless pieces of wearable art. She uses only precious or semi-precious gemstones, sterling silver, and 14 karat gold.


Yellow Gold Necklace with Blue & Green Sapphire Treasure Pendant
14 karat yellow gold necklace with blue and green sapphire. 16" chain and 1 cm pendant.
$565

Machado's inspiration? "You don't grow up in a house full of hippies, with your mother painting on your clothes in the middle of the night and not be inspired to create something!"


Rose Gold Empress Ring With Green Sapphires
14 karat rose gold empress ring with green sapphires.
$1115

In early 1998, Machado combined her considerable talent and boundless energy to launch the first wildly successful Sage boutique in Los Angeles, which was devoted entirely to her jewelry line and housed over 300 pieces. The combination of glorious jewels and attentive service helped the shop become a resounding success. Machado then created a line of 12 exquisite perfume oils, bath, and candles - all named after gemstones.


Yellow Gold Necklace with Yellow and White Sapphire Estate Pendant
14 karat yellow gold necklace with yellow white sapphire estate pendant. 16" chain and 1 cm pendant.
$565

April 2001 saw the opening of a second Sage boutique, Sage Upstairs, dubbed a lifestyle store by Machado. And as of December 2001, the jewelry salon has taken up residence in the lifestyle store, occupying a glorious bleached wood and turquoise fantasy are within the store.

"I have always been obsessed with all things old and ethnic," says Machado. "If it's intricate, interesting, and handcrafted, I have to have it."

Machado's design aesthetic extends to every area of her life - from her Hollywood Hills bungalow, which is crammed full of artifacts from Europe, Asia, and Morocco to her studio workspace. Her artsy, bohemian touch has cemented her place as one of the top purveyors of LA style.

All of these accomplishments are even more amazing because Machado began her business with absolutely no funding besides from her own pockets, no formal jewelry design training, and no schooling past high school. She remains the sole owner, responsible for every detail, right down to the personal scrutiny of every piece of jewelry that leaves her studio.

Machado considers herself an artist first and a businesswoman second. She has not so much chosen her career as it has chosen her. "My life is my work. I do what I love, I do it with passion, and I do it my way. That's what people are responding to."