Ronnie Bauer is considered one of Australia’s leading experts on antique jewellery and is a consultant for many of Australia’s collecting institutions.
In 1977 at the age of 21 Ronnie was the fifth generation to enter the family business, Klepner’s Fine Antique Jewellers and Valuers which was founded in 1889 in Vienna.
Ronnie has been on the Federal Council of the Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA) continuously since 1982 and has served as its President 2002-3. He is currently, for the third time, the Federal Chairman of the GAA. In 2001 Ronnie was the youngest person ever to be elected an Honorary Life Member of the GAA.
Ronnie has published papers on laser inscription of diamonds and other diamond matters, as well as on jade. Ronnie is one of only five valuers for the Australian Cultural Gift Program since 1998, and in 2002 Ronnie was elected to the Royal Society (Victoria) for his contributions to Gemmology. In 2005 he founded BAUER Gemmological Laboratories in Melbourne Australia.
Ronnie started his association with RMIT in 1977 when he entered to undergraduate course for Media studies. He first started sponsoring the RMIT Gold and Silversmithing program in 1980 funding annual student awards including the Klepner’s Annual Award for best-limited production series in the final year and the The Ronnie Bauer RMIT Postgraduate Gold and Silversmithing Travelling Prize.
He is currently in his second term as one of Australia’s delegates to The World Jewellery Confideration (CIBJO – Confédération Internationale de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie et Orfèvrerie).
