The McElblog
You can't teach experience!
By
November 29th, 2007
A lady came in today asking to speak with Jay Casey, our goldsmith. She had a beautiful Art Deco period diamond ring that she had taken elsewhere for repair. The well meaning technician had clearly been in over his head for the techniques and equipment needed for such a repair and let us say that the results wre less than acceptable. She had shared with a friend her bad experience and disappointment with what had happened to her antique ring. Her friend knew Jay and was well aware of his experience and reputation for expert craftsmanship and insisted that she bring the ring to him. Obsviously, the results of such a restoration are a lot better if Jay doesn't have to clean up somebody elses mess first. Still it's a story that I've seen played out in our store before, and more often than not, Jay had been successful for the client.
Jay started his jewelry career at the bench 27 years ago while working for his father in law's high volume trade shop. Jay has perfected his craft by making liturally thousands of repairs on pieces of all different qualitys and conditions. Through practiced long experience, Jay knows what can be done and what can't be done. He has enhanced his knowledge with specialized training at the Revere Academy in San Francisco and advanced laser clinics at Laserstar in Los Angeles. He is certainly the one I want working on my most challenging, high value pieces.
Back to our lady with the botched repair on her antique ring. Jay made the restoration. She's happy and relieved. We have a new customer!
You can train them. You can give them the best equipment ...but....
You can't teach experience!!