Meet Tura Sugden

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tura Sugden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tura below.

Tura, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience is built at the bench—through repetition, focus, and a return to process. It’s not about ease; it’s earned through uncertainty, and refined by patience.

I learned about resilience from my mentors, my apprenticeship, and the daily rhythm of making things by hand. The invisible labor, the quiet choices, the long path to mastery—all of it adds up.

Jewelry is resistance to speed and disposability. It’s a belief in care, in integrity, in meaning.

Resilience isn’t perfection. It’s return. To the bench. To intention. To the belief that beauty—real beauty—takes time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a goldsmith based in San Francisco, where I create every piece by hand using traditional techniques and ethically sourced materials. My work is shaped by a commitment to craft—each piece is formed, soldered, and finished at the bench with care and precision.

I studied fine art and then trained through a formal goldsmithing assistantship for seven years before opening my studio. That path taught me to value process over speed, and to trust that restraint can be just as powerful as embellishment. My work is artisanal and traditional —only honest materials, patient hands, and time-honored methods.

I make jewelry to last. Quiet, intentional pieces that feel both timeless and deeply personal—made to be worn every day and held for a lifetime. I sell my jewelry online, with select retailers, and at special events; check the website for upcoming shows.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Patience was essential from the beginning—first as a student, then during my apprenticeship. It taught me to slow down, to pay attention, and to respect the time it takes to learn something deeply.

Precision came with practice. At the bench, every millimeter matters. Developing a steady hand and a sharp eye has allowed me to create work that feels quiet but strong and refined.

And above all, a reverence for process has shaped my entire approach. I’m drawn to methods that take time, that require repetition and care. Whether I’m soldering a complex piece or setting tiny stones, I return to the belief that the way something is made matters just as much as the final piece.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

My local jewelry community has been the most meaningful source of support throughout my journey. From the early days of my apprenticeship to running my own studio, I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by generous, skilled artists who share knowledge freely and show up for each other in quiet, consistent ways.

This community taught me that success in this field doesn’t come from competition, but from connection. Whether it was learning a new technique, navigating a tough moment in the studio, or simply feeling seen in the challenges of small business ownership, having a network of jewelers who understand the nuances of this work has been invaluable.

Their encouragement, honesty, and shared commitment to craft continue to shape both my practice and my resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.turasugden.com
• Instagram: @turasugden
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/turasugdenjewelry

Image Credits

Tura Sugden-0104
Andrew Tomayko

All other photos
Tura Sugden