The Gem Factory Announces the Completion and Grand Opening of New Showrooms After two years of hard work, The Gem Factory is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of its new showroooms, which add a top level to the shop, a wishing well and an additional bottom level with new display casings, more jewelry pieces, and a roomy space for its extensive wood carving and precious stone collections.     The Gem Factory opened its doors to retail trade in 1996, with jewelers Pedro Martinez, his wife Martha and son Chris. When he opened a gem retail shop, he chose Franklin, North Carolina, as the ideal location for his new home and business.     Since he was a young man in Cuba, Mr. Martinez has been creating jewelry. He began the trade when he establised a casting company in Miami. His son Chris began helping his father in the business, honing his craft at an early age until in his early twenties he became a full-time expert jeweler. Chris married Laurel Parham-Martinez, whose experience includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing from the Savannah College of Art and Design, an apprenticeship under a German jeweler for a year, and attending the New Holland Lapidary School. Chris and Laurel also completed a course at the John C Folk School in jewelry. Martha Martinez knows the jewelry pieces in and out, and she always has a big smile when you walk in the door. Working by her husband's side for years, she has a knack for finding the specific piece of jewelry you're looking for, and if it's not in the store, she will help you create it.     With a collective seventy years of experience in design, casting, fabrication and stone-cutting, the Gem Factory can meet your jewelry needs, no matter how unique, large or small. The Gem Factory also contains an International mineral and fossil collection, with more than 500 varieties of minerals and rocks, including quartz, amber, calcite, obsidian and pyrite. When you visit, you will be delighted with the intricately carved stone and wood sculptures, the wide variety of hand-crafted jewelry pieces and the distinctive charm of The Gem Factory. Directions to The Gem Factory 3348 Georgia Rd, Franklin, NC 28734 (828) 524-9193 E-mail: martinez@gemfactorynorthcarolina.com View Yahoo Map