Meet The Owner.
Patrick B. Stout
Graduate Gemologist
Patrick first became interested in rocks, gemstones, mineralogy and geology as a young boy of only 6 or 7 years old. He still fondly remembers looking at his older sister’s college text books and being fascinated by what he saw there. As an anthropology major, her books contained photos of pre-historic stone tools, excavation sites, and other artifacts. Thus began Patrick’s fascination with anthropology, archaeology, rocks, geology, and so forth.
After his natural mother passed away (he was less than 10 years old), Patrick and his father, Ben, moved from southern California to St. George where Patrick began 7th grade at the historic Woodward Jr. High. As Southern Utah is a geologic wonderland, Patrick and Ben spent countless hours hiking around and exploring the beautiful desert southwest and that did it: Patrick became an avid student of geology, minerology and a serious “rock hound”!
Thanks primarily to two dedicated high school instructors, Patrick began to seriously study both the scientific aspects (geology, Walter Cox) and jewelry manufacturing arts (industrial arts & crafts, Finlay Bayles) as a sophomore at Dixie High School. Patrick sincerely hopes that both those gentlemen, may they rest in peace, know how grateful he is for their skills and enthusiasm.
After graduating from Dixie High School in 1977, Patrick went on to serve as a missionary for the LDS Church in Finland returning to resume his studies at Dixie Jr. College. In 1981, he formally began his career in the fine jewelry industry at McArthur Jewelers here in St. George. At McArthur’s, Patrick essentially learned the jewelry industry from the ground up. There he acquired experience in all aspects of the industry from fine jewelry design, repair, goldsmithing, gemology, horology (watch and clock manufacturing and repair) and so on. This is where he began his serious gemological studies by enrolling at the Gemological Institute of America, earning his first degree in gemology in 1988.
After several years at McArthur Jewelers, Patrick’s career allowed him the extreme luxury of holding sales consultant, staff gemologist, and management positions with firms such as Ben Bridge Jeweler, Tiffany & Co., Tourneau, and Graff Diamonds. Along the way, he earned the title of Certified Gemologist Appraiser from the American Gem Society and then served as the Education Manager for the American Gem Society (a non-profit trade organization founded in 1934). In that capacity, Patrick spent 8 years travelling all over the country teaching seminars and classes, on a variety of subjects, throughout the jewelry and appraising industries.
Over the years, Patrick has had the privilege of becoming well acquainted with many of the most highly qualified jewelers and appraisers in the country and has participated in numerous ongoing educational forums to stay abreast of the constant challenges facing jewelers, gemologists, and appraisers.
Patrick lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, for nearly 25 years, just recently returning to St. George, and is excited to be in the fortuitous position to be able to open and operate his own independent appraisal office.