For Wall Street investment guru turned jewelry dealer Tiina Smith, launching a vintage jewelry business was a long-held dream. She believes unending passion, curiosity and a good work ethic is what it takes to be successful when starting from scratch.
In this episode, Boston-based Smith shares her journey from an investment professional to a vintage jewelry dealer, leveraging many decades of knowledge as an avid collector. She also talks about activities she is involved in to educate people about vintage jewelry and in the process promote her business.
Smith draws on skills learnt at Harvard Business School and then afterwards working for some of the Wall Street firms, using much of the same rigor, analysis and research techniques to put together a vintage collection for a client, or even buy a single piece.
“People have to remember that you may be competing against dealers or retailers who are fifth generation in this business or people with 40 years’ experience,” says Smith, who opened her gallery in Boston in 2019 but had been a private jeweler for four years before that. “It’s important to continue your education in any way possible and also have a vision,” she notes.
Smith’s gallery focuses on rare pieces signed by the master jewelers from the 20th and 21st centuries, as that’s where her interest and passion lie. She says her main competitive advantage is offering jewelry that’s not available elsewhere.
“We are here because we can answer questions [our clients have about buying vintage jewelry] — we want to answer those questions and that is a differentiating point for Tiina Smith Jewelry,” Smith says. “We know our pieces and we’re happy to demonstrate it.”
To listen to the Jewelry Connoisseur Podcast, click below.
Main image: Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. pink tourmaline and diamond earrings, 1970s; Tiina Smith.
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