Liz Atterbury resided in Bryn Mawr, PA, together with her mother and stepfather, General William Atterbury, a highly esteemed US Military figure. General Atterbury’s exceptional skills led to him being enlisted by the government to construct the groundbreaking railroad that stretched from Pennsylvania to the western region. During Liz’s formative years, she was exposed to a world of refined elegance and aristocratic etiquette. It was during this time that she met her husband, James Alexander Connelly, which marked the first of her audacious life choices; a daring and bold fighter pilot was not who her family had envisioned her marrying. Liz and James were blessed with two remarkable sons, James Alexander Connelly III, known as “Lex,” and William Wallace Connelly, known as “Will.”

Liz’s life was forever changed when James Alexander Connelly Sr. lost his life unexpectedly. Left to raise two young sons alone, Liz impulsively embarked on an adventure to Wyoming with her boys, where they fell under the enchantment of the cowboy lifestyle. Liz’s devotion to her sons compelled her to support their newfound aspirations to become cowboys. Making the decision to head west, they chose to settle in the small, remote town of Benson, AZ. That is where Seven X Ranch would begin.

Liz fell fully in love with the western life influences of her new home state, horses and cattle became her new passion. Her standard of dress became her son’s well worn Wrangler jeans, secured with a weathered leather belt that proudly displayed a custom silver buckle bearing the family’s newly acquired unique brand. In the 1920s, during a time when the West retained traces of its untamed spirit, ranchers utilized branding to assert ownership over their livestock. Liz ventured into the local Department of Agriculture office, where she scoured the brand book to find something she connected with to represent their ranch. It was there that she discovered the captivating Backwards 7X Slash brand. From the moment she registered 7X as their own, it would forever represent not only the ranch but this new chapter in Liz’s life. Understanding the profound significance and weight carried by a family brand, her own affinity for life’s finer things led her to commission a collection of jewelry pieces featuring the 7X........a collection that continues to be treasured by her family to this day.

From the early support of their mother, Lex and Will went on to achieve their youthful desires to become cowboys well into adulthood. In the late 1900s, a move to Clovis, California, which at the time was the heart of the sport of Rodeo, resulted in both men having exceptionally competitive careers as Professional Cowboys. The art of roping and riding prepared younger brother Will to expand the 7X Ranch into a full time cattle operation. For Lex, his life in rodeo moved him to work toward the advancement of the sport he so loved. So much of what is known today as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association were programs developed by Lex Connelly, bringing rodeo cowboys to be acknowledged as true athletes. Lex and Will’s substantial life accomplishments were largely owed to their beginnings and the instillment of Liz’s belief in the kind of work ethic and solidity her beloved 7X brand should represent.

The 7X brand remains equally relevant today as fourth generation family members have continued to build the reputation of the brand as one of quality and substance. Highly respected in the horse world and the sport of rodeo, the 7X has taken a new direction in fine jewelry design. The founders of Seven X Custom Jewelry, Courtney Motes and Megan McGill, are not simply longtime friends. Their roots run deep in so many similar ways. Both have a history of family cattle ranching, rodeo, and the horse business. They initially met through Courtney’s husband Ryan, the 4th generation of 7X Ranch, and Megan’s husband Bert. Their husbands were successfully embedded in the rodeo and horse industries, and the two became instant friends. That friendship shortly became much more profound as they came to realize how many shared interests they had beyond the obvious. Their love of history, family, fashion, and design were driving forces for both their lives. Courtney and Megan decided to combine their strengths to share their passion for beautiful jewelry with others, a passion deeply inspired by the history of 7X Ranch matriarch Liz Atterbury Connelly.

Liz’s life was defined by her audacious choices, unwavering resilience, and constant readiness for adventure. It is in honor of Liz’s indomitable spirit that Seven X Custom Jewelry was established. We are dedicated to assisting you in embodying boldness, courage, grace, class, timelessness, and love. Together, we embark on a journey to create heirloom pieces that will be cherished for generations to come.