Business owner sparkles with all things jewelry

Looking inside the large, gold-colored ring, Patti Schrag frowned and shook her head.

"You see that?" she asked, pointing to a machine-stamped imprint on the ring.

"It says it's 14 carat, but it's not. It's not even gold," she said. "Now I have to tell this customer their ring isn't real."

Helping customers know exactly what they are getting is a large part of what Schrag hopes to do at her new store, Gemstone Beadery, in Derby.

Schrag is a graduate gemologist of the Geological Institute of America, an accredited jewelry professional and a certified insurance appraiser.

"Not every jeweler is a gemologist or has one on staff," she said. "I get a lot of people who have purchased something off the Internet or TV who want to make sure what they purchased is real."

While most of her time is spent appraising jewelry and identifying gemstones, Schrag said she also enjoys helping people create their own unique items.

"I really have passion for it," she said. "I want to help everyone be able to wear fine jewelry."

Although she has loved jewelry and gems since childhood, owning a business is a new experience for Schrag.

Originally from Wisconsin, Schrag came to the Wichita area after being transferred here for her government job. When an injury prevented her from working, Schrag said she was forced into an early retirement.

Unwilling to simply take it easy, Schrag said she decided to follow her dream of working with jewelry and gemstones. She embarked on the two-year course of study with the Gemological Institute of America.

Although she had originally intended on working for another jeweler, Schrag said she decided to open her own business after graduating in 2006.

"The toughest part was just trusting in God that this was the right thing to do and taking that leap of faith," she said.

Now that she has made the leap, Schrag said she feels that she is providing a needed service.

"I want to help people put value on their heirlooms because once there is a value on it, there is a record for that item," she said. "For me, it adds an element of being part of something special with that customer."

Schrag said she can do most appraisals within 24 hours and can order almost any type of item or stone a customer requests.

In addition, customers can create their own heirlooms by combining pieces from Schrag's collection of gemstones and jewelry.

"The possibilities are really endless when it comes to making your own jewelry," she said.

But for Schrag, helping people know their items are authentic is the main goal.

"I want people to think, 'I need to call Patti,' when they have a question about something," she said. "I just want everybody to know that I'm here for them."
Source: kansas