Jewelry is more than just metal and gemstones—it carries history, sentiment, and untold stories. In this fascinating episode ofWho You Work With Matters, host Aaron Levine sits down with Erica Hirsch, aprofessional gemologist, to explore what makes jewelry truly valuable beyond its raw materials. 💎

From family heirlooms to custom pieces, Erica shares how jewelry tells a story, why proper appraisals matter, and how history influences a piece’s worth. She also reveals the differences between lab-grown and natural gemstones, the surprising role of jewelry in historical trades (including a mansion-for-pearls exchange!), and how insurance plays a crucial role in protecting these treasures. Whether you’re a collector, a jewelry enthusiast, or simply curious about the hidden world of gemology, this episode is packed with expert insights.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How jewelry carries memories, history, and personal connections

✅ Why some jewelry increases in value over time while others do not

✅ The art and science of jewelry appraisals—how value is truly determined

✅ Lab-grown vs. natural diamonds—what you should know before buying

✅ Why jewelry insurance is essential and how different policies work

✅ Fascinating historical jewelry trades and industry secrets

✅ How an expert restores, redesigns, and repurposes heirloom pieces