About The Gilder

Martin Walker-Watson

Martin graduated with his Accredited Gemmologist Diploma from the Asian Institute of Gemmological Sciences (Bangkok, Thailand) in 1982;

and Diplomas from the Gemological Institute of America in Jewelry Manufacturing Arts (California) 1986, and Diamonds and Diamond Grading (NewYork) 1995.

In 1997, after 15 years working in the Jewellery trade, he was invited to assist with the gilding of the Dhamma Yaung Chi Ceti Pagoda in Sunshine, New South Wales, Australia;

the following year with the gilding of the Dhamma Yaung Chi Ceti Pagoda in Westminster, Maryland, U.S.A.;

and in 2000 the Dhamma Yaung Chi Ceti Pagoda at the International Meditation Centre near Klagenfurt, Austria.

Born in the UK, Martin left school in Paris, hitchhiked to India in 1974 and started work on a farm on a remote mountain-top in the Himalayas, and for the next 8 years lived in an isolated Buddhist community. Over the past 35 years he has studied with meditation masters in the Theravadin , Mahayana and Vajrayana Traditions, receiving full monks ordination at the World Peace Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma (1979).

On returning to lay-life and completing gemmological and jewellery training during the 80's, Martin spent the next decade working for goldsmiths on the island of Grand Cayman in the British West Indies; designing custom-made jewellery, buying gems at source, jewellery appraising, retail jewellery store management, and wholesale and retail jewellery business software development. Martin specialised as a numismatic researcher and consultant, buying gold doubloons and other shipwrecked treasure from Caribbean salvage operations, as well as successfully bidding at auction for ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins. Many of these coins were incorporated into one-of-a kind necklaces, earrings, pendants, rings and other jewellery pieces embellished with coloured gemstones and diamonds.

While in the Cayman Islands, Martin lived on his sailing yacht "Kantaka"; taught Scuba Diving, Lifesaving and sailing at the Marine Institute; raced in international competitions and sailed both the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Completed both Offshore and Ocean Yachtmaster Certifications (200 ton., and Celestial Navigation).

Martin returned to the Indian Himalayas in 1998 and set up the studio/workshop specialising in Buddhist and Asian Art.

Works include Burmese Buddha Thrones, Maitreya Project replicas, Padmasambhava, Tara, Manjushri and Vajrapani statues and various other Buddhist statues and meditational objects.

Building the new studio at "Nalanda" on Bruny Island, Australia was completed in 2006. Martin lives with his wife Mary.

Member of the Convocation of Jewellers.

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