Mark Loren opened Mark Loren Designs in Fort Myers, FL, in 1985, after training as a goldsmith in Chicago and working for high-end jewelry retailers. Loren, whose colorful, distinctive jewelry designs have won multiple AGTA Spectrum Awards, considers himself more of an artist than a businessperson. Loren, his store, and even his boat survived the catastrophic 2022 Hurricane Ian relatively unscathed, leading to a commitment to live life to the fullest. “One of my tattoos is memento mori. Get going! Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Three mornings a week, I drive out to Sanibel Island, run on the beach a couple of miles and watch the sun come up. That’s transformational to me.”

ONLINE EXTRA: Q&A

How did you get into the jewelry business?

I was in freshman art class, which was required. They would move us around in different disciplines: drawing, painting, sculpture, metalsmithing. I enjoyed the metalsmithing course. I had thought I was going to be an eye surgeon. My dad could tell I was sweating the decision and said, `Why don’t you check out the technical school, and if you don’t like it, quit and go to college.’ But from the moment I sat down at the bench I just loved it. Working with my hands is what I like to do. Dad was a metallurgical engineer, so it was surprising he was so supportive of an artistic career. Later, I trained with a goldsmith who was a mentor to me. After technical school, my first job was with Bulova. Then, when my mentor was able to hire me, the training really began in custom manufacturing and working with clients. I knew ultimately I would want to open my own place.

Why and how did you make the move from your native Chicago to Fort Myers?

I hated the weather in Chicago. I had taken a trip out west and interviewed for a great position in Taho. I loved the guy I was working for in Chicago, though; he had five stores and wanted to open a store in Fort Myers. He asked who wants to go down there for a year?

I went. He was only able to keep the store open for a year and a half, but I met so many great people and decided to stay. I worked with a trade jeweler in a 400-square foot shop. Then I bought a little shop with three or four accounts and got it up to 10 accounts. That’s what really financed the retail gallery, which I opened in 1985. I knew I wanted to get back to designing and retail and working with clients.

What do you and your staff do to stay connected?

Everything from hatchet throwing and pickleball to sunset cruises and gambling cruises and the charity stuff we do. We did a wall raising for Habitat for Humanity. They let me know when something sparks their interest.

What do you do to stay active?

I’m running on the beach, riding my bike, in the gym every year for 40 years. When you sit and work on the bench in fractions of millimeters, it’s a great break to get in the gym and push weights around.

What is unique about your business?

We have lots of experiencing fitting people’s toes for toe rings. They’re gorgeous, they’re sexy, but there’s a lot to it to make sure they fit correctly.

Where do you find inspiration for your jewelry designs?

I’m using non-traditional materials most mainstream jewelers don’t use. I use a lot of ancient artifacts, Roman, Viking, and Egyptian artifacts. Anything I can get my hands on. I’m careful about my antiquity contacts to make sure it’s authentic. People bring in pearls off their great-grandmother’s wedding dress. A lot of people in the industry forget it doesn’t have to be precious out of the ground to make it precious to someone. And they get to tell the story about the piece they’re wearing. My late friend the artist Robert Rauschenbeg is pretty influential on my work. An abstract expressionist, he assited me in making jewelry in a different way. He would encourage me to think differently than a retailer.

How many days a week do you work?

Off and on six days a week. I jump out and run errands. It’s not like work really for me because I enjoy it so much and I enjoy being around my staff. I’m thinking about work all the time, running into clients and talking jewelry and family. There’s no demarcation between work and not work.

Is retirement in your future?

I do plan on working. I’m considering a few different transition possibilities. I like travel as well, which is difficult working six days a week. I want to see the new Egyptian museum in Cairo that just opened. If I can combine work and travel and the philanthropic work that we do that would be ideal.

Favorite travel destinations?

Italy, for sure, the Amalfi Coast. And Bangkok. One of the cool things about Bangkok is you know you’re not somewhere else. It’s unique.