Irmela Neumann

"When I design and make jewelry, I think of myself as making "Fairy Castles," says Irmela Neumann who began her career as an internationally known jewelry designer in her home town of Pforzheim, Germany, a city near the Black Forest renowned for the skilled craftspersons who have designed and created quality jewelry for centuries. "It is part of the tradition I learned," says Irmela who emphasizes that "I observe and listen to my clients and I craft jewelry for them that suites their personalities and life styles."

Using her grandfather's tool box, Irmela began her apprenticeship at fourteen years of age. "I started working in brass, " Irmela remembers. "I sawed and filed and filed and sawed for all of seven weeks. I cut paper and bent wires each day and from the brass dust I was green up to my elbows!"

Irmela Neumann's perseverance paid off. She created her first original piece of jewelry, a gold and pearl ring for her mother, and she has been designing and producing unique and interesting pieces ever since. "Handmade jewelry does not mean half-way," says Irmela, who loves working in high quality colored gems an who recently created a tourmaline piece in greens, reds and pinks, set in 18 karat gold. "And I always like to sprinkle a few fine diamonds in my pieces," she says.


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