STEVEN KRETCHMER
Steven Kretchmer has often been referred to as the most innovative designer to ever hit the jewelry scene. World renowned for his 18k blue, purple and mokume gane gold, as well as other magical precious metals, he captured mysterious yet fundamental forces of nature and transformed them into timeless works of art. His patented Tension-SetTM jewelry and magnetic PolariumTM platinum jewelry have revolutionized fine jewelry design.
Kretchmer began making jewelry in 1969, although his bloodline can be traced back several generations to jewelers of Romanian royalty. After earning a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan, he worked at prestigious jewelry firms including Harry Winston and Faraone. In 1991, Steven Kretchmer Design, Inc. was founded in Los Angeles, California. During his career, Steven had received numerous awards for his continual success in extending the boundaries of fine jewelry.
The award-winning legacy has since been passed down to Kretchmer’s stepdaughter Claudia. When both Steven and his wife Alma died within one year, Claudia left her PhD studies in Astrophysics to continue the company her parents built. Claudia’s industry experience and the jewelry knowledge that Steven shared with her made her a natural for the role.