Brendon-James Maier wants you to wear your memories. Through his L.A.-based brand Atelier Former Child, Maier designs fine jewelry that evokes the joy, wonder, and freedom of being a kid again.
“Have fun and be yourself. Mix metals. Wear bold colors. Break the so-called rules,” says Maier. “Fine jewelry doesn’t have to be serious or predictable.”
✨ For Maier, fine jewelry isn’t just an accessory—it’s an act of self-expression and a commitment to creativity. That applies to everyone, including men.
One of his standout designs is the Precious Checker Eternity ring, crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with 20 white diamonds and 20 blue sapphires—retailing for $14,998.
His brand, aptly named Former Child, is a reminder to embrace the playfulness we often lose as adults.
“Everything I design is meant to bring levity into fine jewelry and help people tell their own story.”
Maier grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, with his parents and older sister. His two earliest jewelry inspirations?
💍 His grandmother’s three-stone diamond engagement ring, which mesmerized him as a child
🎵 And the oversized, colorful jewelry of Pharrell Williams and early-2000s hip-hop culture
“Those impressions—timeless elegance and bold creativity—still shape my work today.”
Another highlight: the Diamond Tattoo Cusp ring ($12,937), which features a bold chain link flanked by pavé diamond bands.
Before jewelry, Maier studied advertising at the University of Oregon, inspired by his father and grandfather. Though he started in brand strategy, he says those early lessons in storytelling now shape how he runs his own label.
After graduating in 2018, Maier founded Former Child in 2019, initially focusing on U.S.-made clothing and leather goods. But by 2020, something changed.
“It was kind of a happy accident,” he laughs.
While sketching bag designs, he doodled a checkerboard pattern on graph paper and thought: What if this became a ring made from vitreous enamel?
He made a prototype with the help of a jeweler friend, posted a photo to Instagram, and people started asking how to buy it.
Just like that, Former Child pivoted into fine jewelry.
Among the brand’s signatures is the Tattoo Link Chain, available in gold or sterling silver, and sized for every wearer.
“What you start out doing may not be your final destination. But everything you learn along the way still counts.”