Stefan Thalen Ken Walker Jewelers

When Stefan Thalen was a kid growing up in Sweden, one of his favorite toys broke and needed repair. Stefan’s father and brother stepped in to save the day. When the repair was complete and the toy returned, Stefan noticed that things didn’t quite line up. Eager to fix it right, Stefan soon realized that working with his hands in search of perfection was in his future. It’s no surprise that he has spent his adult life as a highly skilled craftsman with a perfectionist streak. Lucky for us, he plies his trade as Ken Walker Jewelers’ onsite Master Jeweler. How did Stefan make the leap from life in Sweden to work as a master jeweler in the United States? As a young man, Stefan joined the Mercy hospital ship when it was docked in Greece, embracing its mission of visiting countries in need to rebuild communities. Later, when the Mercy ship visited Los Angeles, Stefan met Lisa Walker, daughter of our original store owner, Ken Walker. Ken offered to train Stefan in the craft of jewelry creation and repair should he ever return to the U.S. Not only did Ken train Stefan, but he gave him his first job too. Since then, Stefan has increased his skills and experience while working at shops both large and small. He has owned his own repair operation, and worked as a remount jeweler, repairing jewelry and setting stones while traveling throughout the country. The proud father of three adult children, Stefan now lives in Gig Harbor with his wife, Ann. When he is not working at his craft, he often can be found mentoring and encouraging young people through his local church congregation.