Featured Designers at Croft & Stern Jewelry Designs

At Croft & Stern Jewelry Designs, we believe in offering a curated selection of jewelry that represents the finest craftsmanship and the most creative designs from both local and international artisans. Each designer we personally know and have hand selected, their feature has been chosen for their unique approach to jewelry making, ensuring that our collection is as diverse and inspiring as our clients.

Kelly Sternau

Kelly, owner of Croft & Stern and principle designer, began to realize her dream of being in the jewelry industry at just 15 years old while taking a jewelry making class in high school. She further pursued her jewelry quest by attending Art Studio Fuji in Florence, Italy. She completed her training there with a concentration in jewelry design and metal fabrication. On top of her formal education and GIA training, Kelly has worked on the sales floor and in repair shops for jewelry stores in Indiana, Colorado and now Minnesota.

Kurt Genereux

One of our in-house custom jewelry designers, Kurt Genereux, holds a BFA from St. Cloud State and brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the studio. Kurt specializes in creating bespoke pieces that reflect the personal style and story of each client, ensuring that every design is one-of-a-kind.

Kurt’s enthusiasm for design was ignited in college while studying art in the Czech Republic. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine art from St. Cloud State University, and later pursuing his master’s degree in art education at the University of Minnesota, he spent 20+ years in customer service where he discovered another passion – helping people by making their day. He originally joined the Mark Michael team to blend his love for art and design with his passion for excellent customer service, transitioning to Croft & Stern upon Mark’s retirement. Kurt considers it an honor to hear customers’ stories behind the precious occasions and heirlooms they entrust to the Croft & Stern team.

Justin Boddington

Justin Boddington is not only the goldsmith at Croft & Stern, having trained at GIA (Gemological Institute of America), he also showcases his unique style of jewelry design and gem faceting. Drawing inspiration from nature to create organic, textured pieces, his jewelry feels as unique as it looks.

Mark Lauer of Mark Michael Diamond Designs

Mark Lauer, retired owner of Mark Michael Diamond Designs, continues to be a significant influence at Croft & Stern. Although retired, Mark remains a featured designer, bringing his years of experience and passion for custom jewelry design to our studio. His modern designs are elegant and timeless, characterized by their meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Tezer Jewelry

Tezer, founded by Sema Sezen in 1992 in Frankfurt, Germany, creates handmade jewelry by women, for women. Sema’s designs are inspired by her Turkish roots, blending oriental shapes and colors with a minimalist, modern aesthetic. Together with her team, Bernadeta and Stephanie, Tezer operates with a family-like, hierarchy-free approach, where everyone is involved in the design and development process. This collaborative environment ensures that each piece reflects the real needs and desires of women.

A Thousand Joys Jewelry

Joy is the creative mind and jeweler behind A Thousand Joys Jewelry, known for its whimsical and vibrant designs. With a deep love for history, art and nature, she crafts each piece to bring a touch of magic to everyday life. Located in Florence, Italy, Joy’s work blends traditional techniques with modern aesthetics, creating jewelry that’s as joyful as it is beautiful.

Debbie Kordansky

Debbie Kordansky is known for her innovative designs that blend modern aesthetics with intricate detailing. Debbie is a fourth generation jeweler based in the Philadelphia, Pa. area since the 1980s. Season after season, new designs and collections are added and fine-tuned in harmony with current trends.

Heavy Stone Rings

Since 2001, Heavy Stone Rings has been a leader in the field of alternative metal jewelry. Known for their modern, edgy designs, Heavy Stone Rings offers a variety of bands crafted from materials like titanium, cobalt, carbon fiber, and damascus steel, often paired with unique inlays such as dinosaur bone, meteorite, and exotic woods. Their commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and innovative design makes them a standout in contemporary jewelry.

Ostbye

From the humble beginnings of a Norwegian immigrant's small jewelry shop to its status today as one of the leading manufacturers of bridal and fashion jewelry, Ostbye has always stayed true to its mission of exemplary quality, service, and value. The Company's founder, Walter Ostbye, was a jeweler in his native Norway and opened his doors in 1920 under the name of Ostbye & Anderson.

With a rich history in the jewelry industry, Ostbye is now renowned for its timeless and elegant designs. Their pieces often feature classic motifs, making them a go-to choice for those who appreciate enduring beauty with a modern twist. Ostbye’s collection includes everything from delicate engagement rings to bold statement pieces, with headquarters in Maple Grove, MN!

Parade Design

Parade Design was founded in 2001 by second generation jewelers Allen & William Pung in California. Growing up in the jewelry business, the brothers inherited a keen eye for high quality gemstones and design, and together have created one of the most dynamic design teams in the industry.

Parade’s award winning designs emanate from the combined strengths, determination and artistic sensibilities of the two brothers. Allen prefers sleek, clean lines and elegant styling, perfectly balancing William’s inclination for complex, adventurous designs that make harmonious use of negative space. Each style is elevated with constructive reviews and improving details, creating diverse designs that are extraordinarily beautiful. While constantly pushing for inventive designs, the Parade Design team produces outstanding jewelry with impeccable techniques and extraordinary materials.

Featured Gem Artists:

Alexander Kreis

Alexander Kreis is renowned for his artistic, precision-cut gemstones, and impeccable attention to detail. From Germany, Alexander highlights the natural beauty of each gem. Alexander spends months analyzing and studying a stone. Alexander has the knowledge passed down from generation to generation; you could say that gem-cutting is in his DNA. But that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t learned his own techniques, or forged his own path because he has.

As the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) states: “His cutting is a spectacular blend of free-form curves and dramatic geometrical cuts.” A true love and passion for working with rough stones led him to invent his own techniques and to invent his own tools in order to create his final masterpieces. Every stone has a character, every stone has an attitude, every stone has a flow of colour, and these are the things that determine how Alexander begins his work.

John Dyer Gems

John Dyer is an acclaimed gem cutter known for his innovative and award-winning gem designs, originally from Eau Claire, WI. With over two decades of experience, John has developed a reputation for creating unique cuts that enhance the natural beauty and brilliance of gemstones. His passion for precision and creativity has earned him numerous industry awards, making his gems highly sought after by collectors and designers worldwide.

Munsteiner

The Munsteiner family, led by the renowned, late, Bernd Munsteiner, is celebrated for revolutionizing the art of gemstone cutting. Known as the "Picasso of Gem Cutters," Bernd pioneered the "fantasy cut," a technique that transforms gemstones into modern sculptures. This legacy was carried on by his late son, Tom Munsteiner, and his daughter-in-law, Jutta Munsteiner and now their son Philip, who continue to push the boundaries of gem artistry with innovative designs that blend precision with creativity. Their work is characterized by bold, architectural cuts that highlight the natural beauty of gemstones in unexpected ways.

At Croft & Stern Jewelry Designs, we take pride in offering a selection of jewelry that is as diverse and unique as our clients. Whether you’re looking for a timeless piece or something completely custom, our featured designers provide the quality, craftsmanship, and creativity that you deserve. Visit us to explore our full collection and discover the perfect piece for you.