By Kristin Boza
When Katie Lett, owner of Lett Shine, was a girl, she knew how to accessorize. Her obsession with shiny gemstones and rocks propelled her into a career as a jewelry concierge and graduate gemologist devoted to helping her customers find the right stones for masterful creations.
Lett started making jewelry at a young age and her natural talent was well-known among her family.
“When I was in seventh grade, a family friend commissioned me to make a necklace for her wedding. This began my passion and inspiration for jewelry making,” Lett said. “I’ve always had jobs in the artistic field, which propelled me to pursue a graduate gemologist certification.”
As a graduate gemologist, Lett is highly trained in grading diamonds in the four Cs: clarity, cut, color and carat. She can find the minute details within a diamond and educates her customers on what to look for in high-quality diamonds.
Lett Shine is open by appointment only to give Lett and her customers the freedom to tailor the experience to fit their needs and budget.
“Engagement rings are one of my favorite things to design; I love hand-picking diamonds for my customer to review, and I walk them through the four Cs so they can make an educated decision on this big purchase,” Lett said.
Customized redesigns of old or family heirloom jewelry is another request from Lett’s customers, and she also does work in restoring and rebuilding damaged pieces.
“I can remove the stones from an existing piece and redesign something wearable and functional for the customer. I’ve made pendants and rings, and we can even handpick new stones to accompany the original stones,” she said.
Lett works with trusted goldsmiths and designers to ensure the perfect vision is carried out.
“Jewelry is unique to every person and it’s fun to explore all options. Everything that I do is special because it is special to my client. My favorite thing about my job is working one-on-one and creating a special relationship that’s not just about jewelry,” Lett said. “I’m satisfied when I can take an overwhelming and emotional experience and instill confidence and fun into the process.”
To find out more or schedule an appointment, contact Lett Shine, katie@lettshine.com or 773-332-0119.
