Kara Ross at age 13 with her brothers and sisters.

When Ross was 15, her parents took her and her siblings on a trip to Africa, where each was allowed to choose two gemstones as souvenirs. Ross chose two emerald-cut green tourmalines. When the family returned home to Philadelphia, her mother took her to a jeweler to have the tourmalines set in a ring. “I was involved in every step, including the lost wax casting process and picking diamonds for the accent stones,” Ross says. “The experience was an epiphany that solidified my passion for jewelry design.”

Kara Ross’ first jewelry design.

Ross’s first design, the tourmaline ring that she created from the gemstones she choose in Africa, foreshadowed her taste for bold, color-intense pieces.

Morocco

Ross uses travel to tap into her creativity. On a recent trip to Morocco, she says, “I came in contact with so many brightly colored and uniquely textured materials, which I will continue to use in my future designs.”

Kara Ross Boutique

In 2013, Ross opened her first freestanding boutique on New York’s Madison Avenue. “Every inch of it reflects my aesthetic,” she says. “My collections are also sold in stores around the world, including in Dubai, Istanbul and South Korea. Next month I will present my newest designs to the international press for the first time during Paris Couture, and I hope to expand further in Europe and Asia.”

Gemmo clutch and Cava ring

Ross’s most recent fine jewelry and handbag collections were inspired by her love of gemstones. “The Gemmo clutches are made in a unique resin meant to resemble natural selenite, and the Cava jewelry collection highlights the technique of setting stones within other stones, allowing for layering of color and textures,” she says.