Michael

Michael was born in West Monroe, Louisiana. When he was in the third grade a friend of his father introduced them to gem identification and stone cutting as a hobby. They enjoyed spending time together rock collecting and learning to perfect their skills in stone cutting.  Michael soon became interested in all aspects of jewelry making including working with silver, gold and platinum.  He attended Louisiana Technical Institute and completed the two year Jewelry program. His professional career developed as he worked with several jewelry stores in Louisiana and Arkansas.  While working with Fletcher Smith’s Jewelers in Conway, Arkansas, he entered the Arkansas Jewelers Association C.A.R.A.T. Award contest for jewelry design and won First Place in 1997 and 1998.

Michael has won the South Carolina’s Jewelers Association Design Contest every year since 2001 and in 2006 he won Best of Show.  He was a finalist in the Saul Bell Design Award Contest in 2003 with a pendant named “Remembrance” set with a Emerald his late father cut. Also Michael was awarded 1st Place in the Ladies Ring category at the 2006 Bench Jewelers Passion Award Contest and Honorable Mention for Ladies Jewelry category.

Michael is always continuing his education by taking courses from the Gemological Institute of America and is in the last stages of completing his Graduate Gemologist degree. He has learned to use a computer aided design program which will assist him in presentation and completion of his projects.