Ellie Thompson

Biography

“Good design has a broad sensual appeal. It is aesthetically balanced, interesting to touch, yet comfortable. It has a conceptual component that transcends function such as an allusion to movement that suggests time and space.” -Ellie Thompson

Living and working in Chicago, Ms. Thompson’s design vocabulary is influenced by the modern architecture and complex urban fabric of her environment. The structural steel of the Elevated train and the pure forms of Chicago’s early Modern skyscrapers are translated into the platinum posts and clean planes of her City Rhythms and Time + Space collections. Ms. Thompson has won numerous awards for her innovative use of precious colored gemstones and metals. She has earned the prestigious Spectrum Award three times and the American Vision Award twice. She has also received accolades from World Gold Council and Platinum Guild International. In 2000 she was awarded First Prize in the American Jewelry Design Council’s New Talent Competition, an award that launched her into the national spotlight. She is the current president of the mid-west chapter of the Woman’s Jewelry Association.

A Graduate Gemologist with almost 20 years of experience in the trade, Ms. Thompson’s extensive background in appraisal and auction consulting has given her a sophisticated understanding of what produces enduring value over time.