Keith Bartel has a local history that goes back four generations in Belvedere. He grew up in the Summer home built by his great-grandfather in Belvedere Cove.
From early childhood Keith made drawings and sketches. When he was four years old, he carved beads and made jewelry for his mother. He had his first jewelry class at Redwood High School and became passionate about jewelry making, designing and creating pieces in silver and gold. He continued his education at College of Marin, California College of Arts and Crafts, private goldsmithing lessons with Alan Revere and Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts. After a traditional European Apprenticeship and working on Alan’s designs for four years, Keith started his own business creating custom designs, setting stones and repairing fine jewelry, working with George McLean in Mill Valley. He was on the Revere Academy faculty from 1980 to 2008, teaching stone setting, goldsmithing and jewelry repair. Keith also instructed stone setting workshops at Mendocino and Richmond Art Centers, San Francisco State University and college of Marin. C.O.M. produced an instructional video of Keith setting stones. He also taught in private studios and tutored a private student for seven years.
Today, Keith designs and creates one-of-a-kind fine jewelry in his atelier on Historic Ark Row in Tiburon. Inspired by nature, geometry, architecture, art history and exquisite craftsmanship , his designs span many styles—from Edwardian lacy platinum to bold minimal contemporary pieces. Keith has a passion for fine gems and he has set thousands of them in his creations.