Our Story (continued...)
Prescott jewelry store owner Jim Lamerson is one of only seven jewelers in Arizona to be recognized as a Registered Jeweler and Certified Gemologist Appraiser by the American Gem Society (AGS). The American Gem Society is a national nonprofit trade organization dedicated to promoting the highest of the jewelry industry ethics to upholding consumer standards. These awards are prestigious industry recognized accreditations, which Jim Lamerson has earned annually since 1984.
Jim was born in Riverside, CA, spent much of his early life in Europe and earned his A.A. degree in Liberal Arts from Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh, NY, where he also met his wife, Anne, in 1970. Jim and Anne married in 1972.
In 1972, Jim entered the jewelry industry while living in New York, earning his gemologist diploma in 1978. He and Anne relocated to Prescott, AZ, where they still reside, in 1979. In 1980, he earned his Registered Jewelers designation (RJ) with the American Gem Society. He traveled to Santa Monica to earn his in-residence Graduate Gemologist degree (GG) from the Gemological Institute of American (GIA) in 1981.
1981 was a busy year for Jim, as he also earned his Certified Gemologist accreditation (CG) in the same year. He earned his Certified Gemologist Appraiser (CGA) accreditation with the American Gem Society in 1984. He has maintained an accredited American Gem Society Gem Laboratory status since 1984. His wife, Anne Lamerson, is a Gemological Institute of America trained Lapidary (gem cutter). Now retired from cutting commercially, her work has been featured in trade periodicals such as Lapidary Journal, Gems and Gemology and many of the rarest stones we sell have been cut by her.
In 1992, Jim and Anne decided to take the plunge and open their own jewelry store. Serving the greater Prescott area's jewelry needs since then, their store is a full service store featuring a large and eclectic inventory. While they offer a little bit of everything, over the years, they've settled into the unique niche of focusing on rare loose gems, custom jewelry and estate & antique jewelry. Jim is also an artist who enjoys painting and making art canes, which he is now offering for sale for the first time ever in his etsy shop!