Gemparcel is Sparkling on Main Street in Berryville

If you’re looking for a gift for that someone on your list who loves jewelry, look no further than Berryville Main Street’s newest business, Gemparcel, located at 23 East Main Street, Suite B (right above Fire
House Gallery).

Gemparcel is owned by husband-and-wife team Michael and Pachariya “Peach” Perez. The couple met in Bangkok, Thailand, Peach’s home country, at GIA — where Peach worked. Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls. A public benefit, nonprofit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry.

In 2007, while in Bangkok, Michael graduated from GIA’s gemologist program, which provides him with the technical expertise and practical skills to evaluate gemstones and diamonds by the “Four Cs” (color, clarity, cut, and carat weight), the International Diamond Grading System, and the Colored Stone Grading System.

“For me, it was kind of a hobby at first, because gemology is the study of the stones, so it was more the science aspect of the gemstones and diamonds that interested me,” Michael said. “Then friends started saying: Hey, I have a question about diamonds, rubies, or sapphires. Because I have the certification it became more than just a hobby; it was a way to transfer knowledge.”

While Gemparcel’s business space opened in early November, Michael and Peach have been in the business for ten years. “Slowly, we got to know people in the business more, so we work with jewelers and can work with customers to do custom orders,” Peach said.

Peach also makes and sells affordable jewelry made with non-precious beads and stones, another great option for Christmas shopping, she said.

“I started selling my jewelry in the Fire House Gallery this year and one day I saw a sign saying this incubator space was available,” she said. “We thought, why not?”

Michael and Peach spent time studying the local market and decided that Clarke County was a promising location for what they offer.

“We’re trying to hit a couple of markets,” Michael explained. “If a customer wants a custom-made jewelry piece or something we may already have in stock, we offer that, and we also sell wholesale to jewelers so we’re in the retail market of jewelry and the wholesale market of gemstones
and diamonds.”

“We’re basically trying to bring unique stones to the local area,” Michael said, in addition to classics such as clear and colored diamonds. All the gemstones they offer are premium quality. “Tourmaline, spinel, garnets, some you’ve never seen before.”

Aside from affordable handmade jewelry and gems,
another potential gift idea Gemparcel offers is the Seiko line of watches, which range reasonably from $140 and up. Michael has always been interested in automatic watches and he and Peach felt that carrying a line of quality, affordable watches was an ideal addition to their business.

Michael and Peach are enjoying getting to know Berryville and hope that people will feel free to stop by even if they are still just considering
a purchase.

“We want people to come in and ask questions and gain their trust,” Michael said. “You go to some stores and you’re afraid to try on rings, but I tell customers to try them on so they can see the quality
and compare.”

Peach noted that they are located right next to the town Christmas tree and that she enjoys all the foot traffic on Saturdays. “It’s a great town,”
she said.