About Your Jeweler - Nina Raizel Hartman

For a deeper dive into Nina's work and philosophy, you can read the full interview on CanvasRebel: Meet Nina Raizel Hartman.

"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.”