It has been around 12 years since Ray's Jewelers, Inc. closed it's doors in Fairmont, West Virginia. 
For much of the past 10 years, IndyGem has been serving the needs of clients all over the world from our home base here in Indianapolis. During the past year, I have closed my studio/office/showroom on the northwest side of Indianapolis, and "transitioned" my business to being completely electronic. The new website is designed to be totally e-commerce, which will make it less demanding upon my time. Hopefully this will free me up to do more of the jewelry design work that I love so much!

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.  

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). While I am no longer offering free consultations, I will be available to do one-on-one consultions and jewelry design/customization work at an hourly rate. As always, I am totally dedicated 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 do 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 learned the art of jewelry repair and engraving. It was at this early age that I 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. A metalsmithing class at IU confirmed my continuing passion for working with my hands and designing/creating things of beauty. 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 colored 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. 

Upon relocating to Indianapolis in September 1998, I was employed by 2 Fine Jewelry Companies as Staff Gemologist, Appraiser, and Fine Jewelry Salesperson. 

In 2001, my new studio/office/showroom opened under the name Indianapolis Gemological Services (I.G.S.), with IndyGem being the internet sales division.

In 2009, I made the decision to close my studio/office/showroom and concentrate on the internet sales entirely. This new website is the culmination of a complete redesign and the transition to a totally e-commerce style storefront with shopping cart checkout. I hope that you will be pleased with the simplicity and convenience of this new design.

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