Award-winning jewelry designer and gemologist Daria de Koning has opened her first flagship gallery at 821 Canyon Road, Suite 4, in Santa Fe's iconic arts district. The gallery, which opened this summer, represents both a new chapter for the designer and her relocation from Los Angeles to New Mexico's arts capital. The move places de Koning among more than 80 galleries on Canyon Road, a destination known for the highest concentration of galleries in the United States and a magnet for major collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide.
De Koning, often called the "Gem Whisperer," has built a devoted following through her distinctive approach to fine jewelry creation. Her work begins not with sketches but within what she calls "the inner world of matrix-rich gemstones that speak to her." Her pieces feature cabochon-cut stones in unexpected combinations, creating wearable landscapes that reflect both femininity and confidence. "I don't see myself as a 'brand' – a phraseology which feels very third-person in a world-conqueror kind of way," said de Koning. "I'm an artist and a designer whose work is wearable, which is very personal, very one-on-one."
The Santa Fe gallery represents a long-held dream for de Koning, whose work has been featured in national publications including Elle Decor, Veranda, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Town & Country Magazine. The daughter of an artistic Dutch immigrant and fifth-generation American, de Koning spent childhood summers traveling between New York City and the Netherlands, experiences that continue to influence her aesthetic. "Her process and vision follow a profoundly personal trajectory," according to her biographical materials. "Deeply influenced by heritage and family history, the women in her family were dazzling by both day and night."
De Koning's formal training includes a degree in graphic design from Washington University in St. Louis and a Graduate Gemologist certification from the Gemological Institute of America. She began her career creating custom engagement rings before expanding into her current collection of refined jewelry featuring unusual gemstones and sophisticated metalwork. Her work has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the 2021 Accessories Council Design Excellence Award for Fine Jewelry.
The upstairs gallery space at 821 Canyon Road invites visitors to "sit, dream, collaborate" and "immerse yourself in an artful world of jewels," reflecting de Koning's philosophy that gemstones serve as her canvas and jewelry as her art. "I love to take materials that are considered off the beaten path and make them into something elevated and evocative," de Koning explained during a previous exhibition. "I believe that all women need color. Color is flattering, uplifting and makes you memorable."
The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and by appointment Monday through Wednesday. De Koning's pieces are available through select retailers nationwide and at her new Santa Fe location. For more information, visit dariadekoning.com.
