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Engagement Rings
Wedding Bands
Other Rings
Bracelets
Earrings
Necklaces/Pendants
Brooches/Pins
Diamond Jewelry
Emerald Jewelry
Sapphire Jewelry
Ruby Jewelry
Gemstone Jewelry
Pearl Jewelry
Akoya Pearls
Freshwater Pearls
South Sea Pearls
Tahitian Pearls
Men's Jewelry
Designer Jewelry
Period Jewelry
Georgian
Victorian
Art Nouveau
Arts & Crafts
Edwardian
Art Deco
Retro
1950's
1960's
1970's
1980's
Contemporary: 1990's - Today
Directory
Jewelry Time Periods
Gemstone Descriptions
Care of Fine Jewelry
Policies
About the Owners
Owner Biographies
Professional Organizations
Press
About the Owners
Welcome to GEMS of the PAST®. Owners Karen and Stevan Adler, long time collectors of antique and estate jewelry, conceived of starting a formal jewelry 
business in 1993 while taking courses in jewelry history and design. Karen began her working career as a research biologist for a major pharmaceutical company, while Stevan, a physician specializing in medical oncology and hematology, had a busy practice. Together they developed an affinity for antiques and antique jewelry, collecting at various shows and auctions.
They had over the years been studying and developing a vast library of books on jewelers, jewelry history, jewelry design and manufacturing, and gemstones. Course instructors and professional appraisers repeatedly told Karen that she had a “good eye” for selecting quality jewelry, so much so that they encouraged her to consider starting her own business. Antique shows seemed to be the answer, and after a year of participating in shows as dealers, they incorporated their business called GEMS of the PAST, Inc.®. They began selling fine antique and estate jewelry in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
After several years of these weekend shows, Karen decided that perhaps she would undertake a dramatic career change by going back to school and becoming a graduate gemologist. She attended the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in New York City as a resident student, and graduated in March, 1997.
The weekend antique shows were very physically strenuous, and thinking ahead to a shared retirement business, they decided to open a small jewelry store in East Hampton, New York in April, 2000. By 2002 they needed more space and opened a larger store in the same town. The store allowed them the opportunity to sell not only the antique and estate jewelry, but also fine new one-of-a-kind pieces.
Karen’s continuing education led her to become a Certified Gemologist, and then a 
Certified Gemologist Appraiser (American Gem Society), one of only 400 in all of North America. She did expert jewelry and estate appraisals in their store.
Stevan retired from medicine in April, 2005, and immediately enrolled in the correspondence gemology program of the British Gemmological Association, becoming a gemologist (FGA) in July, 2007. He also completed the GIA diamonds graduate course. Both Karen and Stevan are gemologists and jewelry historians, enabling them to accurately inform their clients about all aspects of jewelry and jewelry design.
The Adlers’ expertise led them to be invited to be expert enrichment speakers on several small luxury cruise lines in 2008. As a natural progression, they were offered the opportunity to sell their unique jewelry on cruise lines as well as continuing as enrichment lecturers for 2009. They decided to close their retail store in East Hampton, New York at the end of January, 2009 in order to expand their retirement experiences without the responsibility of a formal store.
With so many clients still interested in GEMS of the PAST’s jewelry, the Adlers decided to open their on-line store, a form of business that can travel via computer as they traverse the world.
Our motto is “Your Are Unique…Your Jewelry Should Be Too!”™ Please enter our on-line store and enjoy all of our wonderful one-of-a-kind treasures.
For more on the GEMS of the PAST® staff, see the "Owner Biographies" section.