Become Spellbound Named Baltimore Magazine Best of Baltimore 2026 Best Jeweler
There are moments in a creative career that feel impossible to put into words.
Being named Baltimore Magazine's Best of Baltimore 2026 Best Jeweler is one of those moments.
Baltimore Magazine's annual Best of Baltimore Readers' Poll celebrates the businesses, artists, restaurants, and organizations that Baltimore residents love most. To be chosen by readers as the city's Best Jeweler is an incredible honor and one that I'll carry with immense gratitude.
Become Spellbound began with a simple realization: I couldn't find the kind of jewelry I wanted to wear. At the time, so much of what I came across leaned toward minimalist, delicate designs. While there's certainly a place for that style, I found myself searching for something bolder, stranger, and more evocative. I wanted pieces that felt like they carried a story, jewelry inspired by crystals, fossils, natural history, fantasy, and the wonder of the earth itself.
Around that time, living in New York I met a jewelry maker whose extraordinary crystal jewelry left a lasting impression on me. Seeing her work opened a door I didn't know existed. It wasn't that I wanted to make jewelry like hers. Instead, it gave me permission to imagine what my own version might look like. I kept coming back to the idea of creating pieces that felt ancient, cinematic, and powerful, while remaining refined enough to become part of someone's everyday life.
So I started Become Spellbound. I wasn't trying to create jewelry that followed trends or fit neatly into a category. Instead, I wanted to honor the extraordinary beauty of crystals, fossils, and ancient natural materials by shaping them into wearable talismans. Every piece begins with genuine crystals, fossils, minerals, and other remarkable specimens, each carrying a history that stretches back millions, and sometimes billions, of years. My hope is that they feel equally at home in a museum collection, on an archaeological expedition, or worn by a character in an epic fantasy, while still becoming part of someone's everyday life. If you'd like to learn more about the philosophy behind my work, you can also read about Become Spellbound.
Over the years, that vision has grown into Become Spellbound, a collection of handcrafted talismans made in my Baltimore studio. Every piece is made by hand, with the hope that whoever wears it feels a little more connected to the wonder and mystery of the natural world. You can explore my latest handmade crystal jewelry collections here.
To have that work recognized by Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore 2026 readers’ poll as the winner in the Jewelry category is an incredible honor.
This award is especially meaningful because it was decided by the people who have supported Become Spellbound over the years.
To everyone who took a moment to vote, and especially to those of you who came back day after day to cast another vote, thank you. Your support, encouragement, and belief in my work made this possible. Knowing that so many people chose to champion Become Spellbound in Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore readers’ poll is something I will never take for granted.
Whether you've been collecting my work for years, voted in this year's Best of Baltimore Readers' Poll, or are discovering Become Spellbound for the very first time, thank you for being here. I can't wait to share what's next.
With gratitude,
Kari Dern
Founder & Artist, Become Spellbound
PS: If you're discovering Become Spellbound for the first time, I invite you to explore the collection and find a piece that speaks to you.
Photo credit: Xavier Plater, 2026 @xavier.plater