About Us
WHO IS CHEMISTRY?
It’s the chemistry of metals and stones, fire and earth, pressure and time. It’s the chemistry between an artist and their materials, between a piece and the person who wears it, and between two people celebrating something worth remembering.
We’re an independent, family-owned fine jewelry gallery in the heart of downtown Hood River, Oregon. Since 1998, we’ve been bringing together beautifully made jewelry from independent artists who approach their craft with curiosity, skill, and intention. We look for pieces with a point of view—jewelry that feels personal, a little unexpected, and made to be lived in.
A COLLECTION WITH A POINT OF VIEW
Our collection is thoughtfully curated rather than built around trends. You’ll find one-of-a-kind gemstones, hand-finished metals, unusual cuts, ancient techniques, modern forms, heirloom-worthy classics, and pieces that simply make you happy when you put them on.
Many of the artists we work with are independent makers who still design and produce their work in their own studios or small workshops. We love knowing the hands and stories behind what we carry and sharing those stories with you.
ROOTED IN HOOD RIVER
Chemistry has always been deeply connected to place.
Our gallery lives on Oak Street in downtown Hood River, surrounded by the mountains, rivers, farms, trails, and creative community of the Columbia River Gorge. It’s a pretty special place to call home and we think a little of that landscape finds its way into the jewelry we love.
If you’re visiting the Gorge, come wander in. If you’re local, come say hi. Try things on. Ask us about a stone. Bring your partner. Bring your best friend. Come in looking for an engagement ring or absolutely nothing at all.
We like jewelry shopping to feel less like a transaction and more like discovery.
FAMILY-OWNED, INDEPENDENT, AND A LITTLE OBSESSED WITH JEWELRY
In 2009, Christine Barthmus, who had been managing the gallery for seven years, purchased the business and began shaping it into the collection it is today. In 2016, Christine and her husband, Michael, reimagined the gallery as Chemistry Jewelry: a name inspired by the connection between materials, makers, people, and the stories jewelry carries.
Today, Chemistry remains independently owned and operated, with a small team of people who genuinely love what we do. We care about the details. We care about the artists. We care about where materials come from and how things are made. And we care about the person standing on the other side of the counter.
Because jewelry is rarely just jewelry.
It becomes the ring you never take off. The necklace you bought on a trip. The earrings your grandmother left you. The little gold charm that reminds you of someone. The piece you bought simply because you loved it and eventually couldn’t imagine your collection without.
Those are the things we get to be part of every day, and we don’t take that lightly.
Come find your chemistry.
We’d love to see you in Hood River—or help you discover something beautiful from wherever you are.
Chemistry Jewelry 310 Oak Street, Suite 103 Hood River, Oregon