Ray
Gold & Platinumsmith
Restoration and Unique Finishes Specialist
I’ve been in the jewelry trade since 1969, after completing a four-year apprenticeship as a diamond setter through the State of Washington. Over the years, I’ve owned and operated my own custom jewelry storefront and trade business, and today at Green Lake Jewelry Works, I focus primarily on restoration work while also contributing to the creation of new custom pieces.
I got my start at Seattle’s Jos. Mayer & Bros, a manufacturer known for its sterling silver flatware. In 1977, I partnered with a friend to launch Freedom Rings Inc., a trade shop specializing in fabrication and restoration for many of the top jewelers in the area. Eventually, we purchased Karfstedt Jewelry, a storefront particularly suited to custom work, and ran both businesses until 2004. Not long after, I joined Green Lake and have been here ever since.
One of my most memorable projects was a diamond-studded white gold penguin ring wedding set. The design was so unusual at the time that most jewelers wouldn’t take it seriously. The client - a grade school teacher - had been turned away by several shops before she found me. I was happy to take it on, and seeing her joy when it was finished was incredibly rewarding. It’s that kind of challenge - and the chance to bring someone's vision to life - that still excites me after all these years.