Hello world, this is Onur; an aspiring jewelry apprentice, Applied Jewelry Professional – according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) – and one of the newest additions to the very fine team of your favorite neighborhood jewelry store, Kerns Fine Jewelry. The following is my journey as an employee of a fine jewelry establishment and my experience with GIA’s “Applied Jewelry Professional” certification program.
I am originally from Istanbul, Turkey, a city I consider very dear and special to me. The city itself historically has been home to many artisans, artists, philosophers, people of science, poets, masons and people from all different ethnic and cultural backgrounds who were drawn to this mystical open-for-all mosaic and ecosystem of free-thinking and artistic creation. To this day, there are both old and young goldsmiths and masters of fine jewelry who proudly carry the flag passed on through many generations. My personal inspiration was sparked on my first visit to the ancient Grand Bazaar where you can easily find many seasoned master crafts-people on any given day.
Gold and jewelry have profound meanings and are a part of many social rituals in Turkish culture. “Quarter” gold coins of 22K yellow gold weighing around 1.75-1.80 grams, are the most commonly exchanged finished jewelry goods. Reasons or occasions that call for gold coin gifting include engagement parties or weddings, having a newborn, circumcision ceremonies for young men (yes, it is a thing), students passing classes with good grades, opening of a new business, and as a prize for any sort of competition or sporting success. Coming from a culture that has a deep connection to and rituals surrounding gold, I have a great appreciation and respect for the sentiment, romance and significance that is carried through the marriage of fine workmanship and precious metal.
My career as a jewelry apprentice started last summer, in August of 2021 when I was accepted for the apprenticeship position at Kerns Fine Jewelry of Burlingame. I was very fortunate to meet a team of great people under the diligent leadership of the Mendell brothers, Eric and David. If you happen to visit on a Saturday, you might get to meet the patriarch, Greg Mendell, who always has an entertaining story to share.
It would be a crime not to mention how thankful I am for receiving supervision, training and guidance from Jim Shick and Anne O’ Brien, who are seasoned jewelry and gemology professionals with decades of experience under their belts. Working with these two highly accomplished veterans and the very diverse and sophisticated team that was banded together by the Mendells has been a great learning experience and career growth. For that, I am and will be forever grateful to each and every kernel of the Kerns family.
You might be wondering why I emphasized the word “Kerns Experience” in the title. It is an unofficial motto of the store. You might even have read about it online or heard from the Mendells yourself if you happen to be a patron of Kerns. For me, it is more of a notion that is distilled down from concepts like professionalism, courtesy, honesty, perfectionism, diligence, the three Es (efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency) and a passion for the art of jewelry. Make an appointment to stop by Kerns at 214 Lorton Avenue in Burlingame to witness the “Kerns Experience” for yourself.
Another reason for this emphasis is that I am very fortunate to have receive sponsorship from Kerns for my GIA education. The diploma I received is proof of this kindness and generosity. To receive the title of Applied Jewelry Professional, you must complete three online courses: Jewelry Essentials, Diamond Essentials and Colored Stone Essentials. These self-paced classes are very accessible and affordable. They offer rich content and quality learning material supported by the online education platform Blackboard. I highly recommend this online education package to working professionals like me. I found it very convenient to pace the classes with my work schedule and was able to complete each class before their due date in a relatively stress-free manner.
Jewelry Essentials is a nice fruit salad with a little bit of precious metals and alloys, regulations and the importance of honest business practices, manufacturing techniques and maintenance practices, steps of jewelry sales and store safety guidelines, different types of jewelry and how to market them, and a little bit of the luxury watch industry. Basics like trade terms, measurements used in the jewelry business, gem and metal standards, and traits for different types of jewelry lay down a very solid base for the next two courses. This class was like a booster shot for me, reinforcing things that I previously had learned on the job. For these reasons, I highly recommend starting with this course if you are enrolled in all three classes at once.
Diamond Essentials is a decoder for all the little shapes, letters, numbers and diagrams found on a GIA Diamond Grading Certificate. This official grading report utilizes universally recognized and regarded industry standards introduced by GIA and famously known as the 4Cs – cut, clarity, color and carat weight. The 4Cs are scientifically measurable and immensely influence a diamond’s value. The class includes information about common treatments used on diamonds to increase their market value. The importance of disclosing the presence of these treatments is highly stressed since it can have devastating consequences for businesses involved if not disclosed. There are internationally regarded laws and regulations in place along with organizations protecting and overseeing them.
Colored Stone Essentials was a delight for me. I have always been fascinated by the rich colors, luster and presence of optical phenomena in gemstones; therefore, I saved the best for last. Also, some of the grading parameters overlapped with those of diamonds, which reinforced everything I had learned so far. It is mentioned that traits like clarity, luster and color can be altered or enhanced with various elements and techniques. This again might lead to the problems in the industry such as imitations, counterfeits and failure of disclosure of treatment or simulant. It was fun learning about the lore associated with gems throughout history and stories of some famous gems like the Hope Diamond.
I am very happy and proud to have my Applied Jewelry Professional program diploma hanging on my wall, but I am also aware that it is only the first step of a very long journey that favors the humble and perseverant. I am very thankful for the opportunity given to me as a part of the Kerns team and the friendships that come with it. I look forward to continuing doing what I like and trying to make it one of the things I am best at.
My sincerest thanks go to you for reading about my experience. I hope I may have inspired some young professionals to pursue a career in the world of fine jewelry and watches. And a big shoutout to everyone who is loving what they are doing and trying to always challenge themselves to be the best at it. May your endeavors bring you all the good things you wish for. Stay with love and style.
