Jewelry designer, martial arts enthusiast and lover of beauty, Elichai Fowler is one in a million.
Born to John and Nancy Fowler of Billings, MT Elichai was raised as a third culture kid.
He lived without electricity on a homestead north of Billings and when he was nine
he and his family moved to Honduras, Central America. Once in Honduras
Elichai and his family encouraged farmers to steward their land and learn about
God. Meanwhile, Elichai learned to speak Spanish fluently,
thrived on fresh tropical fruit and went on a bounty of adventures throughout
the jungles of Central America. Elichai's life's experiences as a third
culture kid from a large family have made him easy going, patient, kind and
resourceful, in other words a dream to work with. He was introduced to metal-smithing
in Honduras by his father who was always welding things together to help the
village. However, it wasn't until1998 while on a trip to Israel
that he began to have visions of jewelry and gemstones. He recalls
that the visions were so vivid and consuming that often times he had to
stop whatever he was doing and sketch, even if it meant losing sleep. He
returned to the United States and through an amazing “six-degrees-of- separation” was
introduced and invited to tour Don Baide's Gem Gallery in Bozeman, MT. After
the tour he asked Don to take him on as an apprentice and he was turned down. However
between the co-workers at the Gem Gallery and a “six-degree” intervention Don
decided to give him a chance. So after agreeing to apprentice for 6 months
with an evaluation for hire at the end, he began his training. In a short
two months he was hired and became a paid professional. While at the Gem
Gallery Elichai trained with master jeweler Blaine Lewis, master engraver
Sam Alfano and became a certified pearl, diamond, and colored stone grader
through the Gemological Institute of America. Among Elichai's other passions
he has a passion for Palladium a precious metal in the family of Platinum. He
was introduced to Palladium as an eleven year old boy and even then he was filled with
awe. He tucked this intrigue away as, “something to learn about later.” He
was a pioneer in the jewelry industry championing Palladium to any one who would lend
him their ear. He has promoted, been interviewed, discussed, built,
photographed, and got the world to listen up. Elichai continues to be on the
cutting edge of palladium design and production in the United States. In
2005 Elichai bade a friendly farewell to his co-workers at the Gem Gallery and
started his own custom design studio, Paradise Ring Works in Livingston, MT. Elichai,
together with his wife Amber, has decided to pursue an old world approach to the family
business. It is not at all uncommon to find his boys crowded at his
elbows as he teaches them about stone setting or wax carving while Amber plugs
away at the books. Joseph and Azakiah love to watch their papa as he saws, bends,
and finishes each piece. They even get to play jeweler on his wax bench when
Elichai is not using it. Elichai loves that his work surrounds him
with excellent clients who want to build exquisite jewelry and that his family gets to come along.
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