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Who Okay, I''ll kick it off...

Richard Sherwood

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Sep 25, 2002
Messages
4,924
This is a good idea Leonid. I'd love to know more about the other contributors to PriceScope, so I'll kick this category off by posting the "About SGL" page that I use on my appraisals, along with some personal info following:

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Sarasota Gemological Laboratory is an independent, well-equipped gem laboratory that specializes in gemstone research, identification, fine diamond and colored stone appraisals, as well as the appraisal of contemporary, estate and antique jewelry.

Established in January of 1987, Sarasota Gemological Laboratory is owned and operated by Richard Sherwood. Richard has acquired over two decades of experience in the gemstone and jewelry industry since 1980, along with a Graduate Gemologist diploma awarded by the Gemological Institute of America in March of 1985.

Concurrent with establishing Sarasota Gemological Laboratory in 1987, Richard owned and operated the fine estate gem and jewelry store Sarasota Diamond & Gems for twelve years, from 1987 to 1999. Sarasota Diamond & Gems was a comprehensive full service store with staff conducting retail and wholesale gem and jewelry sales on a local and national basis. A Master Jeweler was on staff supervising a full service custom jewelry and repair department.

In the seven years prior to this Richard was employed by a major Tampa Bay estate jewelry firm, receiving a comprehensive hands-on education from a “master” third generation gem & jewelry dealer. Richard’s career began from the ground up as a diamond sorter, progressing from there to a diamond & gemstone jewelry salesperson, diamond buyer, colored gemstone buyer and estate & antique jewelry buyer. The last four years with the company he operated in the capacity of manager for their premier multi-million dollar Sarasota estate jewelry store.

Sarasota Gemological Laboratory was established after recognizing the need for professional documentation to protect the fine jewelry investments of his clients. In 1999 SGL became solely an independent appraisal laboratory that engages in neither buying nor selling. This independent position enhances both public and trade dealer confidence in receiving an objective opinion from a non-involved third party. For convenience and privacy SGL has mobile capabilities, and regularly does appraisals on a while-you-wait basis right at the client’s location, or at the maximum security SGL location in the Sarasota Vault Depository.

Richard has testified in both Sarasota and Manatee counties as an expert witness, and is a frequent contributor to Pricescope.Com, an internet trade/consumer forum designed for consumer education. In addition to weekly appraising done for banks, insurance companies, attorneys, jewelers and private individuals, SGL also operates as an independent appraisal laboratory at monthly trade shows such as Piccadilly Antiques in Sarasota – West Palm Beach and the Frank Cox Gem & Jewelry Shows throughout Western Florida.
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Okay, so much for the self-promoting. On a personal note, I'm an Army brat who was raised in California, Alaska, Texas, Germany & Austria, but called El Paso, Texas home until discovering the paradise of the Florida West Coast.

At 49 years old, I've been married 24 years with four kids and two grandkids. Kid's are great. Don't be afraid to have lots of them if you find the right mate. My biggest hobby is gemstones, but when I'm not studying them you'll find me out at the beach, kayaking, motorcycle riding or flying.

There's more info and pictures on my brand new website www.sarasotagemlab.com. It's a first draft, and I'm going to be revising and adding a lot more content, but it will give you the general idea. The pretty girl pictured with me under the Services category is my eldest daughter, who made me a grandfather at a tender age. I'll forgive her though, as those grandkids are just sooooo much fun!
 
Oh geez, you're definitely too young for grandkids! I never would have thought it was possible. If they look anything like their mother, though, they must be stunning!
 
Thanks Hest. You're right about three things. It's not possible that I'm a grandfather, the grand kids are stunning, and their mother is drop-dead gorgeous.

My wife of course claims full responsibility for this.
 
Rich,

You kindly asked about my family. Let me ask about yours. What are the three children besides your eldest daughter doing? Where do they live? (By that I mean are they geographically close to you? Do you see them often?) Can you tell us more about your wife, your children, and your grandchildren? Gee...can you tell I am family-oriented?

Deb

PS-I couldn't find the picture of your daughter at first, but have now done so. She looks like a model one would *hire* to be in a photo for a website or a brochure!
 
Thanks for your interest, AGBF. It's not hard to get me to talk about my family.

My wife Linda is a chiropractor, who I met in school (I was originally training to be a chiropractor before I got sidetracked into the jewelry business). Not only is she gorgeous, but smart as well. She is a genius in the art of healing.

My eldest (step)daughter Deana is 28, and has been with me since she was four. For a long time she was into rock & roll (her husband was a drummer in a popular local band, Neurotica), and for a while she was the bass guitar player and lead singer in a local rock band. Two kids however, have instilled a newfound sense of responisibility into her and she is now beginning school to be an RN. A very worthy profession. I have profound respect for all nurses.

My eldest son Jacob (23) is a genius (took after his mother) who is in the University of Miami med school training to be a neurosurgeon. When he told me that was what he wanted to do, I told him to go for it, while unconsciously grabbing my wallet at the same time. heh heh heh...

I shouldn't have worried. His tuition is %30,000 per year, and he got $27,000 worth of scholarships because he is a straight A student. If I ever need brain surgery, he's the one I want doing it. He says he's ready to do a lobotomy on me at any time.

My second eldest son Justin (20) has the unusual ability to fix anything. He rebuilt his elder brother's carbereutor at the age of 13, and hasn't stopped since. He has taken over my garage, making it into his personal workshop/hangout place, with he and his friends socializing while they fine tune their engines. He's in the local community college, with plans to follow his brother to U.M., which has an excellent engineering school (his dream).

My daughter Kari-Ava (14, named after her Norwegian aunt Kari and my mother Ava), is the smartest of all, and keeps us all in line. She rules the house with a velvet gloved iron fist, and can be usually found on the computer surfing the internet. We put her on the computer when she was four, showed her some basic keystrokes, and the rest is history. She now has friends all over the world, including an 20 something actress (was in Jim Carrey's "Liar Liar"), and two great friends in Ireland and England, not too mention a model in Puerto Rico who we feel like we know like a daughter.

Kari thinks she's going to be a teacher, but I've got her slated for law school because of her exemplary arguing abilities.

My grandaughter Savannah (6), and grandson Jesse (3) are like little beacons of light, illuminating the world around them with happiness. Little kids can be so powerful, can't they?
 
Forget being Garry Holloway. I now want to be a Sherwood, because they're all stunning.

If I were 20 again, that Jacob of yours would be in *serious* trouble.
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Oh, Rich! Your family is wonderful. I am so glad I asked. I was afraid you didn't want to get too personal, that perhaps you would talk about kayaking or flying, but not want to go into detail about your wife, children, and grandchildren. You appear to have a seriously brilliant group there...and goodlooking on top of it! Congratulations on creating such a great family. They don't just happen by themselves. It takes a lot of nurturing :-).

Deb
 
Stunning family in every way Rich. Funny that none of them inheritied *your* growth - in more ways than one.
 
You have a beautiful family! Your wife is gorgeous and the kids are really cute.

I was just thinking the same thing as fire&ice about the growth thing. When did you develop yours? Has it gotten any bigger since pricescope? Do you notice a tingling sensation on your forehead when you examine diamonds(Notice that I wrote forehead, so you wouldn't get confused)? Do you see "the Light"?
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Justin sounds (and looks!) right up my alley....damn...I've already got myself a gearhead whiteboy!!
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Your family is gorgeous!!
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Congratulations.
 
Thanks guys. I appreciate the nice comments. Even the growth on my forehead ones.

My wife kids me about it all the time. Sometimes I forget it's there, and walk out of the office wearing it.

I got into the habit of wearing it while doing shows. If I ever had a slow period, I would just put on the visor and start examining stones. Almost immediately I would get a crowd wanting to see what I was looking at. Then I'd pick up an appraisal here and there from the observers.
 
Hey Rich,




Stunning family you have there. I think the most striking feature is that most of the kids got your eyes...




Lovely Family....
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hi rich,

long time no write! sorry, my job has been keeping me busy. hope to be on more often.

just wanted to drop a quick line stating that now i am completely 100% jealous of your life. you've got such a nice family. you're a lucky guy.

i just hope i can get half the happiness you've gotten.

thanks for sharing with the rest of us...or is it to brag!
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i'll contribute as soon as i find the time.

aloha

george (69gm)
 
Hey 69gm, I was just wondering about you the other day. How's everything?
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Well I am 27.... and I seem to have this thing for younger guys
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....Rich, when I come down to FL next and we meet up for that drink - bring the boys too, ok?

LET ME AT EM!!!

Just kiddin.... I'm taken now.... damn!
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On 11/26/2003 12:21:03 AM DancinGirl wrote:





Well I am 27.... and I seem to have this thing for younger guys
2.gif
....Rich, when I come down to FL next and we meet up for that drink - bring the boys too, ok?

LET ME AT EM!!!

Just kiddin.... I'm taken now.... damn!
angryfire.gif



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Dancin Girl,



You seem to have a WILD streak in you....



My ex-wife was like a wild mustang...Very hard to tame

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...Took me a very long time to make a decision that wild streaks are something which usually will not change in most people...



YOU SEEM TO HAVE GOOD "WILD STREAK" = KEEPER...



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On 11/26/2003 12:21:03 AM DancinGirl wrote:

Well I am 27.... and I seem to have this thing for younger guys
2.gif
....Rich, when I come down to FL next and we meet up for that drink - bring the boys too, ok?

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I have a thing for older men.
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On 11/30/2003 10:34:38 AM fire&ice wrote:

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On 11/26/2003 12:21:03 AM DancinGirl wrote:


Well I am 27.... and I seem to have this thing for younger guys
2.gif
....Rich, when I come down to FL next and we meet up for that drink - bring the boys too, ok?


----------------



I have a thing for older men.
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wink2.gif
9.gif


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I have a thing for big men. (Why are we volunteering this information, btw?)

Deb ;-)
 


Well I am 27.... and I seem to have this thing for younger guys
2.gif
....Rich, when I come down to FL next and we meet up for that drink - bring the boys too, ok?


----------------



I have a thing for older men.
6.gif
wink2.gif
9.gif


----------------



I have a thing for big men. (Why are we volunteering this information, btw?)

Deb ;-)
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Err, I have a thing for men in general...





*grin*





win
 
"Err, I have a thing for men in general...



*grin*"

*Canadiangrrl, sheepishly raising hand*

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Rich, you have a fascinating story and a beautiful family. How blessed you are! Thanks for all the pictures.

I have a thing for men with a sense of humor, heck I don't even mind that thing on your forehead.
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Hey, I hope me jump starting old threads are cool with everyone. I just read your story. Pretty cool. It was it nice to know that everyone is crazy about your gene offsprings. One second it's about you and your company and the next thing I know it is that I'm reading about what men everyone is interested in. Gosh. I have to agree with Kamuelamom. Guys with a sense of humor which you have is cool. But then combine that with Jacob's intelligence and Justin's good looks, and I would have to say that is a triple threat for any lady with or without a man.
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I would see why the ladies were chirping up and saying how envious they were of you and your boys. Gosh Rich, I also checked your website and I have to say that you know how to pick up beefy looking secruity/patrol gaurd soldiers. I saw the main website with that G.I. Joe standing at the doorway and then I clicked the "Services" link to see your daughter and I saw that guy at the doorway again. Remind me never to come and rob you.
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Just kidding of course, unless you have stock piles of diamonds in there.
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Well, it''s almost four years later, and the little girl in the photo sitting in the middle of the couch (my daughter Kari-Ava) has gone off to college today.

I''m sitting here kind of blown away by it all...
 
Awwww....Richard, can you post a more current photo of your beloved Kari-ann? She is a beautiful girl and I''m sure as intelligent as they come. You sound like my daddy when he and my mom sent me off to school the first time...they were beside themselves with joy and heartache, and so was I. Kari will be just fine, you just keep an eye on her and keep in touch via cellphone as much as possible. Just don''t get tooooo much involved, let her spread her wings a bit, but chances are she''ll come right back to daddy and be asking for $ anyway and letting you know she''s ok, LOL!
 
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