Page 54 - Southern Oregon Magazine Fall 2018

neck of the woods | in the biz

GOLD & GEMS

Three generations of family (& friends) in the
heart of Ashland

by Valerie Coulman by Ezra Marcos

hen Richard Hansen moved his family to the Rogue Valley (GIA) and The Revere Academy for Jewelry Arts. He returned to the
in 1972, he was looking for a place to raise his family and family business and spent 17 years on the bench alongside his dad,
Wfell in love with the beautiful valley and the community he building what is now an international reputation as a quality jewelry
found here. Now, four and a half decades later, the Hansen family and designer and craftsman. As his responsibilities and his own family
the business “Rich” began 35 years ago have become an integral part expanded, Ron’s daughter Lisa came to join the team of craftsmen,
of the community that keeps drawing people to the many natural and adding another generation to the family business. Ron’s nine-year-old
creative delights of Southern Oregon. grandson has shown an interest in the business as well, greeting people
on the sales floor when he’s there.
Rich Hansen opened Gold and Gems in Ashland’s Lithia Plaza in 1982,
recalls one of Rich’s three sons, Ron Hansen. Ron quickly found a “You learn from the top down,” says Ron of working beside his dad
passion for jewelry design as he worked around the store during high on a daily basis. “He’s known as the king, and he is my favorite guy on
school. Ron went on to train at the Gemological Institute of America the planet. I learned from him how to work hard.” Rich’s model for

52 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | fall 2018