In this episode of Pass The Torch: Legacies in Jewelry, we step inside the world of the Grand Masters class—an immersive two-week intensive designed to challenge and inspire jewelers at the highest level. Though I wasn’t in the studio myself, I gathered insights straight from those who were. Teacher Michael Robinson, along with participants James Pettit, Sean Smokovitch, Matt Tuggle, and Sarah Williams, share their personal reflections, biggest takeaways, and the lasting impact this unique experience left on their craft.

In this episode of Pass The Torch: Legacies in Jewelry, we step inside the world of the Grand Masters class—an immersive two-week intensive designed to challenge and inspire jewelers at the highest level.

Though I wasn’t in the studio myself, I gathered insights straight from those who were. Teacher Michael Robinson, along with participants James Pettit, Sean Smokovitch, Matt Tuggle, and Sara Williams, share their personal reflections, biggest takeaways, and the lasting impact this unique experience left on their craft.

Bummer. I am ready to talk about it. What is next?

Alan Revere holds a unique position in the jewelry community, with one foot firmly planted as an award-winning designer and the other as one of the country’s most prominent jewelry educators. With degrees in psychology and art, and the influence of the Woodstock experience, Alan traveled to Pforzheim, Germany where he received formal training as a goldsmith. From 1970 to 1995, Alan Revere designed and created a signature line of award-winning jewelry which sold in stores and galleries nationwide and overseas. As a teacher, Alan founded the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco, and from 1979 to 2017 he and his staff trained thousands of students to find successful careers as jewelers, designers and teachers around the globe.Alan’s jewelry appears in books and magazines. His work is included in the Pforzheim Jewelry Museum (Germany), the Gemological Institute of America Museum in Carlsbad and the Oakland Museum of California. Alan is the author of seven instructional books, a hundred articles and a series of DVDs for goldsmiths and jewelers. He is the founder of the Contemporary Jewelry Design Group (cjdg.jewelry) and he is past president of the American Jewelry Design Council (ajdc.org). Alan’s innovative earrings from the 1980s show up frequently on the secondary market. Alan Revere has received three lifetime achievement awards. With his deep understanding of the field and his broad influence on the contemporary jewelry industry, it is no wonder that Alan is revered as, “A master’s master.”Upon closing the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, Alan retired from teaching. A few months later, Alan was invited to join a small new Facebook Group with 6 members called Let’s Make Professional Jewelry. Alan now leads the group of 24,000 people from over 158 countries, who are replicating the projects from his book, Professional Jewelry Making.

Liviu Mocan is a Romanian sculptor whose work is rooted in faith, resilience, and remembrance. Born and raised under the oppressive Communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu, Liviu came of age in a time when creativity was feared, censored, and surveilled. Artists were expected to serve the state—or remain silent.In December 1989, the Romanian Revolution erupted, sparked by student protests in the city of Timișoara. As the protests spread, the regime responded with brutal violence. In Cluj-Napoca, where Liviu lived and worked, college students were shot and killed in the streets by government forces—a massacre that marked a turning point in the fall of the dictatorship.Years later, Liviu was commissioned to create a series of sculptural memorials placed exactly where those students were murdered. These pieces are not just monuments—they are acts of dialogue with God and with history. They carry grief, honor sacrifice, and testify to the sacredness of human courage in the face of tyranny.Liviu’s art continues to explore themes of justice, hope, and spiritual identity. For him, sculpture is not just form—it is prayer.
 To see the short film about sculptor Liviu Mocan — released in 2007 and produced by my mom, Rochelle de Sa Raimao — click this link: https://youtu.be/_BO__IKvlVY

The Osmium Institute is the global authority on osmium—the rarest and most valuable precious metal in the world. Dedicated to the scientific authentication, documentation, and ethical trade of crystalline osmium, the Institute serves as the central certifying body for jewelers, investors, and collectors worldwide. Through education, research, and industry partnerships, the Osmium Institute ensures transparency and trust in the osmium market while promoting the metal’s unique beauty and structural integrity. With offices and certified partners in over 30 countries, the Institute is at the forefront of introducing this extraordinary element into the worlds of fine jewelry, watchmaking, and strategic investment.

The world doesn't need more jewelry. Why become a jeweler?

Andrew Slesinger is a sixth-generation diamond dealer and the owner of Rough Diamond World, a New York-based wholesale company specializing in natural rough diamonds. Raised in the traditions of the diamond trade, Andrew’s path was shaped from a young age by the values of trust, precision, and quiet excellence passed down through his family.Operating out of Manhattan’s famed Diamond District, Andrew has built a reputation as a discerning eye in the world of rough—sourcing, evaluating, and moving diamonds through tightly held industry relationships. He represents a lineage of old-school expertise while navigating the pressures of a rapidly modernizing market. Known for his candor, integrity, and deep respect for the craft, Andrew remains committed to keeping the heritage of diamond dealing alive—one handshake, one stone, and one honest deal at a time.

Justin K Prim is a lapidary artist, educator, and gemcutting history scholar known for his precision faceting and design-forward approach to gemstone cutting. Based in France, Justin brings a rare combination of deep historical knowledge and modern craftsmanship to his work—cutting each stone not just for brilliance, but with intention, story, and artistry in mind.A graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and a seasoned instructor, Justin has taught gem cutting at internationally respected institutions and is passionate about preserving the legacy of lapidary arts. His work bridges cultures and centuries—drawing from ancient techniques, modern machinery, and a lifetime of studying the human relationship with gemstones.Whether he's researching historic gem cuts, collaborating with fine jewelers, or shaping a custom design on the wheel, Justin’s work reflects a reverence for the natural material and a devotion to the beauty that lies beneath the surface.

Linda Kozloff-Turner is Owner and Designer of Christine Marguerite Designs, and author of the book, 100 Women of Jewelry.In this episode, we dive deep into the making of the book: the powerful stories that emerged, the emotional and artistic connections she forged, and what she learned about the resilience, creativity, and community of women in jewelry. It’s a conversation about legacy, visibility, and the power of being seen.