Vendor Profile: Van Duren Gems
A long and winding road.
I started in 2006, doing handmade chainwork. I still do that, but after ten years, I needed to look at the bigger picture.
I had the choice to finish my degree in oceanography, or follow jewelery and gems as a career. You can guess which direction I picked.
In 2014 I graduated as a Goldsmith, with fabrication, casting, repair, design and gemmology courses.
By then, I also had amassed a collection of gems and stones from travels, and was regularily selling them by appointment to local designers as well as being a go-to source for unique gems and cuts ( I love spikes, pyramids, and bullet cabs.)
And here we are. 😀
I assess each gem before sale, to give you all the information you need to make a purchase. ( color, inclusions,) including with a 20x loupe.
Some stones show a bit of travel wear, they did take some wild journeys to get here ( my supplier does much of the travelling, sourcing, so the things they find to send to me can be a surprise.
Working with a fellow gemmologist, we’re harnessing my ability to use Etsy to reach clients and list the stock in the studios.
