About Us
Hi, I am Miche Meizner, owner of Shining Light Jewelry. I started making jewelry in High School in 1974. Back then, girls were not allowed to sign up for the metal shop or auto shop classes. Well, thank you Clarence Green - John Dewey H.S. for single-handedly fashioning a jewelry program. This was as close as I could get to a room full of tools. I often think it turned out for the best. If they'd have let me into metal shop I might now be making air conditioning ducts instead of custom jewelry.
From there on I am mostly self taught although there were a few noteworthy educational stops on the path. I took some classes at the Revere Academy and Blaine Lewis' New Approach School for Jewelers. Both were excellent hands-on experiences under highly trained instructors. What a relief to not have to re-invent everything. I also went to the Gemological Institute of America way back in the 80's to get my certification as a Graduate Gemologist. 
My work is both handcrafted and computer assisted. I mostly work on pieces one at a time although I do have a few designs that are short production runs where I might work on several dozen at a time
Even then, each piece is personally attended to and individually worked on along the way.
I use a variety of tools and techniques from traditional hand-fabrication to a computer driven mill that can carve models from graphic images.
I am committed to running an eco-friendly shop.
My studio is 100% wind-powered through the local power utility.
I re-use and recycle as much as I can. I am always looking for new ways to conserve supplies or re-purpose tools.
I was one of the first jewelers in the US to work with sustainably mined gold and platinum from Oro Verde in Colombia. While I was glad to be part a supporter and customer of this worthy fair trade operation, it was expensive and limiting in that I could only purchase small amounts of metals per shipment. At the time there were no jewelers' suppliers in the US consistently offering casting grain or milled products made from 100% recycled materials. Over the past five years this has changed considerably.
Now I am happy to offer 100% recycled platinum, gold and silver through Hoover and Strong's Harmony Metals Program as well as Precious Metals West.
Diamonds used in our jewelry are either Canadian Goose diamonds or Certified Conflict Free.
Whenever possible I use fair trade gems as well. A couple of favorite sources are Columbia Gem House and Stachura Co.