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Message from IndyGem Founder - Keith D. Susskind, G.G.
 It
has been a little over 5 years since Ray's Jewelers, Inc. closed it's
doors in Fairmont, West Virginia.
It's been an interesting odyssey, the
move from Fairmont to Indianapolis, with a stop off of 6 months in San
Francisco (which I'll tell you about shortly).
But the long hoped for web site is now a reality, and I'm looking forward to getting
reacquainted with my old friends, as well as meeting new friends.
Please explore my
electronic store and consider it to be your catalog and communication tool to
bridge the gap between us. I anticipate providing a vast collection of reference
materials for those of you who are interested. Please give me feedback on what
you like and don't like about this site, as after all, it is intended to be your
site as well. A physical location for my new store/office is in the planning
stages at the present time. I will keep you posted on those developments.
This site will be
an ever evolving process (perhaps a little slowly, since
many of you know how I
love to do things for myself). So to all who desire my assistance with their
fine jewelry and gift giving occasions, I remain dedicated to providing a
comprehensive and professional one-on-one consulting and customization service,
and to providing the best possible values for the projects which we may
undertake. I continue to have an absolute
commitment to quality
and to your
100% satisfaction.
And yes, I still love fine colored gemstones, fancy colored diamonds, and rare and unusual gems and minerals, as you will see throughout my site.
More
from Keith D. Susskind, Graduate Gemologist...
I
was born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia where I was the 3rd
generation in my family's jewelry business, Ray's Jewelry Company, later
Ray's Jewelers, Inc. Ray's Jewelers was founded by my grandparents,
Harry and Anne Raphaelson in 1939. "Ray" was short for
Raphaelson. My parents, Carl and Roberta Susskind operated the business
with them from the time I was born. From the age of 13, I was bench trained and began
developing what was to become one of my passions - goldsmithing. I did
the usual seasonal stint on the sales floor during the Christmas
Holidays and developed a true love of the jewelry business and the
beautiful products which we handled.
Upon
graduation from high school, I attended Indiana University (I.U.) in
Bloomington, IN where I received my BS Degree in Business Administration
in 1980. During my final year at I.U. I did an internship with Lazarus
Department Stores in Columbus Ohio in retailing where I trained as an
Assistant Manager as well as Assistant Buyer. I also worked for a little
under a year for Call Jewelers in Phoenix, Arizona as an Assistant Store
Manager.
Upon
graduation I returned to West Virginia and began working in the family
business. I attended the Holland School for Jewelers for more formal
goldsmithing training and immediately began my Diamond and Colored Stone
Courses through the Gemological Institute of America. It was then that I
developed my next great passion - fine diamonds, gemstones and minerals. I
received my Gemology Diploma in 1988 from G.I.A. My love for gems and
minerals led me to begin my self training as a stone faceter, which
continues to this day (time permitting). I received my Graduate
Gemologist Diploma in 1995 from G.I.A.
Upon
closing Ray's Jewelers in January 1998, I took advantage of the
break in my routine and enrolled in the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
in San Francisco for 6 months, where I completed more formal training in Jewelry
Repair, Gold, Silver, and Platinum Casting, Mold Making, Advanced Gold,
Silver and Platinum Fabrication, Designing Artful Mechanisms, Gemstone
Carving, and Enameling of Precious Metals.
Since
relocating to Indianapolis in September 1998, I have been employed by 2
Fine Jewelry Companies as Staff Gemologist, Appraiser, and Fine Jewelry
Salesperson.
I'm
pleased to announce that, as of November 2001, my new
studio/office/showroom has opened under the name Indianapolis
Gemological Services (I.G.S.), with IndyGem being the web division. I am
available for consultations by appointment only, so please call ahead if
you would like to visit.
Thank
you for visiting IndyGem and I hope that I win the privilege of
serving you!
Sincerely,
Graduate Gemologist G.I.A, Goldsmith, Appraiser & IndyGem.Com Founder
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