Meet Hannah Gard of Hannah G Fine Jewelry in Maricopa County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Gard.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Hannah. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I actually didn’t have any interest in jewelry until later in my life. I grew up dressing like a tomboy and couldn’t stand anything I thought was girly, including jewelry. This lasted until I was in high school at which point I started taking more of an interest in jewelry and fashion.

During high school, I ended up wanting a special necklace that I could wear every day, but couldn’t find anything I thought was unique. My Dad always liked to get my Mom special jewelry that he had custom made in New York, so I decided to design the necklace I wanted myself. It was just a simple diamond H, but I started obsessing over every little detail of the piece.

While designing that necklace, I realized how many details go into creating a piece of fine jewelry. It was such a rewarding feeling when the necklace was completed. I loved the process of sketching a piece of jewelry and then creating something real out of it. After that, I started designing a few custom pieces and every time one was finished I would get so excited.

At that point, I knew that I definitely wanted to be a jewelry designer. I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City for college and studied Fashion Merchandising. I thought this major was perfect for me because it was both creative and business oriented. After graduating, I decided to go to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). There I studied Diamond Grading and Jewelry Design.

It was amazing to actually be excited to go to class everyday, and I learned so much while I was there. While I was studying at GIA, I also interned for the jeweler who had made my first custom designs. They had everything from amazing antiques to contemporary pieces, and although I loved seeing all the beautiful jewelry my favorite part of the internship was when I got to help make custom pieces.

As part of this process, I was able to go around the Diamond District in New York City and help with production, which included anything from buying the gemstones to meeting with jewelers. After that year, I moved back to Arizona so I could be closer to my family. It was then that I set up my own business and started designing custom fine jewelry!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There were definitely plenty of struggles along the way. The hardest part for me was finding the right stone dealers and jewelers to work with. I realized that there are some really dishonest and unreliable people, as well as people that don’t care about the quality of their work.

I ended up getting stones stolen, as well as pieces back that looked horrendous and had to be completely redone. As frustrating as it was at the time each obstacle was a good learning experience and although it took quite a bit of time I was finally able to find great craftsmen to work with.

Please tell us about Hannah G Fine Jewelry.
After designing custom pieces for a while, I decided to start my own line. I thought there was a gap in the market for fine jewelry that was unique, but also at a reasonable price point. I sell directly to consumers, so I am able to markup my jewelry a lot less than typical fine jewelers.

My first collection, called Aztec Charms, is made up of hoops with interchangeable charms that can be worn in a variety of ways depending on the wearer’s personal style.

Some people prefer to wear two matching diamond charms, while others like to mix and match with multiple different charms on each ear. I try to design pieces that are classic with a bohemian twist.

What role has luck had in your life and business?
I would say I’ve definitely had more good luck than bad luck, but I think a lot of it has to do with hard work and the people you surround yourself with. I have been fortunate in that I have a family that has always been very supportive of me, which has been a blessing in life and in business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hannahgjewelry.com
• Instagram: @hannahgjewelry

Image Credit:
Photography: Hannah & Lisa Gard

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