Thomas Tietze

Thomas Tietze - Creator of Sealife Studio

The creator of these little ‘sculptures’ is Thomas Tietze. An accomplished jeweler, designer and instructor, he brings 28 years of experience and inspired passion to his designs. After completing an Apprenticeship, he received further training from the Revere Academy in San Francisco and was instructed by the renowned Dieter Mueller-Stach, at CSULB. Thomas is a Jeweler’s of America Certified Senior Bench Jeweler.

JA Certified Professional

JA Certified Professiona

Originally from Cologne, Germany, Thomas got his start in the jewelry business by cutting and polishing Australian Fire Opals. He soon went to work at a lapidary store and later, a jewelry manufacturing firm in Los Gatos, California. Here he completed his apprenticeship as a goldsmith and fine jewelry repair. When he wasn’t working, you might have found him outdoors on a hike or with a fishing pole in his hands. The combination of this love of nature and jewelry design later resulted in his uniquely styled Sealife creations.

For ten years, Thomas served as the Head Jeweler for Spectrum Design Jewelers - an exclusive custom jewelry studio in San Jose, California. During this period, Thomas received further schooling in the Arts at San Jose State University and the renowned Revere Academy of the Jewelry Arts in San Francisco.

Next, his career brought him to Long Beach State University, where he studied metal smithing under the German trained Master Gold-, Silver- and Blacksmith, Dieter Mueller-Stach. Many designs of this period already reflect aspects of his whimsical Sealife Studio creations. With a degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, Thomas began to teach and train others in the Jewelry Arts.

Eventually, he settled in the Fresno/Clovis area of Central California. There he was the Shop Manager at Knutson and Associates, an exclusive jewelry design studio in Clovis. While there, Thomas achieved the distinction of becoming the second Certified Senior Bench Jeweler in California.

Thomas continues to hone his technical and design skills, while teaching and mentoring the next generation of jewelry artisans. It is here at his Artisan Workshop, a jewelry design and teaching studio, that Thomas creates his inspired SeaLife Studio creations. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon where he continues creating his unique and inspired original pieces of jewelry artwork.

Exodus 35:30-34