Founded by German-born designer Petra Class, Petra Class Jewelry is known for its sculptural, handcrafted fine jewelry created from high-karat gold and vibrant, ethically sourced gemstones. Petra grew up and was educated in Germany, studying art history and philosophy at the University of Stuttgart before completing a rigorous traditional education in metalsmithing and design.

Trained as a silversmith and having spent several years constructing tableware, Petra’s approach to jewelry making is deeply informed by the European tradition of applied art. “I limit myself to creating jewelry that is wearable and, to a large degree, to materials traditionally perceived as precious,” she explains. “Within these limitations I try to develop my own language—one that communicates not only my sensibilities, but also a sense of contemporary aesthetic.”

Petra began creating and exhibiting her work in galleries across Germany before relocating to San Francisco in 1991, where she established her jewelry design studio. Her work blends classical European craftsmanship with the organic, nature-inspired spirit of California, resulting in contemporary jewelry that feels both timeless and expressive.

Gemstones play a central role in Petra’s designs. “I am endlessly fascinated with gemstones—precious or not,” she says. “From the wealth of reds found in nature to the sea of blues—from the opaqueness of lapis to the subtle transparency of a lilac-colored sapphire. One can almost paint with these stones.”

Each piece is handcrafted using recycled 22-karat and 18-karat yellow gold and an evolving palette of gemstones including aquamarine, amethyst, citrine, emerald, lapis lazuli, morganite, opal, pearl, ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, and turquoise. Through thoughtful combinations of color, texture, and form, Petra creates jewelry that communicates mood and emotion, pieces that feel, as she describes, “like an improvisational jazz melody, like an abstract landscape.”