I am a second generation goldsmith and I own a retail/wholesale custom design studio in Durham, NC. I have been a goldsmith since 1973, with a few years off to serve in the US Army. My wife, Gaybeth works with me, as does my son, John who has become a talented goldsmith in his own right. We specialize in platinum and gold fabrication, hand engraving, wax carving, casting and advanced stone setting. My love is designing and creating contemporary jewelry based on Art Deco and Art Nouveau motifs using unusual gemstones, pave and engraving. I love the jewelry business mainly because there is no end to the learning, and no ceiling to stop anybody's growth. You can carve out your own little niche, and make whatever you want out of it. It can be very humbling as well. No matter how "good" I think I am, it takes only a couple of minutes on the Internet or turning a few pages of Metalsmith Magazine to find someone's work that blows me away. John Lennon had it right when he sang "Nothing you can do that can't be done".