Ian

Ian is a master goldsmith with over 35 years of experience in the making of fine jewellery. He received the best training available in a demanding and ancient craft. During a four-year apprenticeship under renowned Swiss jeweller Toni Cavelti, he learned the art of hand fabricating jewellery using traditional European techniques.

After completing his apprenticeship at Cavelti’s shop, Ian spent the next fifteen years working under talented Swiss designers, Alois and Therese Lander. The team at Lander Design supplied exquisite handmade pieces to Swedish Jeweler of Vancouver. Ian and Claire designed many unique pieces for the Susan Clark Gallery of Gem Art.

Ian is grateful for the wonderful training he received from his two mentors, Alois Lander and Toni Cavelti.

Claire

Claire has completed formal jewellery design training at the Gemological Institute of America, supplementing that with courses in diamond grading. Coloured gemstones are a powerful inspiration, and she draws on her love of music and nature, incorporating these themes into the jewellery she designs. Just as Ian’s style is bold and geometric, hers is strongly organic. Her idol is Rene Lalique, whose work epitomizes Art Nouveau.

Claire sees herself as a translator, an intermediary between the client and the goldsmith. Her job is to discern her client's intrinsic design sense. Claire's strength is in listening to people and interpreting their style into wearable art.

The Kids: Heather, Lesley & Simon

Simon started working with his father after school (okay, sometimes during school) when he was 16. He completed a four-year apprenticeship with Ian and has worked in the family-run jewellery studio since 2001. He is a talented artisan in his own right. He is currently broadening his skills working as a goldsmith in London, England.

Lesley has completed a diamond grading course at the Canadian Institute of Gemmology, along with a design course at the Revere Academy of Jewellery Arts in San Francisco. She handles reception, administrative and bookkeeping duties, but shows real flair on the design side of the business where her true talents lay. Lesley and Claire often collaborate on design consultations.

Heather wears jewellery very well.

Darcy

Darcy Gertz will carve anything that's not nailed down: gemstones, ice, wood, or pumpkins. He is a master sand sculptor and has won competitions in several countries. (Little known fact: his team holds the record for the world’s tallest sand castle.)

He started carving in wax, which led to a position as a goldsmith at Harlings Jewellers in Vancouver, BC, where he worked for 10 years. He attended the Jewellery Art & Design program at Vancouver Community College. Darcy has been working with Finlaysons since 2001. He expertly handles most of our on-site jewellery repairs and collaborates closely with Ian on custom pieces.