Business Spotlight

Gems by Gemini—Putting A Little Color in Our Lives For 24 Years

Story by Sam Calhoun

Jim Burgess and Joan Wingler are co-owners of Gems by Gemini in Blowing Rock, a jewelry store that designs and produces 14 karat and 18 karat fine gold, platinum and sterling jewelry. The store’s specialty is colored gemstones, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the High Country. Photo submitted “We are not your regular jewelry store,” said Jim Burgess, co-owner of Gems by Gemini, located in the Martin House at 1098 Main Street in Blowing Rock. “When my wife and I first opened, our objective was not to do what a normal jewelry store would do,” Burgess added, pointing to a glass case filled with 170 rings of all shapes, sizes and colors. “Of those 170, there’s only one duplication.”

From the moment people walk into Gems by Gemini, they can tell something is different. Whereas traditional jewelry stores are filled with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, that selection is only the tip of the iceberg at Gems by Gemini.

“We design and produce 14 karat and 18 karat fine gold, platinum and sterling jewelry, and we feature colored gemstones,” said co-owner Joan Wingler.

And those gemstones are the difference. Where else can you find Australian black opal, golden South Sea pearl, watermelon tourmaline, alexandrite—the most rare stone in the world—and green garnets in one place?

“We do what an average jewelry store doesn’t do,” added Wingler, who took over part ownership of Gems by Gemini two years ago. “We have some of the most unique gems in the world in here.”

Gems by Gemini turns 24 years old this year. Burgess started the business with his late wife who was a gemologist for 37 years. Burgess is from Waycross, Ga.—a “place so far south we call people from Atlanta Yankees,” he said—but he moved to Atlanta “for his corporate life,” he said.

When his corporate life became dull, Burgess and his wife decided to start a jewelry business in Atlanta—but not just any jewelry business. Disenchanted with how mainstream jewelry stores offered a limited selection of colored gemstones, Burgess created the answer.

“We wanted to do something different,” said Burgess. “We wanted to get away from that cookie-cutter approach.”

The couple’s idea was a success. In time, Burgess moved to North Carolina and, fifteen years ago, moved the store to Blowing Rock.

After Burgess’s wife passed away, he continued to operate the business.

A Gems by Gemini customer of 12 years, Wingler worked a corporate job and lived between Damascus, Va., and Abingdon, Va. In her free time, she studied for a gemology degree from home because she “isn’t much of a television person,” she said. Two years ago in February, Burgess asked Wingler to come on board.

“I was looking for someone to join me in the business,” said Burgess.

Now, Burgess and Wingler spend almost every hour of the day together, creating and producing fine jewelry and connecting with customers all over the world. Gems by Gemini is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week, 361 days per year—the store is closed on Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving and Easter.

Today, Gems by Gemini is known for its colored gemstones and its below-market prices.

“We are known for our unusual designs and good value for the money,” said Wingler. “We have more than 50 different gemstones currently in house.”

And Burgess and Wingler provide a wealth of knowledge on all the gemstones, rings, bracelets and necklaces they carry.

“We try to explain to people something about every gemstone,” said Wingler.

“And we sell natural gemstones as opposed to synthetic or manmade stones,” said Burgess, who said his business secrets are personal service, unique jewelry designs and knowledge of his products.

Burgess and Wingler see many tourists inside their store, and are starting to pick up more and more online customers. They also cherish their repeat customers, some whom have been coming to Gems by Gemini for more than 12 years.

“We like to have a good time with jewelry and customers,” said Wingler. “A lot of our customers are like friends and family instead of customers.”

Gems by Gemini ships nationwide and honors all major credit cards. In 2007, Gems by Gemini shipped products to 44 states. Over the store’s past 24 years, Gems by Gemini has had visitors from all 50 states and 54 foreign countries.

Burgess and Wingler are known for taking the extra time to sit down with customers and design exactly what they want and envision. Products are designed in house, as well as by several world-renowned designers, one of whom currently has jewelry displayed at the Smithsonian Museum. In addition to design and production, Burgess and Wingler also remake, repair and restore jewelry.

Gems by Gemini is located in the Martin House at 1098 Main Street in Blowing Rock. The shop is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week, 361 days a year. For more information, click to www.gemsbygemini.com or call 828-295-7700 or 1-888-229-GEMS.