The crystal bullet, a signature component of Franklin and Swann's line of unique contemporary jewelry, resulted from the marriage of literal aspects of designer Lauren Starrett's personal history. The signature design unites two seemingly disparate concepts and materials: a naturally formed crystal from the earth, and a man made bullet shell.  It all comes together under Starrett's creative eye to create pieces that are lovely, edgy and surprisingly cohesive.

Starrett, born and raised in Colorado, was trained as a sharp shooter by her father, with whom she is extremely close. As a gem collector, he also instilled in her an interest in the natural stones and minerals found in the mountains around their home. By pairing pieces of each of these shared interests in her signature pendant necklaces, Starrett has found a beautiful and unique way to unite her past with her present passion for jewelry design.

Franklin and Swann’s crystal bullet pendants juxtapose key elements of both Starrett’s sharp-shooting background and appreciation of natural gems. The marriage of the gemstones’ delicate beauty with the bullet shell’s tough connotation all represent a conceptual dichotomy that is both ethereal and down-to-earth in its tangible form: the traditional femininity of jewels and the shotgun’s overt masculinity; the spiritual associations with natural gems and the stark practicality of sharpshooting.