Gurhan Orhan

Gurhan Orhan (b. March 21, 1954, Ankara, Turkey), is a jewelry designer and master goldsmith known for his work with pure gold, pure platinum, and pure silver.

Gurhan began his career as a jewelry designer at age 40, having “discovered” pure gold and, falling for its allure, deciding to master the craft of working in the pure metal. Prior to becoming a jewelry designer, Gurhan pursued a number of careers: watchmaker, audio electronics engineer, and a proprietor of night clubs, rock bars and restaurants. Turkish by birth, Gurhan has lived in Greece, Switzerland, France and currently New York City. Gurhan photographed his brand’s national advertising campaigns.

The brand, GURHAN, was the creation of Gurhan Orhan and his wife, Fiona Tilley. The brand references only the designer’s first name. Gurhan began his career as a jewelry designer in the early 1990s and their business was incorporated and launched in the US in 1997.

Gurhan was commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and exclusively authorized by the government of Afghanistan to create a collection of 24 karat gold jewelry in commemoration of the exhibition Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures of the National Museum, Kabul.

All

• 2000 – Grand Prize in Design Trends, awarded by the World Gold Council for Spring bracelet
• 2000 – First place in Ornamentation, awarded by the World Gold Council for Spring necklace
• 2004 - First place, awarded by Perles de Tahiti for Tahitian pearl Comet ring
• 2004 – Third place, awarded by Perles de Tahiti for Tahitian pearl cufflink and stud set
• 2006 – Blue Ribbon, awarded by the World Gold Council for Pebble suite
• 2007 – Blue Ribbon, awarded by the World Gold Council for Willow suite
• 2008 – Blue Ribbon, awarded by the World Gold Council for Lush suite and Dome ring
• 2009 – Everyday Luxury, awarded by the Platinum Guild International for one-of-a-kind platinum ring with a Mexican Opal
• 2009 – Best Designer in Gold, awarded by JQ International and selected by retailers throughout the United States