Before long, Chuck and his sweetheart, Rhonda, were married, and he had traded medical school for gemology training in California at the Gemologist Institute of America (GIA), the world’s leading authority on precious stones of all kinds.
Today, Van Atkins Jewelers is one of Mississippi’s most distinguished purveyors of fine jewelry, offering a vast selection of high-quality jewelry, from custom gifts and engagement rings to designer fashions. However, it’s most widely renowned for the Coopers’ stock and knowledge of rare estate jewelry. They happily appraise heirloom pieces and help family members divide inherited collections. In some cases, when families aren’t able or interested in keeping the jewelry, the Coopers acquire it for resale. “We tell them the piece has had a beautiful life already, and it’s about to start a new life,” says Chuck.
