Peter van Walraven was born and raised in Central Ontario and now calls Toronto home, where he operates under the label van Walraven Goudsmid. Fascinated by rocks, gemstones, the mysteries of earth and space from an early age, Peter pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Laurentian University, graduating in 2011.

Alongside his scientific interests, Peter has always had a natural eye for art and design. He later earned his Gemmology Diploma and became a Fellow of the Canadian Gemmological Association (FCGmA) in 2016 through the association’s professional gemmology program. He then completed a Jewellery and Metals Diploma at Georgian College, where his graduate work received the Silversmithing Graduate Certification final exhibition award.

Since graduating, Peter has continued to receive recognition for his work, including 1st place in the Annual Canadian Gemmological Association Award for Emerging Artists.