Ruan Basson is a South African native, born in Benoni, Gauteng.  He relocated to the United States with his family and began to build a new life.  He has always had an interest in the arts and has put pencil to paper since he was a young boy.   

Upon receiving a BFA in Industrial Design and Jewelry, Ruan launched his career in the jewelry industry by starting as a bench jeweler to better understand the lifecycle of jewelry. It also served to bolster his skills in stone setting, metal fabrication, and broaden his knowledge of construction techniques and mechanisms. This served him well to move on to New York City, where he earned a position as a jewelry designer at David Yurman.

At David yurman, Ruan has worked in many categories of jewelry, including Men’s, Women’s, Fine, Custom, and High Jewelry. Here, he has refined his knowledge and skills to an advanced levels by taking challenges head on and always seeking out new opportunities for growth. Because of this, he has developed a mastery of gouache rendering, advanced skills in freehand drawing, expertise in several software programs, and a breadth of knowledge in gemstones, metals, manufacturing, and consumer profiling.

Ruan is excited about the future of jewelry and how impactful a special piece can be. Whether it is a simple pendant gifted by a loved one or a one-of-a kind masterpiece on a red carpet, jewelry can hold a profound mystique that is beautifully intoxicating. The pursuit of this alluring quality is the reason why Ruan loves to create jewelry. The advances in construction techniques, new and unusual materials, and the broadening appreciation for non-traditional fine gemstones all represent the boundless possibilities to create provocative works of art.