Lindsey Rossi, MA, GIA GG, CM (NAJA)

What in the world do all of those letters after my name mean?! Simply put, they are a quick indication that I have many years of experience working with gemstones and jewelry, and I have an extensive formal and practical knowledge of jewelry design history and the jewelry marketplace.

Jewelry of all kinds has always deeply fascinated and dazzled me. After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in Art History, and spending time working at the British Museum in London, I returned to the US in 2003. That year I studied diamonds and colored gemstones at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California. The famously rigorous program taught me to scientifically identify and grade diamonds and gemstones with precision. There, I earned my Graduate Gemologist (GG) credentials, and have been a proud GIA alumna for 22 years.

I returned to the world of museums, first at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and whenever possible, I focused my work on jewelry and fine metalwork within their collections. This hands-on exposure to some of the most important jewels and silver metalwork in some of the most prestigious American art institutions was unparalleled. 

My museum work continued while I studied the history of decorative arts, design history, and material culture at the Bard Graduate Center in NYC, where I earned my Master of Arts degree (MA). While focusing my studies on the history of jewelry and metalwork, I worked in curatorial research, exhibitions, and publishing at art institutions that include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Art and Design, and the Bard Graduate Center Gallery. 

When I returned to California, I was hired as the curator of decorative arts and design at the Riverside Art Museum. After several exhibitions featuring regional design, I was honored to be the lead curator of the RAM contribution to the Getty Museum's tremendous Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA exhibition initiative. 

Soon after my last museum exhibition, I decided it was time to change course and finally make jewelry my main focus. The now-retired owner of a respected local jewelry store knew my background and offered to mentor me in jewelry appraisal. I was thrilled with this new direction. Over the last 6 years, I quickly ascended the ranks of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA). Thanks to the continued support and encouragement of my mentor and a wonderful network of fellow gemologists  and appraisers, I am a Certified Member of NAJA (CM, (NAJA)). All of my previous work and jewelry studies enabled me to gain a strong foothold in jewelry appraising. 

While I have seen and held some of the most spectacular museum jewelry pieces up close, there is nothing as special as an item imbued with sentimental value and personal history. I look forward to assessing your jewelry and timepieces with the same care and consideration as pieces exhibited securely behind museum glass. ​​