About Gemma

Hello, I'm Bianca Paola Rivera, the heart and hands behind Gemma by BP. Born and raised on the beautiful tropical island of Puerto Rico, I’m a 31-year-old Sagittarius with a gypsy soul, mom to two beautiful girls, aged almost 5 and 2. My journey in jewelry making started when I was just 10 years old. I was fortunate to take a master class with local designer Karen Arosho, which ignited my lifelong passion for creating jewelry.

Gemma by BP was originally established in 2013, after I decided to shift from pre-med studies to pursue my true passion for jewelry making. Working in local boutiques, my customers encouraged me to sell my creations, prompting me to switch a summer class from anatomy to business management. That decision led me to complete a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in marketing.

In 2015, while working as a customer service representative at a local bank, I pursued my dream of becoming a goldsmith. Inspired by childhood visits to Reinhold jewelry store and watching JLO in the workshops of Tous, I knew I wanted to create fine jewelry. By 2016, I earned my certification as a Basic Technical Jeweler.

Gemma, a name of Latin origin meaning "gem" or "jewel," experienced a significant pause in 2019 after I was involved in a serious car accident caused by a drunk driver, which severely affected my right arm and required surgery with 16 screws. During this time, I returned to the corporate world to support my family, all while raising a newborn and later welcoming my second daughter. These challenges and my unfulfilling corporate experience made me realize my true life purpose.

With newfound courage and maturity, I rebuilt Gemma, armed with more experience and big dreams. This is just the beginning of a new chapter for Gemma by BP. I hope you enjoy my art as much as I do creating it.