Jewelry can be intensely personal. Not only are these objects used to define or enhance one’s individual style, but they often become symbols of significant moments in one’s life: The union of two partners, the birth of a child, and so on. But in the saturated market that is the jewelry industry, the concept of creating heirlooms is often overlooked to instead cater to fleeting trends and offer accessible pricing at the expense of ethics and quality. It doesn’t always pay to be a jewelry business committed to its values — but that’s exactly what Silent Opus founder Vanessa Stofenmacher is striving to change.

Her first foray into the business, while successful, ultimately left her with a crisis of faith, but the expansion of her family helped her find her way back. With a bespoke, “slow fashion” approach that favors mindful manufacturing (less waste, responsible sourcing, etc) and a mission to create keepsakes, not just of-the-moment styles, Silent Opus was born.

As we’re in Valentine’s season, a time to give and share symbols of love, respect, and adoration, we thought it was the perfect time to shine a light on Stofenmacher and her sleek, thoughtfully made treasures. Read on to read about how her break from the business led her to this impassioned venture, plus what pieces she’s passing down to her little ones, and what she recommends for the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift.

Before there was Silent Opus, you were a founder of Vrai (née Vrai & Oro). What inspired this first foray into the jewelry business?

I actually don’t have a background in jewelry but I came into it in a really roundabout way. I had previously launched a startup with my sister that combined a personalization algorithm with meaningful gifts for one's significant other and we quickly realized that jewelry is the number one gift that men give women. The jewelry industry seemed very old-school, operating behind closed doors with a lot of men making decisions about what women will wear. I felt very compelled to change that and bring transparency to the industry which is how Vrai & Oro was born.

Can you share the moment you knew it was time to take a break?

I didn’t have plans to exit Vrai, but I was approached by a really impressive company in Silicon Valley who was growing diamonds through solar technology and they were interested in acquiring Vrai as their jewelry partner. I was excited to accept because I thought we could do great things together (you live and you learn). It didn’t take long for our values to clash and it became harder and harder to maintain our culture of inclusivity and collaboration. I was nine months pregnant when I made the really hard decision to leave Vrai but I knew it was more important for me to be in a healthy mindset and a safe environment when my daughter arrived.

““The jewelry industry seemed very old-school, operating behind closed doors with a lot of men making decisions about what women will wear.””

You credit the birth of your daughter as the impetus for launching Silent Opus. What can you share about this transformational time?

After I left Vrai, my life did a complete 180. I gave birth to my daughter, the pandemic hit, we moved temporarily to Lake Arrowhead and I went from working 10 hours a day and leading a team of 30 to staying home to take care of my precious new ‘boss’. Everything had changed and it was exactly what I needed in my life. I reconnected with what was most important to me and regained my peace of mind.

My plan was to take a break from jewelry but something about it kept calling me back. When my daughter was born I was reminded of these three special rings my mom had made when my sisters and I were born. She wore them stacked together everyday until our weddings when she handed them each down to us. I wanted to carry this tradition forward while inspiring others to create their own — and this is how Silent Opus was born.

What things did you know you wanted to be different this time around?

Staying true to my values (even if that means growing at a slower pace) is definitely the most important lesson I learned from my past experiences. I’m a firm believer that peace of mind is the most underrated asset in life and now I won’t let anything get in the way of it. It’s so easy to get caught up striving for more (myself included) when it’s actually just covering up what we really need, which in my opinion, is a deeper connection to ourselves.

Every Silent Opus piece is bespoke. Why was this so important to you? And can you walk us through the process of a piece's unique creation?

Before launching Silent Opus I questioned whether the world really needed another jewelry brand. We all have so many “things” in our lives and I didn’t want to contribute to more clutter but what I love about fine jewelry is that it can act as a vessel to remind us of meaningful stories, memories, and people in our lives. These symbols help us create deeper, more human connections which is something I do believe we need more of.

Each piece we create is personalizable so you have a hand in creating it. Once you customize your design, our team renders a CAD to your specifications and then your design is printed in wax and then cast in metal. We believe by involving you in the journey, your piece will become even more meaningful to you (or your loved ones) with the goal of them being passed down for generations to come.

““What I love about fine jewelry is that it can act as a vessel to remind us of meaningful stories, memories, and people in our lives.””

Silent Opus' ethos is about jewelry being an heirloom passed town — or at least a memento to be treasured for years to come. What are some of your pieces you can't wait to share with your daughter?

Our Duo Ring was inspired by the ring my mom made when I was born, so I’m making one for both my daughter and my son so I can pass one down to each of them. I also wear our statement rings stacked with both of their names on them (Frida and Ford).

Because we are in Valentine's Day season, can you share one of your favorite Valentine's memories (or gifts)?

My husband and I got married on February 16th so we could bundle our anniversary, Valentine’s day, and my birthday into one big yearly celebration, so Valentine’s Day is really Valentine Season for us and it’s always a meaningful time of the year.

This year we’re celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary (Where does time go?) and while we used to celebrate by sipping wine for days in Napa, we’ll probably have to wait a few more years until our munchkins are a little older to enjoy that luxury again. This year we’re planning a day trip to Ojai instead.

For anyone shopping Silent Opus for a loved one this holiday, what pieces might you recommend?

We cherry picked some of our favorite ‘romantic’ styles here (which we’re also offering 25% off on through valentine’s day). One of my favorites is our Signature Necklace because you can actually engrave your handwriting on the surface which, when given to you by someone you love, feels like wearing a love note around your neck.

Lastly, why do you think jewelry is such a go-to for holidays like Valentine's Day and anniversaries — occasions associated with love and appreciation?

Jewelry is such a sentimental purchase because it’s like a vessel that can symbolize so much more than words. We all have stories behind the meaningful jewelry in our lives, so it’s what lives inside the jewelry — the soul of the piece — that makes it so special.