EMILY BENOIST RUFFIN

Emily Benoist Ruffin’s one-of-a-kind and customized jewelry designs are created most often by hand in the old European style, and with beautiful, ancient tools that date from as early as the 1600s to 1800s. “When I hold a beautifully made, balanced old tool, I feel the energy of the artisan who poured out his soul before me to create his pieces,” she says. Mastery of these tools, her dedication to detail and impeccable craftsmanship, and adherence to classic principles and proportion have enabled Emily to create works that span from antique-inspired to highly contemporary, drawing on ancient themes to remain timeless. Emily is the winner of numerous awards, both national and international, including the Saul Bell Design Award (2002) and the American Gem Trade Association’s “Spectrum” Award, both prestigious design competitions that have earned her an international reputation. After working in Europe and various U.S. locations, she made her home in Taos, New Mexico, where she’s had a successful design career at her studio and gallery for the past 39 years.