The Artisan Behind JewelryRetouching.com

From the Los Angeles Jewelry District to Being Of The Best Known Jewelry Retouchers

My journey began 22 years ago in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. I was flown in from Europe to lead photography and retouching for a well known jewelry house Kobelli in the city’s historic jewelry district, Hill Street to be precise. Back then, the industry was in its infancy – there were no online tutorials how to retouch jewelry or online teachers. It was just me, my Photoshop and laptop, and a commitment to just do it.

I created jewelry retouching website (another domain) back then and me and another company were the only 2 websites listed by google for few years. Nobody else was doing jewelry retouching.

While I worked inside high-security jewelry vaults in the LA Jewelry District, especially in Hill Street, cameras were strictly forbidden. What I carry from that era isn’t a gallery of the vaults, but the surgical precision and absolute accountability required when handling $100,000 diamond assets.

I didn’t just edit photos; I lived it. I photographed the pieces myself and hand-retouched every image – polishing precious metals, balancing gemstone fire, and removing imperfections with a high level of detail and the bosses were happy.

High-Stakes Precision & Security 

The pieces I handled weren’t costume jewelry – they were high-value diamond jewelry, often priced between $3,000 and $100,000. Working in the high-security vaults of LA – much like in the Adam Sandler film Uncut Gems – I learned that discretion and care are just as important as the final edit. Every ring and pendant was a masterpiece that required absolute accountability. I was so thrilled working in those vaults. It brings back goose bumps.

Just working with the millionares that owned the whole Hill Street block was something new for me. Then I returned to Europe after 3 months when my visa free stay was coming to en end and I started working online for same clients and slowly building my online jewelry retouching portfolio. 

I worked with major jewelry companies. It was a blast. I could travel, worked online etc. I was one of the first freelancers / travellers back then. I stayed mostly in Thailand, Bali during those days and worked remote. Back then people did not travel yet so much to Thailand and stayed there half a year like now they are doing.

Today, I bring that same “Los Angeles Standard” to clients worldwide through JewelryRetouching.com. Whether you are an independent small or a global luxury brand, your images are treated with the same care focus I’ve maintained since day one.

Trusted by the Private Sales and ‘Flawless’ departments at Phillips Auction House, providing high-fidelity retouching for investment-grade contemporary jewelry.