"What makes life more challenging is often also the source of great gifts. People would feel less alone if we were all more transparent about our own struggles."
OG Semper Augustus
Semper Augustus is our original jewelry line established in Spring 2022 with the mission to destigmatize taking life-saving medications.
In order to expand our offerings and simplify our messanging, we decided to merge our two jewelry lines Semper Augustus and Mad Fine in early 2025 relaunched as simply MAD FINE. We still offer our signatured carved gemstone pieces and irreverent, mixed-metal designs, but now we’re under one roof.
Our goal is to spark hope, joy, and maybe even laughter through responsibly made jewelry.
We will continue to partner closely with nonprofits and donates a portion of proceeds from select collections.
"Semper Augustus dispels social taboos and stigmas by taking products ordinarily kept hidden, and casting them in gold for all the world to see"
SOPHIE FLACK
FOUNDER OF SEMPER AUGUSTUS
In the 17th century displaying "broken" tulips (petals with two distinct colors), was considered an ostentatious display of wealth. But no one knew how to purposefully cultivate them, so they eventually began to die out.
At one point there were only twelve bulbs of the most coveted variety, the Semper Augustus, left in existence, all owned by a single wealthy Dutchman. He refused to sell a single bulb, skyrocketing their value to be worth more than a cow, plot of land, or even a house.
For hundreds of years the source of what caused tulips to break remained a mystery; it wasn't until the 20th century that it was finally discovered.
A lethal virus devastated entire fields of lilies and other flower varieties, but strangely enough didn’t kill the more robust tulip. Instead the virus stripped the pigment from the petals’ outer layer revealing a pale underlayer.
"The thing that made life so challenging for the Semper Augustus tulip, was also what made it so unique and beautiful."
