Who We Are
Bower & Co. was co-founded in 2016 by mother daughter duo, Ellen Bower and Mary Mulder who have worked side by side for nearly two decades.
Ellen and Mary are each experienced designers, master fabricators and model makers with a cumulative fifty-five years in the industry. Each custom mounting is stamped with our Bower & Co. logo, but also the designer's "Ellen" or "MM" signature. This means it was handled by this designer from concept to completion.
Bower & Co.'s distinction primarily lies in the personal connection that develops between client and designer through our unique process. From the first appointment, our clients work exclusively with either Ellen or Mary. For example, a client of Ellen's will get her expertise and "one on one" attention during the consultation. She will then create the designs, an estimate, a completion date and share images with the client throughout her building process, giving the highest quality of service and assurance of an exemplary finished product.
We are proud members of the MJSA, WJA, Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and are registered with the JBT.
Ellen Bower
As a young girl, her father George, bought a pre-civil war farmhouse near Bloomington and the family moved from Ellettsville, In to the rural property that is now the gathering place for all Bower family celebrations.
Her Fine Arts studies at John Herron moved her to Indianapolis, but jewelry making wasn't considered an art so she began apprenticing under a local jeweler. While working for a larger remount company, D & S Casting, she developed and perfected her fabrication and model-making skills.
Ellen spent the greatest duration of her career at G. Thrapp Jewelers where she was VP and Head Designer. She brought their manufacturing in house, creating their design studio. The vast exposure to period jewelry during this time inspired her process and aesthetic. She feels working with a client to fulfill their vision is the most rewarding!
“Jewelry design is 360 degrees.”
Mary Mulder
She grew up in Indianapolis and Greenwood, In, raised in a very creative family. Following in her mother's footsteps, she began her career as an apprentice at G. Thrapp Jewelers.
During her sixteen years there, she learned all things repair from several journeymen but Ellen taught her wax carving, fabrication and restoration. She attended the GIA in California and was a buyer of gemstones, pearls and designer goods traveling to Tucson, New York and Chicago. These years as a jewelry designer ignited her passion to share this process in a different way.
The Bower farmhouse is where Mary has spent most of her favorite times and was fortunate enough to have been married there. The Bowers instilled ethics of hard work, integrity, tradition and togetherness which has shaped who she is and what she values.
“A jewelry purchase is a rare opportunity to punctuate a moment with something lasting and an even more unique opportunity to be an heirloom of your future.”
Our Vision
To celebrate the most meaningful moments of our client’s lives with jewelry cherished for generations.
Bower & Co. is your personal jeweler that offers a design experience that is as extraordinary as the finished piece because of our timeless artistry, proven reputation for customer satisfaction, and our hands-on design process.
Our Values
Integrity
We believe in demonstrating our integrity in everything we do. We choose to make socially responsible choices in our materials and processes.
Craftsmanship
We believe that artistic craftsmanship is valuable. We practice time-honored techniques and don't cut corners or sacrifice the quality of our materials so our finished work is aesthetically pleasing and built to last, whether we're working on a new piece or restoring an heirloom to it's original beauty.
Jewelry as Expression
We believe in jewelry as an expression of emotion. We recognize and respect the important role jewelry plays in relationships so we take the time to get to know our clients and understand the story behind their jewelry.