We've always believed that it's at least as important to ask who you're dealing with as it is to know what they're offering.

Douglas Turet

In late September of 1966, chunks of Rose Quartz, Aquamarine, Golden Beryl, Smoky Quartz and Muscovite Mica stood out amongst the tailings of the abandoned Baylis Quarry in Bedford, NY, where they soon filled the eyes, imagination and pockets of then six-year-old Douglas Turet, who was on his way home from elementary school. Thirty-five years later, in San Francisco, after studying a small but comprehensive collection of cabochons, faceted stones and "Lightscapes" gem carvings by Mr. Turet, the world-renowned Master Lapidary and "Fantasy Cut" inventor Bernd Munsteiner called out to his friend and host, the equally-famous goldsmith, designer, educator and author Alan Revere, and asked:

"Alan? Have you seen these? Were you aware that you had a Master for a student? I've been examining his work just now and I have to tell you, I respect it, highly. His command of lapidary skills shows in the line of every curve and the polish of every facet. Just look at these finishes; they are the work of a true master."

In between these two highlights, Douglas Turet has earned distinct reputations as a tour guide, lecturer, performing musician, music teacher, inventor, educator, poet, songwriter, author, carpenter, entrepreneur, goldsmith and award-winning jewelry designer, and has been quoted, featured and/or interviewed in national and international magazines, trade journals, newsletters and online publications. Through his interviews in Alex Shoumatoff's 1979 documentary, "Westchester: Portrait of a County" and both the cover story and a sidebar interview in the November, 1989 issue of AJM Magazine, he gained national recognition as a multi-disciplinary American Lapidary Artist. Five years later, he formally established himself as a jewelry designer when his Drusy Black Onyx, neon blue-green Apatite and 18-karat gold "Manta Ray" brooch was awarded honors in the 1994 A.G.T.A. Spectrum Awards Competition (Division IV).

In 2002, he headed west to train as a goldsmith at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco, CA, where he earned both the Jewelry Technician and Graduate Jeweler Diplomas and several post-graduate certificates before returning to Boston to re-establish both his design studio and this, its online presence.

In whichever spare moments he can find, Douglas Turet enjoys playing the drums with various jazz, blues, funk and rock bands and sharing insights and ideas with friends and family. He is also currently developing a mentorship-based non-profit organization called The Exodus Project, whose mission will be to help propel inner-city children and adolescents challenged by A.D.D./A.D.H.D. beyond their internal and external obstacles through a combination of education, modeling and positive reinforcement.

For more info, call www.turetdesign.com at (508) 586-5690, today.