Northfield Designer Goldsmiths
Custom jewelry studio operating since 1972, specializing in handcrafted engagement rings, wedding bands, and geometric-patterned pieces. Operates by appointment. Designed by Gudmund Jos Olsson.
Overview
Northfield Designer Goldsmiths is a custom jewelry studio at 700 Park Avenue in Rochester, NY, founded by Swedish-born designer Gudmund Jos Olsson in 1972. Olsson originally opened the shop at Northfield Common in Schoen Place, Pittsford, before relocating to the Park Avenue neighborhood in 1984. The studio has operated for over five decades, with every piece hand-forged on-site. Olsson studied silversmithing under Hans Christensen at Rochester Institute of Technology — Christensen was a noted silversmith who came to RIT from Georg Jensen Silver in Copenhagen.
What They Offer
The studio focuses on handcrafted fine jewelry, with particular emphasis on:
- Custom engagement rings
- Men's wedding bands
- Necklaces and bracelets featuring geometric patterns
- Jewelry resizing and repair services
Olsson designs each piece around the shape of the wearer's hand or wrist, aiming for settings that sit comfortably and complement the natural lines of the body. His approach favors clean settings that let gemstones stand on their own rather than competing with heavy textures or ornamental detail. The business operates by appointment, offering personalized consultations for custom work.
Known For
Northfield Designer Goldsmiths is known for a design approach Olsson calls Dynamic Minimalism — a style rooted in Scandinavian functionality that emphasizes energy and motion through simple, modern forms. Olsson's background in Swedish design education and his study of Japanese art and bonsai cultivation inform the studio's aesthetic, which blends Scandinavian practicality with elements drawn from Eastern art philosophy. The result is jewelry with distinctive geometric patterning and a focus on wearability, built to function as heirlooms across generations.
Location & Neighborhood
The studio sits along the Park Avenue corridor in Rochester's East End, one of the city's walkable commercial districts lined with independent shops, cafés, and galleries. Park Avenue runs between East Avenue and Culver Road, and the stretch near the shop is well known for the annual Park Avenue Summer Art Festival. Street parking is available along Park Avenue and neighboring side streets. The studio is accessible by appointment at 700 Park Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.
Sources used in compiling this entry
chamberofcommerce.com·cityseeker.com·northfieldgoldsmiths.com
Last updated May 14, 2026