behind the design

with Claire Sonnier & Todd Hollely, Studio W&H Jewelers

If you can imagine it, we can make it. The skilled custom jewelry design artisans behind Studio W&H relish the chance to work with you to create your own unique, personal piece of custom jewelry.

Meet Todd and Claire, our Master Jewelers.

From the start, Claire Sonnier always knew she wanted to work in an artistic industry.

She followed her passion of working with her hands that eventually led her to developing skills with jewelry

Sonnier took her first jewelry class as a freshman in college and immediately knew she wanted to pursue a career in jewelry Sonnier graduated in 2011 with a BFA in metal-smithing from the University of Georgia.

In 2021, Sonnier joined Walters & Hogsett as our second in-house bench jeweler and designer.

Her inspiration, ultimately drawn from natural elements and textures, has added unique characteristics to Studio W&H’s work.

Sonnier is passionate about making meaningful pieces for customers, specifically bridal and wedding jewelry. She spends her free time hiking, mountain biking, and doing all things outdoors.

Todd Hollely discovered a passion for jewelry making in 1992 at the Maine College of Art. He recognized the personal and cultural significance of jewelry and became fascinated by the malleable quality of metal Todd began using a hammer and a torch to elevate everyday objects through design and fabrication.

Hollely graduated with a BFA from the Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM program at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, studying under Stanley Lechtzin, a pioneer in alternative jewelry making technologies such as electroforming and computer-aided design (CAD)

For over 20 years, Todd has looked to his passion for art history and experimentation with both traditional and non-traditional jewelry-making techniques to craft unique pieces of jewelry.

In 2019, Hollely joined Walters & Hogsett as our Master Jeweler and Designer His inspiration, drawn from the beauty found in both the organic forms of nature and utilitarian human creations has helped apply his touch to all Studio W&H bespoke creations. In his free time, he enjoys running and going to the tops of mountains here in Boulder, CO