For many students on campus, a job is quick income and a way to pass time. For Crystal Hosea and Jace McCarty, their college job quickly developed into a career. 

Starting June of 2019, Crystal Hosea began silversmithing. From there, their small business grew. That was the start of CH Designs Custom Jewelry. 

“We met our first week of college when we lived in College Station,” Hosea said. 

The two began dating shortly after. As that school year came to an end, they decided to make a move and transfer to Tarleton State University together. Crystal majored in Agriculture Economics and Jace in Agriculture Communications.

“When I started, I didn’t mean for it to become a business. It was just a hobby,” Hosea said. “Two years ago Jace went full time with me.”

“As of August of 2021 we both were strictly silversmithing,” McCarty added.

Crystal and Jace’s not so small business has grown rapidly over the course of the years, their Instagram has a following of nearly 48.8 thousand. Although most all of their jewelry is custom made, their most popular piece is their custom made horse head pendants.

“Jace originally thought of the idea. He thought it would be a cool idea to make one of Missy, our prized horse at the time,” Hosea shared.

“We posted it and it took off,” McCarty  said.

CH Design’s horse head pendants come in mini and medium. Three metal types are offered; silver, copper and gold. Add ons include turquoise charms, flowers and engravings. Although horse heads have been a bestseller, the couple has also had the opportunity to make a few exciting custom orders.

“We made back number pendants for Jordon Briggs for the NFR 2021. That was the coolest experience to make necklaces for all 15 barrel racers,” Hosea shared.

Hosea further explained the National Finals Rodeo tradition in which they got to make custom jewelry for. Each year, all the barrel racers get each other gifts as a sort of “good luck” before the NFR begins. Some gifts include custom halters or custom spurs. 

“She [Briggs] said she wore hers all ten rounds and it was her good luck charm, so that was really cool,” Hosea said.

The couple got engaged in November of 2021. As young entrepreneurs, they also find themselves busy not only with their business, but now with wedding planning.

“We revolve around work,” McCarty said. “I wouldn’t say it’s hard to be focused with work.”

“Wedding planning on the other hand is hard,” Hosea added. “It’s hard because you go from working eight plus hours a day, to eating dinner and trying to start your wedding planning each night.”

Jace and Crystal will officially become the McCarty’s in early April of 2022. The couple stays busy with work eight days a week Hosea joked. CH Designs offers a variety of custom jewelry options, including: cuffs, rings, name necklaces, brand necklaces and custom toothpicks. The couple enjoys being able to provide people with a special custom experience through their trade and jewelry.

“We wanna be a big enough name one day that we become a household name,” Hosea said.

“An industry-wide recognized company,” McCarty added. 

For more information on CH Designs Custom Jewelry and how Crystal and Jace got started, visit their website at https://chjewelrydesigns.com/. To place a custom jewelry order or to look at other designs, you can find CH Designs on Instagram and Facebook.