Meet William Adams | Gemologist and Jewelry Designer

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

Hi William, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always been attracted to an artistic lifestyle. I originally wanted to be a professional snowboarder, but after breaking my spine I knew I had to find another way to release my artistic passions. Jewelry making is a blessing that came into my life at a challenging time. A vital part and a driving factor that lead me to pursue an artistic career, was the desire to channel my energy from snowboarding into another constructive hands on activity. Being a self-employed artist is no easy task and it presents many challenges to overcome. Connecting with my clients and creating something that is truly special to them is extremely rewarding. When I see the final piece of jewelry and the smile that comes with, it makes the process and the challenges along the way all worth it!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
At Relic Fine Jewelry my goal is to create fine hand made jewelry. The pieces I make are built with love an intention. Meticulous quality standards produce pieces that are made to last the tests of time. By mixing my passions for abstract design with classical jewelry techniques and high-end gemstones, I am able to create art that has historical and sentimental interest. I think what sets me apart from other jewelry brands is my desire to create one of a kind jewelry. I constantly push my self to make one off pieces that tell a story and evoke an emotion. Many designers avoid custom work, but to me custom jewelry is the best kind! I think jewelry is about expressing yourself and your unique qualities. Everyone wants to wear a piece of jewelry that makes them feel special and individual. The custom creation process allows for my clients and me to come up with designs that are as unique as the person wearing them! I feel most proud of my drive to keep learning year after year. A constant hunger for more knowledge and skills has played a crucial role in my creative inspiration and the evolution of my craft. It can be nerve-racking to make big investments in schooling, especially when you are first starting a business. Investing in knowledge is truly priceless. It is a part of my practice that I can be proud of when reflecting back on my journey thus far. As in all aspects of life, progression is not always easy. Breaking up larger challenges into smaller goals allows for me to make more constant progress. Doing this also helps because the small achievements along the road to an ultimate goal can be channeled into fuel and motivation. Seeing that you have achieved a step towards your goals can make far off challenges appear more obtainable. The biggest lessons that I have learned along my journey so far, is that believing in yourself is the strongest tool for success. If you don’t believe in yourself why should someone else? Investing in oneself is crucial if you want to become all you can be. Fear and doubt are always present, but belief in yourself and what you are working for is the most important ingredient in a successful business. Nothing great is achieved overnight so don’t be discouraged when things don’t happen right away. I want the world to know that often times challenges and hardships are the biggest inspirations to success. If you don’t have to work hard and fight for a dream it may not be one worth having. The road to a dream can be large and scary but that is precisely what makes it feel so good when you make progress. Believe in your dreams, work hard, and anything is possible!

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?
My favorite part about the Boulder Denver area is the quick access to the mountains nearby. I love the city and its vibrant culture, but most of my inspiration draws from the nature here. If I had someone visiting I would make a point of bringing them to the mountains to see the views, the nature, and the animals that inhabit these lands. If I were going to spend my time in the city with them, I would want to share the great food, art museums, and fun nightlife that Boulder and Denver have to offer. There is a great music scene here that is diverse and welcoming. When I am in the city I find myself most attracted to the art and music community. Cool graffiti art throughout the city acts as an inspiration to my artistic endeavors as well.

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 want to take the time to thank the many talented teachers and mentors that I have met, and learned from along the way! Being able to study under a variety of teachers who have mastered various subjects allowed for me to excel greatly at a fast rate. Schools like GIA and GRS have had substantial impacts on my growth as a jeweler and an artist in general. In 2015 I received a full scholarship to the Gemological Institute Of America, this was the spark that ignited my artistic fire and pushed me to pursue a career in the gemstone and jewelry industry!

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