Designer Gold owner Paul Gross has crafted many styles of jewelry in the past 40 years. To celebrate his time in the business of gems and metals, we asked him a few questions about his career.

A: I first got into jewelry making at Dartmouth when I was a freshman because I was a rock collector and had some stones that I thought would look nice polished. So, it was stones that were my first love, and they still inspire me today, especially unusual cuts. I still cut and polish a few myself, mostly opal, but for the most part, I buy unusual stones from lapidaries around the world that do unusual custom cutting. A couple of the best, Michael Dyber and John Bradshaw, have studios here in New Hampshire.  When I started in the jewelry studio at Dartmouth, making a few pieces of jewelry for my sisters for Christmas, I had no idea that one could actually earn a living making jewelry.

A: I still love it after all these years.  I continue to find it hard to believe that I have a talent for it and that I’ve been able to thrive making jewelry for 40 years (and actually it’s been 48 since I began as a freshman at Dartmouth). I still get excited when I find an unusual stone.  One thing that hasn’t changed is my satisfaction working with people for special occasions like engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, and so on, and designing something for them that will be a lifetime memento. One thing that has changed and grown is my commitment to making jewelry that will endure and be practical to wear. I’m less apt to design a risky or experimental piece these days, and I want to make sure that whatever jewelry I make will survive with little maintenance.

A: Engagement and wedding ring styles have changed somewhat over the years, but since those are rings that will be worn everyday for a lifetime, those styles tend to be a little more classic and conservative than some of the other jewelry that I make. The difficult part about designing those rings is creating something original and new that still has a classic look.

A: I’m 66 now, but I intend to be creating jewelry for quite awhile yet.   

Head on over to Celebrate 40 years of business in Hanover on October 27th 5:30-7pm.