Old to New is What We Do
OUR STORY
Operating since March 2019, Amay Jewelry Designs is a family owned jewelry store specializing in custom design and repair. They are focused on raising the standard for excellent service in jewelry repairs, custom design, laser engraving, appraisals, and jewelry restoration.
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The Idea Behind Our Business:
Come in to their comfortable and welcoming studio to browse or talk about your jewelry service needs with no pressure to shop like some large show rooms may have. Roberto's work bench is set up front in viewing area and clients are welcome to watch at anytime. There is no repairing or redesigning job too big or too small, they will do them all. With a main focus on servicing, they offer same day service on most jobs.
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Roberto Amay
Roberto has 26 years of jewelry designing experience. He is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and is a registered jeweler in the American Gem Society. Roberto is originally from Ecuador. He came to the United States in 1994 to learn the jewelry trade from his Uncle who lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He then later took over one of his Uncle's stores and operated it for 2 years. After 9-11, the market crashed and he took a job with a traveling jewelry restyle special event company. He traveled around 46 states. While working with this company is when Roberto met his wife Christy in Tampa, FL. In 2011 Roberto took a job at Lights Jewelers here in Hattiesburg. He worked there as their bench jeweler until they closed in February 2019. In March 2019 Roberto opened up Amay Jewelry Designs to continue serving customers in the Pine Belt.
Christy Amay
Christy was raised in Picayune, MS. She started her jewelry career as a full time jewelry sales associate at the fine jewelry department in Dillards. She moved up quickly in the company. By the age of 25 she was promoted to regional manager and moved to Tampa, FL. That is where she met her husband Roberto. She later joined the traveling jewelry restyle company with Roberto. They traveled together around the country doing restyle jewelry shows. After a couple of years, she was recruited by Zales. In 2008, they moved to Hattiesburg, where she became the manager for Zales in Turtle Creek mall for 3 years. Christy and Roberto were married in 2009 and now have two children, Carlos and Amelia. Christy was a stay at home mom for 8 years, until she and Roberto opened up Amay Jewelry Designs. She has 15 years of retail management and Roberto is a master jeweler, they make the perfect team.
Gage McNatt
Gage Mcnatt is a Petal High School Graduate. He has an Associates Degree in Business Administration. He discovered his love for jewelry later and decided to go attend New Approach School for Jewelers to learn more about becoming a bench jeweler. In May 2021 he graduated from New Approach School for Jewelers in Arrington, TN. He is now a Certified Graduate Bench Jeweler. Right after graduation, he began working for Amay Jewelry Designs where he is continuing to learn about jewelry designing and repair.
Penny Ross
Penny is a part-time employee and full-time friend of the Amay family and really came on board at the store just for the vibes. She has a degree in Graphic Design from Mississippi College and has her own business - 5x2 Marketing. She helps with whatever is needed at the store except for actual jewelry repairs - which she cannot do. She loves to help use her marketing and graphic designs skills while at the jewelry store, but also just meeting the amazing customers and having a small part in helping them with the stories behind their jewelry is very inspirational for her.
