Meet The Founders of Gemworks Fine Jewelers

Meaghan LaPrath, owner of Gemworks Fine Jewelers, Spokane WA

  • Graduate Gemologist, AJP (GIA)

    National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, Member

    Meaghan LaPrath, has been in love with jewelry, buying and assessing the quality of fine gems and diamonds, and helping her clients design heirloom quality pieces for well over two decades. Being a GIA Graduate Gemologist, AJP is at the top of her well-earned credentials.

    As a designer and appraiser of all things beautiful and rare, she finds joy in the connection those things have to our everyday lives. She lives in her home state of Washington, but secretly, her heart lives in the diamond district of NYC.

    If you hadn’t already guessed, Meaghan is highly experienced in both wholesale and retail fine jewelry and is a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. She graduated from Eastern Washington University - BA Interdisciplinary Studies (Business Administration and Women And Gender Studies), summa cum laude.

    Meaghan loves helping people, all things gems and jewelry, animals and nature. She also adores and is thankful for her fiancé and partner in life and in jewelry, Nic Brotherton.

    On occasion when they aren’t making or appraising jewelry, traveling to NYC or Alaska, visiting as many National Parks and renowned museums as possible or eating great food in the company of great friends - they enjoy spending time at home alongside their chunky tabby cat and tiny cattle dog. In a past life, Meaghan was a dancer, teacher and choreographer.

    BUSINESS‍ ‍

    • Owner, Gemworks Fine Jewelers (previously, owner of Paragon Gem Services)‍ ‍

    Twenty plus years experience in the gem and fine jewelry trade encompassing: fine diamond and gemstone sourcing and buying, retail jewelry sales and operations, jewelry design, extensive New York ‘diamond district’ and trade show travel, gem and diamond sourcing and evaluation, in-store continuing education directorship, product development and quality control, general consultation for law enforcement and legal proceedings, jewelry related insurance claim estimates and replacements, estate evaluation services and appraising.

    EDUCATION‍ ‍

    Gemological Institute of America - Worldwide Headquarters: Carlsbad, CA

    • Graduate Gemologist, Accredited Jewelry Professional

    Eastern Washington University - Cheney, WA

    • Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies - Summa Cum Laude

    • Minors: Business Administration and Women’s and Gender Studies

    Spokane Falls Community College - Spokane, WA

    • Associate of Arts

    AFFILIATIONS, COURSES & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS‍ ‍

    • Gemological Institute of America - Alumni Association

    • GIA Continuing Education Recognition Program

    • National Association of Jewelry Appraisers – Member

    • Jewelry Appraisal Basics skills assessment examination from the Jewelers Board of Appraisal Review (JBAR)

    • Cultured Pearl Association of America cultured pearl course ‘Pearls as One’, CPAA Certified Pearl Specialist

Nic Brotherton, owner of Gemworks Fine Jewelers, Spokane WA

  • JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler

    Nic Brotherton, JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler was born and raised in Alaska, and now resides in Spokane, Washington with his fiancé and business partner, Meaghan LaPrath.

    Like most Alaskans, he feels the Pacific Northwest has small mountains and not enough snow. Thankfully, these shortcomings don’t bother him too much as he lives, eats and breathes jewelry. It is his true calling and true passion. Occasionally, Nic takes time off to visit family, drive fast cars and spend time with his beloved cattle dog.

    He specializes in advanced diamond and stone setting, hand engraving and hand fabrication with precious metals. This passion is what drives him to create authentically handmade creations using only the finest and rarest gems and metals.

    In addition to his hand fabricated jewelry, Nic hand carves wax designs and uses the latest technology of CAD (computer modeled jewelry design). This means no matter what you are dreaming about making – Nic does it and does it right. It’s not surprising that even as a true master craftsman, Nic is never satisfied by being a ‘good enough’ jeweler. He continually perfects and enriches his skills by investing in continuing education.

    Over the last 10+ years Nic has enriched his knowledge with the following immersive courses:

    • ‘Knife and Gun Engraving’ - Steve Dunn, instructor (GRS)

    • ‘Platinum Fabrication Plus’ - Blaine Lewis and Drew Hadley, instructors (New Approach School for Jewelers)

    • ‘Advanced Stone Setting’ - Blaine Lewis and Drew Hadley, instructors (New Approach School for Jewelers)

    • ‘Stone Setting Pavé’ - Alexandre Sidorov, instructor (Antwerp, Belgium)

    • ‘Professional Stone Setting’ - Ron Finch, instructor (GRS)

    • ‘Ornamental Hand Engraving’ - Jason Marchiafava, instructor (New Approach School for Jewelers)

    • ‘Advanced Pavé’ - Jason Marchiafava, instructor (New Approach School for Jewelers)

    • ‘Advanced Portrait Engraving and Multicolor Inlay’ - Jeff Parke, Instructor (Instructors Private Studio)

    • ‘GRS Grand Masters Program 2025: Creative Stone Setting’ - Michael Robinson, Instructor (GRS)

Why Our passion & Expertise Matters to You

In a world where any person in the jewelry industry can sell you a diamond, make you a custom ring or provide you with an ‘appraisal’ - now more than ever, real expertise matters. We are passionate about what we do and how we do it, and invite you to discover for yourself the Gemworks Fine Jewelers difference.

Gemworks Fine Jewelers believes that:

  • No one custom making or having jewelry repaired should be subject to a mysterious experience - left wondering if they paid too much, what exactly it is that they just bought or if the work on their jewelry was done properly and at a fair price.

  • No one should feel uncomfortable or feel taken advantage of when selling an estate, gold or diamonds.

  • No one should pay exorbitant premiums to insure their jewelry just because appraisal values assigned by a retailer have been inflated to make you feel ‘good’ about your purchase.

  • No one overseeing an estate should be stressing and guessing what items have monetary value and which ones do not or how to distribute such valuables in an unbiased and equitable manner.

Helping to provide you with the personal jewelry or appraisal experience you deserve is the sole mission of Gemworks Fine Jewelers.