This is how my journey with gemstones and jewelry started. I decided to open this Etsy shop when I discovered a new love (sorry Ron) with my jeweler’s torch. Designing jewelry has become another passion of mine. I love creating pieces for my customers to enjoy and have fun with. When my dear husband Ron became severely ill (he is a cancer survivor) in 2001, I found it necessary to seek a career in
which I could work independently. Ron and I at that time had two businesses going, an Excavating Company and a Dairy Farm. I could no way keep even one of the businesses going alone. I had to find a career, something I could handle myself. Ron was too busy recouping. I then decided to return to my love of gems and jewelry and created a website business, bestcutgems.com. To get the best education about gems that I could I enrolled in the Gemological Institute of America. I am a GIA Graduate Gemologist and an Accredited Jewelry Professional. I had earned my GIA Graduate Gemologist diploma in an unheard of 6 months’ time and was awarded GIA Outstanding Graduate of the Year in 2005. While I was doing the courses and lab work for my GIA Diplomas’ I also completed courses at Drouhard National Jewelry School in Jewelry Repair & Diamond Setting, Advanced Diamond Setting & Design & Casting. I am also certified with the Diamond Council of America in Diamonds and Colored Gemstones. I also took a few faceting lessons and learned to facet gemstones. I then created our website business, Best Cut Gems, LLC specializing in custom faceted gemstones and jewelry from all over the world. I manage bestcutgems.com with the help of my husband and we both facet gemstones for the website. In 2008 I had the opportunity to travel to Asia (sponsored by GIA), visiting the Pearls farms and Pearl companies in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan and China. I also completed the Advanced Pearl Course through Jewelmer while in the Philippines. Moving to Florida from Michigan, being a stay at home boss and living my passion for gems and jewelry every day are all dreams come true for me.
“Work isn’t work if you love what you’re doing.” – Linda
