Gemmy International welcomes apprentice Cameron Yates to the world of jewelry design and manufacture. Cam has been an experienced Colorado River whitewater guide and pilot for many years. For recreation he enjoys Rock Climbing, and Art Design. He is currently studying under Master Jeweler Rick Van Rensselaer in Gardnerville, NV on the site of Leonard Ludel's historic American School of Diamond Cutting.

Rick has recently trained his son Ian in jewelry repair, and Ian immediately began working as a professional for the respected firm of Michael & Sons. Rick believes that Cam also has solid potential, and remarked that he completed his first hand-wrought silver ring from sheet, wire, and set it in a bezel with a raw amethyst by the 4th day of his training.

Cam's path is to first become proficient as a precious metal fabricator, and then to evolve into other aspects of the trade such as finishing, stone setting, gem identification, and the use of Laser welders. When he has gained competency with those skills I will personally train him in the art of hand wax modeling.

This adventurer is currently away from his studies in order to ride a 650cc Kawasaki through Canada and then on to Alaska for a few weeks. On the back of the motorcycle will be his faithful partner and fellow adventuress, Bird. The two plan to scale some rather daunting rocks in the interior of Canada while transiting the Great White North. Hopefully this slide show will contain some images from these travels in the near future. The current shots are of a recent climbing trip to Crystal Crag, along the shores of Lake George in the Mammoth Lakes, and a couple of captures of him at Pyramid Lake with his beloved critter Juno.

Cameron was in a big hurry to get to Idaho and Montana to pick up the bike and re-unite with Bird, so I did not get a good image of his first ring. I do hope to document his progress as his skills develop, so stay tuned...Cam hopes to leave his mark in the arena of art jewelry.