Meet Jillian Hornik | Certified Gemologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jillian Hornik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jillian, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Price is an indicator of jewelry quality. Many people think this fact only applies to the gemstones used. More importantly, it applies to the metal mounting those stones are set in. Gold is priced based upon its weight. Therefore, a lighter piece of jewelry is more affordable. Unfortunately, that means lower quality manufacturers cast thin lightweight mountings for rings, bracelets, and necklaces to keep the price down. Those thinner pieces of jewelry often break easily and are more difficult to repair than their heavier, more durable counterparts. In the end, it is better to spend slightly more for a piece of jewelry that will last a lifetime.

What should our readers know about your business?
Jae’s Jewelers is a full service jewelry store. We have an on-site workshop which allows our Gemologists and staff to work directly with our goldsmith on custom design projects and repairs. This allows us to better cater to all of our clients’ needs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the outdoors and nature. Living in Miami, we are lucky enough to have the ocean and multiple National Parks. I would take them on a short drive to the Everglades where we could rent paddleboards and enjoy the wildlife. Then, we would transition to a delicious dinner at Cote. The next day, I would take them out on a boat to enjoy snorkeling on Biscayne National Park or down in the keys.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I received my educational foundation at GIA (the Gemological Institute of America), learning about the scientific aspect of diamonds and colored stones. But my shout out is dedicated to my father, Bruce Hornik. The hands-on experience I’ve gained under the mentorship of my dad for the past 10 years is what has allowed me to become a knowledgeable jewelry buyer and savvy businesswoman. He has been in the industry for over 50 years, growing our family business into the recognizable name it carries today. I’ve learned about all of the strategies employed to navigate the ups and downs throughout the decades, that have allowed our business to continue serving the local community.

Website: www.jaesjewelers.com

Instagram: @jaesjewelers

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/94270988

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jaesjewelers