The Cygnet Hook bracelet is the product of a collaboration between Mr. Hide and Cat Bates. I was introduced to Cat’s work by a friend, a few years ago and I’ve been a fan of his work since. After having picked up a couple pieces of his work and communicating online a few times, we met by chance at West Coast Craft in San Francisco. From experiencing his jewelry aesthetic and craftsmanship firsthand, I knew I’d eventually like to work with Cat on collaborating to create a piece of custom hardware for the Mr. Hide collection.

During my collaboration with Cat, he really wanted to capture the “crisp, clean and elegant” nature of Mr. Hide’s aesthetic. “The bail of the hook is crimped in place through the leather bracelet for a strong and subtle connection. The hook itself fits though the leather with a satisfying ‘pop’. It takes a bit of practice to put it on and take it off, but most folks find the maneuver quickly mastered.” Cat, hand carved the master. The Cygnet Hook is lost wax cast in Rhode Island and hand finished by Cat.

This custom hardware’s namesake, was based on the “swan neck/head” shaped curves of the hook as well as the diminutive size of the hook. A baby swan hook, if you will. It’s a cute, tiny, beautifully crafted piece of hardware and I am proud to offer it as an option for my bracelets moving forward.

Leather:
• J&E Sedgwick Traditional English Bridle Cowhide
• Natural Vegetable Tanned Cowhide

Available in: 
• Natural
• Black
• Red
• Navy Blue
• Forest Green

Hardware:
• Silver-Plated Shibuichi

Additional Hardware Details from Cat:

Shibuichi is an alloy of copper and pure silver. Copper is rather soft, and fiendishly difficult to cast because it cools very quickly from molten to solid. Adding a bit of silver (~15%) to the melt increases the fluid range and makes casting process more manageable and increases the metal's durability.

Shibuichi has a beautiful rosy color, and takes a dark eggplant-color patina. Over time this patina will wear away on the high spots and the rose of the base metal will show through. If you stop wearing your piece for a while the dark patina will come back, only to wear away again with more wear. Shibuichi can also be etched, creating a functionally silver-plated surface, which will wear through to reveal the raw metal over time. Shibuichi is a bit more expensive than brass. Also, like brass, shibuichi may occasionally stain your skin a blue or green color, particularly on hot days or when you are sweating. It is not cause for alarm and washes off with soap and water. The intensity of this phenomenon varies from person to person. If it happens often and you find it bothersome, a simple fix, is to paint the metal with clear nail polish at the point(s) where it comes into contact, for instance around the inside of your bracelet where the hook meets your skin.

Description:
• Small: 6.5" in length approximately
• Medium: 7" in length approximately
• Large: 8" in length approximately
• Products are made-to-order and completion to shipping times may take up to 1 to 2 weeks, please keep this in consideration when ordering.