Raised in Miami, Florida, Karen Simmons joined the US Air Force in her early twenties as a medical service specialist. Upon her honorable discharge she attended the Gemological Institute of America in California. Karen’s passion for gems grew from a ripe young age both from her Uncle, George Lacy, who contributed the granite for the Austin Texas State Capitol. As well, she traveled the world as her parents were both in the airline business. Her sister collected dolls on their travels while Karen collected gems which she still has to this day.
After leaving GIA she started a gem investment company called “The Gemologist” in Bellevue Washington and sold her interests to move get married and move to Canada where she started “The Gem Gallerie” in Sherwood Park which her family ran while Karen had her six children. Her fourth was diagnosed with autism which led her to start Autism Today in 1998 hosting 67 conferences and authoring ten books.
Recently she returned to her gem passion by returning to her love of her other kind of gems and helps people who love jewelry find the jewelry they want for the best value. Her tenth book “Perfectly Clear, Buying Diamonds for Pleasure & Profit” debuted this year and is setting the pace for her to take people on gem buying trips while encouraging sophisticated investors to obtain diamonds as a significant storage of wealth which they have been for hundreds of years. Not only are they stunningly beautiful, they are also infamously durable and efficiently portable when compared to other investment classes - especially "alternate" investments. Investment grade diamonds, particularly colored gems, sell for tens of millions of dollars. Even at more modest portfolio wealth levels, diamonds add tremendous value.
Diamonds have a tenured track record of earning the spot as an "investors best friend." This once closely held secret has gained more mainstream attention as of late. Of course, investing in diamonds is serious business. It is highly advised that any gem stone investment be pursued with the expert guidance of a professional that has a proven track record in this niche.
In the world of diamond investing, opportunity abounds in the form of a shining future!
