Having a keen passion for jewelry all my life and working in the field for over 25 years, I have an innate understanding of gems and jewelry - both in history and identification as well as quality and design. Becoming a Graduate Gemologist (GG) from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in 2011, added to my skills, working as a gemologist and antique jewelry specialist in New York.

My never-ending love affair with jewelry & gems have sparked travels around Europe in search of amazing jewelry collections, to working at esteemed jewelry firms in NYC, to starting Gems: a tour guide, a place to share my finds and passions with the rest of the world through blogging and Instagram - and in the last several years, creating my own jewelry, inspired by the simple strands of hand-knotted gemstones and pearls, worn as adornment throughout history.

Presently, living on a beautiful island in the Pacific Northwest, I work for the small but impressive San Juan Islands Museum of Art, and am fortunate to live in an artist-rich community. I started Wendy Smith Gems, a jewelry repair and assessment business while continuing to make jewelry and write for my blog Gems: a tour guide. 

My connection to nature has deepened while living on the island, which only adds to my appreciation of the abundant gems of life that surround me. That being said, my travel shoes are always ready for the next adventure!

-Wendy Smith, GG

I will be traveling in 2024 for more adventures with Gems: a tour guide - stay tuned!

*Background image: Antique jewelry collection of the National Museum of Ancient Art- Lisbon, Portugal. NYC photo by Markus Shaffer.