For me, my passion for jewelry and gems didn’t start with big diamonds, rubies, or sapphires. Instead, it began with my grandmother’s jeweled calculator. I have vivid early memories of her at her jewelry store wearing beautiful dresses with big gold rings as she would waltz from room to room taking care of everything and even crunching numbers on her bedazzled calculator. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to grow up to be just like her—strong, smart, confident, and capable. Her woman-owned small business in 1980s Nebraska was truly remarkable on many levels.
From Playtime to Profit
I have photos of myself attending bridal events in Nebraska with my mom as early as age 3. My first client? Well, it couldn’t have been easier—family. As a little girl, I would bring home class ring samples, sizers, and hand-written invoices from my grandmother’s jewelry store. With my younger sister, I would set up my own makeshift point-of-sale. She always made purchases, was pleased with my service, and never argued over suggested add-on pieces.
A Colorful Obsession
My Uncle, who owned a successful jewelry store in San Francisco for over 40 years, played a significant role in igniting my love for colored gemstones. To me, color represents the ultimate form of self-expression, and his West Coast vibe opened my eyes to endless possibilities within my industry. His jewelry embodied luxury with a distinct point of view and West Coast design. He taught me that colored gemstone jewelry is much more than a mere accessory.
Now, several generations later, I find myself heavily influenced and inspired by my family. While my grandmother never had the chance to witness me crunching numbers on MY OWN jeweled calculator at this level, I know she would be immensely proud of the mark I’ve made, carrying forward our family business into a third generation.
