My first real introduction to the jewellery trade was when I went to work for a diamond mining company in a small village in South Africa. The company paid for me to study gemology at the Gemological Institute of America based in Santa Monica, Los Angeles at that time.
Marriage, family and life led to me moving and setting up home in England where I worked for a supplier of fittings for the jewellery manufacturing industry. It was the most wonderful experience and for many years I attended jewellery fairs all over Europe and in England, Scotland and Wales.
It was an incredible privilege to see the work of so many talented goldsmiths and silversmiths. Of course, the mass produced jewellery ranges were of note too.
My tastes are now firmly rooted in the appeal of ethnic jewellery which satisfies my need to own something that is handmade however I am also a lover of pearls. Friends constantly tease that this gulf in taste is akin to my personality - from rough, unhewn, assertive go-getter to an about face complete 'girly girl' personality.
This blog will hopefully be a place for me to meet with likeminded people who are interested in coloured stones and the history of beads and vintage pearls.
