We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Antoine Dib a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Antoine, thanks for joining us today. If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the best (or worst) investment you’ve made. What’s the backstory and the relevant context behind why you made the investment

The best investment I have ever made was in myself.
For over 20 years in the industry, the understanding I had of diamonds and gemstones was based on experience alone, not on science and in-depth knowledge of gemology and hands-on experience and practice on how to use gemological instruments for identifying and grading stones.
In order to satisfy my own craving for knowledge and to serve my clients and community in a better way, I felt compelled to make the sacrifice financially and time wise in order to get a degree in gemmology and learn from the best in the world.
Traveling to California, paying my tuition at the Gemological institute of America and living in Carlsbad for almost a year was not cheap. But it was the best investment I had ever made. Holding the reputable title “GIA graduate gemologist” gave me a sense of accomplishment and better understanding of the whole jewelry industry and it opened doors and unmeasurable opportunities I would always be thankful for.
Looking at my days working in the industry without the gemological credentials I have now, it feels like I was blind and now I see.

Antoine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Antoine and I am a jewelry artist. My journey in the jewelry industry started after I finished a post graduate degree in Archeology, when I took over my family jewelry business. After few years selling mass produced ready-made jewelry, I felt the need to make a switch and offer my clients a new experience with one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrate and reflect their individuality and uniqueness. I want my jewelry to tell a story that speaks to heart of its wearer.
I started designing and manufacturing handmade pieces where I bring raw lifeless metal to life. My purpose is not just to craft a piece that is unique but also representative of who you are as person and capture a moment or message you want to convey. I want to immortalize your unique story and emotion through the jewelry you wear.
Through the pieces I create, I want my clients to be able to shed some light on a side of their story without uttering a single word.
Whether you are celebrating a victory or a defeat, a moment of joy or a challenging journey, the jewelry I create comes from my heart to yours to keep your experiences and story alive.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

The process of making jewelry is fascinating and requires a lot of skills. Great joy and satisfaction come from bringing a piece to live out of scratch. It is a unique way to express oneself through art. We start with mere lifeless metal and end up with a wearable piece of art that holds meaning and emotions.
In today’s world driven by mass production, 3D printers and fully automated machines the majority of the jewelry pieces on the market lacks individuality and distinctive characteristics. Once the mold is made millions of replicas will be produced. It is extremely unusual for a jewel to be designed and fully handmade by a single human being.
That is the reason why I decided to learn handmade jewelry manufacturing. My background as an archeologist helped me to study and revive old techniques. I set up a workshop and hired some of the best jewelers in town where I used to spend hours on end learning, experiencing and honing my skills.
The journey is often challenging but rewarding. Beside mastering the techniques, a lot of effort is put into sourcing materials, branding and marketing.
It is about the human experience not what AI can do.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

Well, that’s a very interesting question. I actually don’t sell on any online platform even though the majority of my friends and clients advise me to do so.
Using those platforms will definitely give my product a wider audience and the convenience for the costumer to shop anytime and anywhere, which can increase sales. That is a given, but I look at things through a different lens.
I am all about the experience and the human interaction. My product has to be felt, it has to create an emotion. I want the customer to touch, feel, and try the piece before making the decision whether to buy or not. I also feel the need to meet, interact and explain the story behind the piece before I let go of it.
That has been my approach for now, but nothing is set in stone. I might try selling online once my website is up and running and see how it goes.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @antoinefinejewelry
• Other: Phone number: 657 282 8898