About Carmen Bokenfohr

2005 "Excellence in Design" first place award winner -platinum category. Growing up in the small town of Mayerthorpe Alberta, Carmen's passion for the jewelry industry developed at an early age, evolving from her hobby of collecting stones as a child.In 1986 she began her career in retail jewelry sales in Edmonton and continued this career when she, her husband and two children moved to Calgary in 1992. Here, she further developed her knowledge and understanding of the industry over the next 15 years working in partnership with a third generation family business of 85 years.Over her career Carmen's travels to Europe helped to cultivate her passion for design and technical manufacturing techniques, adopting a respect and extreme attention to detail.She further developed her technique and knowledge by studying with the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.). In 2005, she placed first in the Canadian Jewelers "Excellence in Design" competition; Platinum Category.In 2006 she moved back to the Edmonton area with her family to create the studio of her dreams -Concept Jewelry Design, located in the Downtown Perron District of St. Albert, Alberta, Carmen currently sits as a director on the board of the Canadian Jewellers Association. The CJA is the voice of the Canadian jewellery industry, providing leadership in ethics, education and communication.It is the essence of the art that brought her passion to create jewelry designs through a simple concept. One which shows a piece unique to an individual's taste while pronouncing the stones and workmanship of the goldsmith's craft.