Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1468547
A t a desk in her family's corporate o f f i c e s , F a l l o n B o c k c a r e f u l l y a r r a n g e s l o o s e gemstones, creating tiny, colorful works of art on a whim. The 28-year-old can easily visualize the amethysts, diamonds, garnets, aquamarines, and emeralds becoming earrings, pendants, or bracelets. And one day soon they will. Bock is a buyer at Bachendorf's, the North Texas luxury jewelry house run by the Bock family for three generations. It wasn't a given that Bock would one day work at the Dallas offices. In fact, working for her family wasn't something the SMU fashion journalism major ever anticipated, particularly after moving to New York. "My dad [Lawrence Bock] is great; he never pushed me," she says. Her perspective changed when she volunteered to assist him at a jewelry show. "I saw first-hand the level of respect he has in the industry. I was standing there watching him and realized, 'Okay, this is a different thing than I thought it was.'" Just like that, Bock switched her career path to jewelry buyer. She attended the Gemological Institute of America and took roles with a New York diamond dealer and a jeweler in New Jersey, where she worked under buying veteran Anne Russell. "She taught me everything I know," Bock says. She returned home to work at Bachendorf's just before the pandemic hit in 2020. Suddenly, with a bit more time on her hands, Bock found herself playing around with Bachendorf's gemstones. "I think I made 37 designs in that first hour," she says. With a clear vision for her own line — customizable fine jewelry that allows clients to express themselves — Bock launched Fallon B. under the Bachendorf's umbrella in October 2021. The vibrant collection quickly attracted buyers (customized push presents and stackable rings were instant hits), but Fallon B. offers an allure beyond the strong color combinations: highly competitive pricing ($400 to about $5,000). "This was really a fun side thing that turned into so much more," Bock says of the collection, which is produced in-house by an all-woman team. "I want people to feel like they can walk into our store and get exactly what they love." Caitlin Clark A HIDDEN GEM FALLON BOCK NEVER EXPECTED TO JOIN HER FAMILY'S BACHENDORF'S EMPIRE. NOW SHE'S BREATHING FRESH LIFE INTO IT. GEN NEXT Fallon Bock ANDREW KLEIN PHOTOGRAPHY 32