Iris Merkle was born in Aalen, South Germany, in 1972. She lived and worked more than 10 years in Stuttgart, one of Germany's most prosperous cities.
She studied jewelry design at Pforzheim's renown School of Design as well as Helsinki University of Art and Design (Finland). After her diploma, she ventured into product design and advertising but after four years returned to her heart’s desire: making jewelry. She makes jewelry for people, and is delighted when it is being worn. Making jewelry allows her to tell stories.
Since 2007, she runs her own studio under the label "Fingerglück." In 2014 Merkle was awarded the State Prize for jewelry design, one of Germany's top awards for innovative design.
