Jewellery Consultation Services, Custom Design and Manufacture, Diamond Brokering, Diamond Setting, Precious Stone Brokering, Precious Stone Setting, Jewellery Technical Education for aspiring Bench Jewellers, Goldsmiths, and the salespeople who feed them David Keeling
Master Goldsmith, Bench Jeweller, Diamond Setter
In the early spring of 1977 at the age of 19, I began my apprenticeship in Can
ada’s proud jewellery services trade. My analytical sense and my curiosity, as well as my inherent patience and tenacity, allowed me to learn to solve problems which had often perplexed others. I soon began to understand the characteristics of variously alloyed metals, how their attributes affected their intended purposes, and how their nature could be better implemented with regard to their structural integrity and therefore the wearability when purposed in various jewellery articles. This led me to enjoy a healthy measure of success, and I eventually became the go-to guy for design ex*****on as well as for the restoration and repair of worthy pieces. I had begun learning gemstone and diamond setting in 1979, in the company of some wonderful mentors. I combined their knowledge with my affinity for problem solving, and eventually became somewhat insistent that half-measures were a waste of everyone’s time and money. Whenever possible, I shared with others my adopted regimens, implementing and demonstrating what I had been self-taught by way of constant troubleshooting. This provided me with a wide variety of experiences whereby my skills, knowledge, and problem solving abilities became honed to the point where I was able to introduce some of the most-desired of efficiencies. I became highly regarded for my work and was often called upon as an expert advisor to assist in facilitating both design and manufacturing sensibilities, while presenting myself simply as a humble and modest servant to the trade. In about 1990 I helped enhance the fortunes of a local jewellery retailer, by assisting them to shift from outsourcing much of their production work, to having nearly all of it performed in-house. We became the top custom jeweller in the Edmonton area, just by being an example of what was possible to achieve through a combination of applied knowledge and good old-fashioned diligence. In the early spring of 1997, following 20 years spent in disciplined service, I elected to strike out on my own under the moniker David Keeling Fine Jewellery. My company soon became known as being foremost in both design and manufacture. I, and eventually “we” obsessively produced heirloom-quality jewellery articles for more than 20 years, and during that span of time we designed and executed the production of many fine examples of truly beautiful objects that were emotionally significant to our clientele. I still receive fond reminders of how dearly clients appreciated our work. I personally mentored some star apprentices in my employ, and they lovingly helped produce many delightful objects that evoke the passion they had, in turn, developed for their own work. I’m fiercely respectful regarding the proud history of the jewellery trade, and take great satisfaction in demonstrating my passion by teaching and coaching others who are willing to follow a similar path.
