Dealer Spotlight: Earth Pebbles Fine Gems & Jewelry

by | Nov 21, 2022

Founder of Earth Pebbles Fine Gems & Jewelry, Rebekah Anderson, discovered her calling at a young age. Growing up in Nebraska, a 10-year-old Rebekah spent her summers schooling her friends in the finer points of jewelry making. Her burgeoning creativity led her to take private lessons in pastel from a professional artist who insisted her prospective students “test in” to be accepted. Her art work garnered blue ribbons in the State Fair, even when competing artists were several years her senior. Following those seminal moments, several touchpoints of her life have buttressed Rebekah’s status as an esteemed purveyor of antique, vintage and estate jewelry who enjoys sharing her passion with her loyal clientele.

Always ahead of the curve, Rebekah tested out of high school in 10th grade and went on to pursue a college education at the age of 16. Looking to find ways to pay for college after she moved with her family to California, Rebekah saw a job listing for a high hourly wage position with a jeweler as a jewelry polisher/fine jewelry finisher. Without any of the formal qualifications or training, she applied for but was not immediately given the job. After a couple of weeks, the jeweler called her back and told her that the experienced person he had hired hadn’t worked out, and he got the sense that Rebekah’s artistic skills and unbridled enthusiasm would be a major asset, so he offered her the job.

This Master Jeweler, Dave Lowrie, became Rebekah’s mentor, and she watched him closely, mimicking his techniques and learning on-the-job skills. Her seemingly infinite well of curiosity led Rebekah to look into studying at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), for which her mentor wrote her a letter of recommendation, and where she earned her Graduate Gemologist credentials in just six months. After working as a jewelry designer known for including stunning watercolor renderings with her work, Rebekah also worked as Head Gemologist for Costco Wholesale. A natural teacher (remember the 10 year old schooling her friends in jewelry design?!), she would later become GIA’s Resident Graduate Gemology instructor when the organization opened its Carlsbad, California campus. She then moved to England and served an instrumental role as Lead Instructor when GIA opened its London campus.

Now residing with her husband and two children in Raleigh, North Carolina, Rebekah boasts a vast wealth of knowledge and experience in all eras of jewelry designs and in all categories of gemology. She applies this expertise to the impeccable curation of period jewelry that she offers to her loyal clientele. Ever the instructor, she is passionate about sharing the stories behind the pieces. Whether a suite of Georgian jewelry, a re-purposed vintage brooch or a Squash Blossom necklace, Rebekah is adept at romancing the designs and materials, providing context that lets her clients see how special their chosen jewelry is, and showcasing how to style period jewelry for a modern style sensibility.

 

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