Geraldine Kish Perry • Principal Designer, Goldsmith
Geraldine Kish Perry has created custom pieces and developed models for new design lines in our studio since 2004, when she was grudgingly hired by founding partner Robert Fairbank to occupy the workbench opposite his. Despite Robert’s initial misgivings about sharing his small studio, they found they worked so well together that, in June of 2007, Geraldine joined him as a principal of Goldsmiths 3. Almost at once, they began the transition to the refreshed and inspired company now known as Fairbank and Perry Goldsmiths, and in 2010 moved the shop to a bright new spot on Main Street.
Geraldine is a graduate and former instructor of jewelry making from the North Bennet Street School in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was able to merge her life-long respect for fine craft with her desire to work with her hands to produce tangible, lasting, and treasured objects. Geraldine has a breadth of professional experience in precious metal fabrication, stone setting, and jewelry repair. As a designer, Geraldine seeks to create jewelry that is beautiful without being fussy, feels as good as it looks, and enhance the natural beauty of gemstones. As a goldsmith, she believes that the most beautiful designs can only arise from a meticulously constructed foundation.
In addition to her technical training, Geraldine studied design and rendering at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, as well as specialties such as blacksmithing and jewelry photography. She designs and makes original pieces for clients and for the gallery, consults with clients on custom projects, and directs production and marketing efforts when not at the bench.
Sara Pancoast • Goldsmith, Shop Manager, Social Media Maven
Sara Pancoast joined the team in 2012, and has been the key force in the hand-crafting of our designs, from building custom platinum rings to making delightful collections of ready-to-wear jewelry for our gallery. A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a major in Metals and Jewelry Design, she subsequently continued her studies at the North Bennet Street School in Boston, where she gained a strong foundation of technical skills in precious metal fabrication and stone-setting.
Over the last six years on our team, Sara's responsibilities have expanded far beyond benchwork to include maintaining and ordering all of the studio's tools and supplies, communicating with our casters, and ensuring that high quality is maintained in every step of our process. A dedicated runner, Sara applies the same discipline and commitment to pursuing excellence in the goldsmithing craft.
Sara has also taken on our social media efforts, posting almost daily on Instagram and Facebook, and giving everyone a glimpse behind the glass. Thanks to her, we're happy to be part of the 21st century... finally! Check us out!
Selma Heikkinen, G.G. • Gallery Manager, Gemologist, Goldsmith
Selma is originally from Finland, and attended the jewelry making program at North Bennet Street School around the same time as Geraldine. She then worked for several years with another local goldsmith, both at the jeweler’s bench and in the showroom. After taking time at home to raise her children to school-age, she returned to the world of fine jewelry-making by joining Fairbank and Perry in 2013 as the front woman to our operation. She is the critical liaison between our clients and our studio, often meeting with people as they first embark designing a custom piece or selecting a finished item from the showcase.
Selma has a designer’s keen eye for color, form and balance, combined with a comprehensive technical understanding of jewelry-making. Being a mother of two young children, she also knows about everyday practicality when it comes to jewelry! She enjoys guiding people through the creative custom design process, listening to our client’s needs and translating them into design options. She holds a Graduate Gemologist diploma from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and is our in-house authority both on gems we purchase and on clients’ stones we reset into new pieces.
Selma is also now working in the studio, one day a week, to apply her goldsmithing skills to making new designs for our gallery!