Jewelry Design, a lifelong passion:

From a very young age Kirk found it extremely challenging to create jewelry using technical skills such as carving waxes, finishing or setting diamonds, creativity designing and combining metals, stones into aesthetically pleasing designs.
Kirk's father, Bert Bengston, sparked his interest in jewelry at the age of thirteen. His father was a dentist and thought the best way to get him interested in Dentistry was to introduce him to lost wax casting. Kirk loved the magic of casting and still finds it magical after 43 years. Through high school Kirk apprenticed with the Venice Lapidary Guild, cleaning and carving waxes for their production line. He lived in beautiful Monterey, designing jewelry while attending Monterey Peninsula College. He opened his jewelry store (Kirk's Jewelry) after completing a special major at Chico State University, in Business and Art.

Kirk’s Jewelry first opened for business in 1973 in an intimate second floor on West 3rd Street in Chico, CA. As reputation and clientele grew, so did the need for more display and studio space. The studios and gallery relocated to the corner of 3rd and Salem in downtown Chico, CA.

Enter the gallery and you'll find a beautiful mahogany showroom filled with exquisite designs using only the finest of gems and diamonds. Kirk’s Jewelry has a reputation for integrity of design and workmanship, and for personalized service to its clients!