Today, Donna Vock’s name is synonymous with breathtaking statement jewels and Old World opulence — but things could have turned out very differently. Before taking a job in the Fifth Avenue office of H. Stern, the prestigious Brazilian jeweler, Vock had planned on becoming a geologist. Working at H. Stern inspired her to shift her career focus from geology to gemology, and the rest is history. After earning a degree from the Gemological Institute of America, Vock worked at Tiffany & Co. and Lazare Kaplan Intl. before launching Donna Vock Designs, her own jewelry label, in 1992. Now based in Connecticut, Vock’s handmade bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings remain true to her motto, "jewelry about you." Her range of classic and eclectic styles appeal to jewelry lovers all over the world.