06/17/2026
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐พ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ 45 ๐๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐พ๐ ๐
When I entered the jewelry industry in 1980, I had no idea where the journey would take me. What I did know was that I wanted to learn.
During Christmas break of my first year of college, I was fortunate enough to land a seasonal job at Jennings Jewelers on the town square. At the time, I thought it was simply a Christmas job. Little did I know it would become the beginning of a lifelong journey.
Throughout my college years, I continued working as a bench jeweler during school breaks, learning the fundamentals of the trade one repair at a time.
Then, in the summer of 1984, I met a young lady I wanted to impress. I decided to make her a ring. The design was simple by today's standards, but it took me nearly an entire day to completeโafter melting it several times. When I finally finished, I was incredibly proud of myself. Looking back, I realize how little I knew at the time.
Over the next four decades, I would learn that jewelry making is a craft that rewards patience, humility, and perseverance. Some of my greatest lessons came from mistakesโmistakes that taught me things no book ever could. Equally important were the many talented jewelers, craftsmen, stone setters, designers, and repair specialists who generously shared their knowledge, techniques, and hard-earned wisdom with me along the way.
Today, industry estimates suggest there are approximately 35,000 people employed in jewelry-related occupations in the United States. Of those, only about 8,000 are bench jewelersโthe craftsmen who perform repairs, restorations, fabrication, stone setting. As experience and specialization increase, the numbers become much smaller. Some estimate there are less than 75 master jewelers in Tennessee and greater still are elite master jewelers.
Those statistics aren't meant to elevate one jeweler above another. Rather, they serve as a reminder of how valuable skilled craftsmanship has become and how important it is to preserve the knowledge passed down from one generation of jewelers to the next. Many of the craftsmen who taught me are no longer with us, and many of the skills they shared are becoming increasingly rare.
Looking back, some of my greatest lessons did not come from books or classrooms- since I have no formal training. They came from experienced craftsmen who taught me how to solve problems, restore treasured heirlooms, create custom designs, and understand that every piece of jewelry tells a story.
We are fortunate to live and work in a wonderful community. For more than 45 years, I have focused on providing expert repairs, restorations, and custom designs while remaining mindful of the budgets of the people we serve. Many customers are surprised to learn that the skills required for highly specialized restorations, intricate fabrication, and advanced custom work are already present within our studio. Those skills have been developed through decades of experience, continuous learning, and guidance from talented craftsmen who generously shared their knowledge along the way.
Occasionally, I must decline a repair, restoration, or custom-design projectโnot because it cannot be done, but because the cost of performing the work properly would exceed what is practical for the customer. My goal has never been to perform the most complicated work possible. The goal has always been to provide the highest level of craftsmanship I can while helping our customers preserve the jewelry, memories, and family history that matter most to them.
After more than 45 years at the bench, I still continue to learn new things. I remain grateful for the teachers, mentors, customers, and fellow jewelers who have been part of that journey. Most of all, I am grateful to the customers who have trusted me with their engagement rings, family heirlooms, repairs, restorations, and custom designs over the years.
Am I perfect? No craftsman is. But at Stewart Gems, we stand behind and guarantee our products and services because our reputation has always been built on honesty, integrity, and treating customers fairly.
Jewelry is more than gold, diamonds, and gemstones. It represents love, memories, milestones, achievements, and family history. Preserving those memories has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
And as a final side note, that young lady I wanted to impress with a handmade ring accepted my engagement ring a few months later, and we were married the following spring. After 41 years of marriage, she's still my best girl.
Patrick Stewart
Elite Master Jeweler
Stewart Gems
Custom Designs โข Repairs โข Restorations
๐ 931-580-9946com
