Trish Becker had an interest in gemstones long before she started making jewelry. "Nature rocks. Excuse the pun," Becker says. "I am fascinated by the natural occurrence of beautiful things and how we have used stones over the centuries to adorn, identify and enhance ourselves and our spaces—both physically and spiritually."

She began making jewelry for fun and friends while working as Special Projects Editor at GQ magazine. When two of her friends, Sarah Easley and Beth Buccini, opened Kirna Zabete in 1999 they offered to carry Trish Becker Jewelry. The line took off; Trish was hooked. "It's wonderful to have people respond so enthusiastically to something I love doing. I was crazy about my job at GQ but realized my real passion is making jewelry."

She left GQ and New York, moved to San Francisco to concentrate on jewelry design full time and then returned to New York in 2003 to launch Trish Becker Jewelry in earnest. She admits her influence is largely the result of summers spent in the Caribbean. The sun, sand and undersea life help define the choice of stone and shape for each piece and she returns often for inspiration.

"The whole process is really gratifying. I get to make beautiful things for beautiful people inspired by natural places that I love. That people enjoy wearing the jewelry as much as I enjoy making it is just icing on the cake!"