Conversations with Carly Morris

Hi Carly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! My name is Carly and I am the owner and lead designer at ECM Gems. I am a GIA Graduate Gemologist™️ and private jeweler. My interest in fine jewelry started back in 2015 when one of my friends asked me to go look at engagement ring options with her. She thought she was getting engaged pretty soon and didn’t know what she wanted. I didn’t know anything about diamonds or jewelry except that they were pretty and expensive, but I went with her for support, thinking it would be fun! I was immediately blown away by all the different shapes, colors, and designs that were out there! I was also shocked that the pricing seemed to be all over the place… I went home and started doing some research on my own and came across the “4 C’s”, many different types of gemstones, and lots of incredible design styles.

I started to dream about what my future jewelry collection could look like and got the idea to design my own class ring. I was a few months away from graduating from The University of Texas, and I wanted a class ring that was a little more feminine and had lots of diamonds on it! This was my first experience designing a piece of fine jewelry and I was hooked! Other people noticed my ring and began asking if I could make one for them as well. I figured out how to start manufacturing them and began to think, “wow, this could be a career for me”!

When I graduated, I knew that I needed to see if this passion of mine had legs. So I took a job at a big-box jewelry retailer to get experience. I was hired as a part-time, seasonal, salesperson, but quickly rose to a management-level position within a year. During that year, most of my sales were “from scratch” custom designs instead of selling what was ready to wear from the jewelry cases. I also noticed and that customers were coming to the store specifically to work with me.

At this point, I was craving more design freedom and closer connections with my clients. I decided to leave my position at the store and try to do it on my own. I knew that I would need more credentials and education to be the best for my clients, so I applied to study at the Gemological Institute of America, the top gemological lab in the world. I was accepted into their Graduate Gemology program and, at the time, was supposed to start class in a few weeks. Unfortunately, Covid hit and the campus closed down. While disappointing, I was able to use that time to build my own website, design my first collection, and establish a presence on social media.

A year later, the GIA reopened, and classes resumed. I was in heaven! It was laboratory-based learning, the curriculum was fascinating, and I was excelling. My 11 classmates from all over the world became my second family and we conquered the course together. After graduation, I moved back to Texas and my business hit the ground running. Three years later, I have been extremely fortunate to always have a handful of projects to work on and to have exceeded the lofty sales goals I’ve set for myself each year. I feel that the attention and education my clients get when working with me speaks for itself, and I owe the majority of my success to the clients that share their experiences with others and refer their friends and family to me.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Breaking into the jewelry industry was not an easy task. It is a traditionally male-dominated, family/generational industry, where if you don’t already have connections to the best wholesalers, gem-cutters, and manufacturers, making them is a challenge. I’ve had my fair share of jewelers underestimate me because I am a “first-generation” jeweler but I quickly learned that those weren’t the people to take advice from or work with.

Fortunately, through my studies at the GIA, networking at trade shows, and making connections on social media, I have found an amazing community of jewelers that don’t subscribe to that mindset and are willing to collaborate and help each other in any way they can.

My 3 main areas of business are bridal (engagement rings and men’s and women’s wedding bands), heirloom redesigns, and custom jewelry.

The design process always starts with an educational consultation with me (which is free!). Here I see how much you already know about jewelry and gemstones and make sure to fill in any gaps. I want all of my clients to know exactly what they are purchasing and to feel empowered doing so. The jewelry industry can be very secretive and that can make the process intimidating, my goal is to demystify the process and make it as straightforward as possible. My clients know that I am on their team and will do everything I can to make sure they get the best experience and best product as possible.