Timelapse Jewelry Co. is a relatively new brand but they are making such a stylish statement within the jewelry niche. Nothing excites Gemma more than sharing timely news about a fashionable accessories company on the rise. Timelapse offers bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and body chains, all representing a look into the future while staying firmly grounded in the present. Mike Westerband and Andie Leon head the company and are a great combination.
Timelapse is based in Los Angeles and while the design of watch movements has an extensive history that dates back to the 16th century, the story of Timelapse Co. began in 2015. Timelapse features collections focused on blending the lines between art, craft, and fashion while inspiring an appreciation for the present. Timelapse Co. brings the same historical artistic qualities and geometric details that original watchmakers had into pieces with a modern focus.
Timelapse offers three beautiful collections and when the creatives behind the concept had a moment, they were kind enough to talk about their company, their creations, and hints into the future. Mike Westerband is the CEO while Andie Leon serves as the Marketing Manager. They are both inspirational and creative entrepreneurs.
How was Timelapse conceived?
Michael: Believe it or not, but Timelapse Co. initially started as a dream during a trip halfway around the world. I was visiting Andie shortly after she had just moved back to Sydney after living here in the United States for a number of years. At the time I felt I just really needed a short vacation from my job in wealth management and decided to make the trip out there to see her and give myself a bit of a change of scenery.
One day we decided to go to the Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters rock formation, but our trip was cut short due to rain so instead, we spent the day visiting local shops and restaurants. We stumbled into a small gem store where we met a gentleman who forever had a lasting impression on me. We got to chatting and he exuded such a charisma it was clear that this man was living a life charged with passion. When I asked him how long he’d been working here, that’s when he told us that he was the owner of the shop and in fact, he never worked a day in his life since he was doing something that he loved. At the time I sort of chuckled because of how cliché it sounded, but we knew that he was actually sincere when he said that. I’ve heard the phrase many times before, but for some reason, it really stuck with me and I think that conversation planted the mental seed that would eventually lead to Timelapse.
Fast forward a couple weeks and I was back home in the US wondering if people were truly spending their time living lives of passion. With a sense of uncompromising inspiration I was granted a vision and after a few months when Andie decided to move back to the US also we decided to set out to give people a collection that speaks to living with passion in the most important moment of our lives: the present moment. It’s tough since people mostly live in the future or the past – ruminating on past experiences or future hopes and dreams – but experiencing the present moment is what life is all about since life is unfolding in the present. Since then our collections have continually grown along with what they represent.
Tell us about the faces behind Timelapse?
Andie: My face hopefully is a good one full of jewelry that makes statements. Lol. Seriously speaking I was a Novela Actress for Telemundo. I suffered from an intense disorder and left the entertainment world to entertain myself with new endeavors — ones that I could control. Creating jewelry was one of them. Empowering myself with stones, crystals that I could use and jewelry to help me overcome insecurity, empower my voice and be happy (Jade is an excellent crystal for Joy). Now I wear my “Magician rope” with tiger’s eye, for Boss Bitches or Witches Lol. Really, it helps my creativity and enhances my confidence so I can grab life.
We also have recently brought in a new Marketing Manager, Stephanie. We are very excited about her coming in to work with our company. She brings a breath of fresh air and a wealth of experience.
Michael: Andie is more of the creative one when it comes to our duo, and I would say I’m the more analytical and strategic.
How do you plan to place Timelapse on the map?
One city at a time with style and grace. Creating unique concepts with the idea that it’s not just jewelry to adorn your body but a statement of who you are — a masterpiece in this world. There are so many jewelry lines out there, the market is saturated but we would like to create the idea of a lifestyle based on the fact that you can change your looks instantly just by changing how you where your specific piece. For example, the magician rope has 7 different looks while, and at the same time, the crystals can be used to enhance certain emotions or feelings.
Your publicist mentioned that Timelapse will do an official brand launch soon, what type of impact do you expect?
Michael: We certainly hope to wow you with our collections! That and not only would we like our guests to walk away with a sense of who we are as a brand and what we’re about, but it’s also a time for us to connect the brand with what they would like to see more of as well. We’re still very much in the early stages and we also have a number of collections and collaborations that we’d like our audience to preview since our audience is who we’re ultimately building for and they’re who drives us.
What message would you like to convey to your audience?
Andie: We started this company based on the idea that we were no longer dictated by your watch ticking or time passing or even the structure that civilization has created for humans; to wake up, go to work, come home (a bit like a robot) we want to break those barriers and be ART in Time. Timeless, your past and present- “Timelapse”, to create you in the current state.
What is the inspiration behind past and future collections of Timelapse?
Andie: We have teamed up with some exceptionally talented women who have something to say. For Example, Brenda Sarai Zuniga’s collection is called Transformation. It is based on the fact that Labradorite gave her the courage to transform her life. She was last year’s semi-finalist at Miss California and will be competing this year as Miss Burbank. The concept behind her collection is that you can never let your current circumstances affect your dreams.
We are also creating a collection with Melissa Pellone — this will be a more dainty collection, an expression of femininity in a world where women have to put their pants(or dresses) on and work hard to be equal and to thrive. Although the majority of our collections are really unisex, we’ll also be expanding our collections with more masculine features soon, so stay tuned for that!
All three collections are gorgeous. Can you briefly describe each? (the Silver Line), the Bold Edition, and the Gold Edition).
We currently have three main collections but are continuously coming out with more. The Silver Line is the bread and butter of our product line in that it incorporates the design elements that first started the brand, namely by utilizing complete vintage and antique watch movements as a central feature of the pieces (and is also made of .925 Sterling Silver). Aside from incorporating the watch movements into the focal point of the designs, the Silver Line features options that let our customers tailor their piece to their likings, such as selecting the color and chain lengths of the pieces. We also launched our Crystal Collection earlier this year, which incorporates semi-precious stones and beads into the designs with energetic purposes and intentions. The Gold Edition is a limited-edition run of our original collection featuring gold plating. However, due to the popularity, we’re merging it with the rest of the Silver Line collection. We’re also working on releasing several collaboration collections with other designers and fashion influencers shortly, so stay tuned!
What can we expect for your next collection?
That word … Expect! I hope that we blow your mind. LOL. All I can do is give our audience my heart and create magic, craftsmanship, inspiration with every piece we create.
What do Timelapse Custom Creations entail?
Timelapse Custom Creations refer to our white-glove bespoke services, where we step out of the confines of the design parameters of our core collections and let our customers imaginations run wild! With Custom Creations, customers are paired directly with one of our professional designers who work with the customer from A to Z to create a piece that satisfies the desires of the customer. Material upgrades from 18k gold to platinum, custom engravings with initials or whole sayings, as well as set diamonds and more are all possible with Custom Creations. The process is simple and straight-forward, with projects varying based entirely on the needs of the client. It starts with a brief introductory call, where the customer pairs up with a specific designer, who gathers the information needed for the project and explains the process in more detail. From there, a quote is drafted for the plan outlining the requirements and turnaround time. This process may include preliminary graphics and research depending on the project. Once the client accepts the quotes, we immediately begin working on the project and then ship it to the client once completed. It’s that simple!
Why is history so important in your designs and creations
Since one of the focal features of our original collections is the incorporation of vintage and antique watch movements into our designs, there’s an embedded history within the pieces with a story to tell. In art, like in life, the current stage of a piece is affected by where it comes from since history is what brings us to the present. At Timelapse, we feel it’s important to remember that particular history since it only lets us appreciate the gift that much more. It’s interesting to think about… What was the world like at earlier times? Can you imagine how much different the tools were? What transportation was like? What modern conveniences do we routinely take for granted? These are just some of the questions that can come up in conversations about history, and I think that more and more we are realizing that as we further understand history, we might also understand the future.
Your jewelry is gorgeous. It’s also taking off. Do you see bringing in apparel at some point?
Thank you so much! 🙂 I will say that we don’t have any immediate plans to release apparel this year, that doesn’t mean we never will. For us, Timelapse as a brand goes beyond jewelry but is a lifestyle – a state of being appreciated for our time and what we have. Whether or not that message remains in the medium of jewelry or expands beyond only time will tell, so stay tuned to find out!
Who do you admire the most and why?
Andie: Oprah – she has the courage to face all adversity, grow, change and thrive. Just like in the latest book she talks about the mustard seed; The Kingdom of Heaven (also a state of being) growing from small beginnings. I started from nothing as well and have worked my whole life to create my own heaven. Oprah has always inspired me to heal, change and grow.
Michael: My mother. I’ve watched as she’s been through a lot but she has always been the strongest person emotionally. Aside from being there for me in life whenever I’ve needed something, as an emergency room physician she’s been there for countless people in their times of greatest need, sometimes bearing an emotional burden that I can’t imagine.
Describe Timelapse in one word and why?
Andie: Alchemy, because by wearing Timelapse Co. you are transforming yourself from ordinary to extraordinary.
Michael: Timeless… because it is.
To follow Timelapse on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timelapseco_la/
