We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nina Raizel Hartman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nina Raizel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

My journey into jewelry started back in high school when I became fascinated with gemstones and metals. During high school I studied at Pratt Institute for a summer, and went to Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for college. After college I moved back home to Seattle in 2014 and thought I would be instantly successful starting a jewelry business and selling production work. I was not. I started renting a studio and making jewelry, but realized running a business was more difficult than I imagined, and I didn’t know anything about marketing, pricing, or financing. So I started working for other jewelers. I got my first job at a jewelry supply shop, and then worked for independent jewelers and bigger jewelry shops including Blue Nile, Greenlake Jewelry, Crane Jewelers, Valerie Madison, and Micki Lippe. I learned most of what I know from working for other jewelers. I also spent a lot of time in my own studio working on my own designs, and eventually taking on more custom work and repair work.

By 2024, I decided to fully dive into my passion for repair work and launched Seattle Jewelry Repair, where I specialize in bringing fine jewelry back to life. After 10 years of working for other jewelers, I’ve finally figured out how to price my time accurately, and how to build a website, market myself, and do my own bookkeeping. Running a business by myself is a lot of work, but it’s so worth it. I wanted to specialize in repair work because there is already so much good jewelry out there. And so much of it is stuck in the back of someone’s drawer and hasn’t seen the light of day in years. I want to be the person who restores it so they can wear it again, or pass it on to their children or a loved one.

At Seattle Jewelry Repair, I’ve created a space for anyone who loves their jewelry and wants it to be in the best hands. Whether it’s repairing a family heirloom or refreshing a favorite piece, I treat every project with the same care as if it were my own. I think my customers can see this and thats why they trust me and keep bringing me their jewels. Currently, I charge a competitive hourly rate for my studio time, mark up any materials I buy, and request deposits for big custom projects. I’ve realized that my clients will pay anything to have their jewelry cared for, but it’s not really about the money, it’s about community support and shared values. My clients would much rather come to me, a self-employed independent young female jeweler, than bring their jewelry to a big shop where they don’t get to meet the actual jeweler, and the turn-around time might be weeks, not days. My favorite thing is when a client brings me a ring to resize and they hang out in my studio with me while I do it and walk them through the steps.

When I’m not in the studio, I love sharing what I’ve learned with others. I regularly host events through the Seattle Metals Guild, helping budding jewelers tap into their creativity and grow their skills. Being part of a traditionally male-dominated field has only motivated me to push harder as both an entrepreneur and an artisan. I never want to go back to working full time for another jeweler. Now that I’ve figured out how to work for myself full time, I feel more fulfilled and successful than ever.

Nina Raizel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I started my business right out of college, I was making simple geometric jewelry designs in brass. My designs have evolved a lot since then. My minimalist aesthetic has stayed the same, but my craftsmanship has improved, as has the quality of the materials I use. I have transitioned to mostly repairing wedding bands, engagement rings, and fine jewelry. I’ve really been focusing on jewelry repairs because not a lot of other jewelers will do them. Jewelry shops that take in repairs often send them out to jewelers like me. I figured instead of working for these shops, I could brand myself as a repair jeweler and advertise to the public. I really love working with my clients to bring their jewelry back to life. I also love teaching them a little about the process, and talking to them about their story, and the history of their jewelry. Those special moments make what I do different than what other jewelers do. I still make my own line of jewelry as well, now in silver and gold with semi precious and precious stones. I believe there’s already enough jewelry and gold out there, it just need to be loved and worn.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

With my client base, emails and phone calls are the best way to keep in touch. I send a lot of personalized emails following up about custom projects, or checking in about finished jewelry pieces. I’m also not scared to pick up the phone and call a client if I haven’t heard from them in a while. Often, they miss emails or text messages and life gets busy. But when I call them and I’m excited to connect with them and work on their jewelry, it makes their day. I think this personal connection really fosters brand loyalty. I don’t send out a lot of mass emails because most of them go un-opened (even with a catchy header). But when I take the time to connect with clients one-on-one, it makes them feel special and like their jewelry is going to be in good hands.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I worked full time for the first 9 years of running my business. I funded it all myself, and built up my tools and materials very slowly over time. There were a few larger purchases where I asked my parents or a friend to help out and then payed them off over a few months, but I’ve never taken out any real loans, or had any substantial credit card debt. I’ve focused on keeping my business small and manageable. Perhaps I could have grown my business faster with more initial capital, but it would have stressed me out to be in debt. I feel like I did the the right way- my skills grew alongside my tool collection and my reputation, and I’ve never gotten too ahead of myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://seattlejewelryrepair.com
• Instagram: seattle.jewelry.repair
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560917366057

Image Credits

Images of Nina are by Ananya Mishra
https://www.ananyamishraphoto.com/