Kristin Pasternak began designing jewelry in high school as a hobby, although her interest in jewelry and fashion began years earlier. As a child, Kristin loved to accessorize her outfits with black patent Mary Jane shoes and strands of plastic bead necklaces. She continued designing jewelry while attending university – further developing her business acumen and design aesthetic through her studies and a summer internship at fashion editors’ perennial favorite boutique, Kirna Zabete, in Manhattan’s SoHo district.

After graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in History, Kristin spent several years working in New York’s fashion industry as an Assistant Buyer for Polo Ralph Lauren and Yves Saint Laurent. In 2009, combining her experience within the luxury fashion industry and her passion for jewelry design, Kristin Pasternak Fine Jewelry was launched.

Drawing inspiration from architectural and decorative arts, jewelry of antiquity and her travels abroad, Kristin’s designs are created through a combination of ancient goldsmithing methods and modern jewelry techniques. The result is a collection with definite references to the past, but with a distinct modern sensibility.

The collection includes meticulously hand-crafted designs in eighteen-karat gold, which feature sparkling diamonds and vibrantly hued gemstones. Kristin’s designs are created using gold that has been reclaimed and refined, which is an eco-friendly alternative to using mined precious metals. Additionally, all of the diamonds used in the collection are obtained in accordance with the Kimberly Process and are conflict-free.