Estate jewelry can be defined simply, as previously owned jewelry. Antique, according to the US Government, must be authenticated to be at least 100 years old. When most people think of estate jewelry, period-specific jewelry which has distinct design elements that can be traced to a certain time frame, usually comes to mind. From Art Nouveau to Art Deco, some of the most beautiful jewelry pieces were hand crafted at a level that is almost impossible to duplicate in today’s world, which makes these pieces timeless treasures. John Michael’s carries a fine selection spanning from the 1800’s to modern pieces of today. John Michael’s is a collaboration of two professionals with very different backgrounds in the jewelry industry. John, like the majority of people in the jewelry industry was “born into the business.” John’s family has dealt in estate jewelry and has a diverse background working with coins, antiques, and collectibles.
John was an instructor at the Gemological Institute of America for 9 years, teaching people how to evaluate and appraise diamonds and colored stones. Michael stumbled into the industry by chance; after serving four years in the US Navy, Michael befriended a jewelry designer who showed him how jewelry is made, behind the scenes. After apprenticing as a jeweler for a small family business, Michael decided to attend the Gemological Institute of America in southern California.