The Integrity of an Earned Craft
"That’s so cool you have a hobby you love."
The words were meant kindly, but they hit me with a familiar pang of doubt. It’s a feeling that creeps up whenever people ask me “what I do”: Am I serious enough? Am I a 'real' artist? As a friend recently put it after I shared this story and my internal struggle with her, the choice I made was a truly brave one.
The Prestige I Chose to Earn
This internal struggle is especially acute because of the path I chose to walk away from. Following in family footsteps, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and was on the pre-med track—a career route with built-in, undeniable societal prestige. A clear path, complete with a generous internship, was effectively handed to me by family.
I quickly realized that the ready-made access to the scientific world didn't align with the foundational values I truly held. I didn't want a legacy built on a given name; I wanted one built entirely on merit, skill, and effort.
The truth is, I did start making jewelry as a hobby; I enrolled in an introduction to fabrication at a local arts center, learning the foundational skills I still use today. Since then, that initial interest has transformed into the career I love. I made the conscious decision to reject a path of inherited success. Instead, I committed myself to the arduous process of becoming a first-generation jeweler—a path where I had to prove my worth every single day. I now understand what the writer Joseph Campbell meant: “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” I made the conscious decision to claim that privilege.
Bench Perfection Built on Lab Precision
My journey to running my own studio was anything but a hobby. It was an intentional, self-made climb:
~~My meditative space~~
No Mentors, No Shop: I didn't inherit a family workshop, a trusted vendor list, or a built-in clientele. Every single lesson, connection, and source was earned through diligent searching and persistence.
Specialized Training: I went into the trenches, working first as a bench jeweler and later as a CAD specialist at an established fine jewelry house. That role was rigorous professional training that taught me the necessity of flawless execution with tight turnarounds.
The Scientist's Rigor: Today, I apply my scientific background not in a lab, but at the bench. The integrity of my jewelry—from the structural composition of the metal to the micro-level precision of a stone setting—is a direct result of the analytical mind I honed in my microbiology studies. For me, jewelry isn't just art; it’s applied material science and architecture.
My True Credentials
The fact that I have progressed to the point of creating heirloom-quality pieces is the result of the dedication I chose for myself. I had to fight for the skills and the knowledge to get here. When I create a bespoke engagement ring, when I execute a complex setting, I am not dabbling. I am applying Lab Precision to achieve Bench Perfection.
To any client reading this, and to that small, lingering voice of doubt in my own head: The integrity of this jewelry is earned. This is not a hobby. This is a dedicated life's work. I am proud to have built it, by myself, from the ground up.
