The Color Source - Meet Pam Welborn

Meet Pam Welborn

Pam Welborn established The Color Source, a wholesale gem, pearl and diamond company, in 1985 in Texas. Since that time she has been involved in the selection of rough crystals, the cutting of gems and the marketing of finished gems to jewelry designers and retail jewelers. Recently, The Color Source has partnered with several jewelry designers to produce a line of finished jewelry for the corporate gift market.

After acquiring her graduate gemologist diploma in 1982, Pam worked in the retail jewelry field and also taught evening classes in gemology at the Tarrant County Junior College, TX. Since establishing her company in 1985, she has focused on providing the jewelry trade with well cut colored gems, with particular emphasis on the jewelry designer market.

Having learned stone cutting, both faceting and cabochon work in the mid 1980's, she has been aware of the definite need for education concerning the characteristics of a well cut gemstone.

The goal and purpose of this web site is to give the gem and jewelry enthusiast as well as those in the jewelry trade unbiased information on the selection, care, value, and characteristics of gem materials. Pam feels that as people gain more knowledge about colored gems, they will appreciate the beauty and rarity and will be able to intelligently evaluate a gem's quality. It is Pam's belief that people should be purchasing gems from a solid basis of factual and truthful information. One should not purchase gems based on trust but based on knowledge. However, one should buy from someone trustworthy to provide the high quality service deserved. Service and product knowledge are two different things. This web site will provide you with the knowledge to make an informed decision on your purchase of gems so that it will no longer be a blind item purchase. It will also give you information on how to select a jeweler who will be knowledgeable and professional in handling your gem purchases and jewelry selections.

Education

University of Texas at Austin, TX–B.A. 1970
Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.),
Santa Monica, CA–Graduate Gemologist, 10-82
Gordon Jewelry Corp., Management Training Course 6-83
G.I.A. Colored Stone Grading Course 8-84
G.I.A. Gemology Update Seminars 1984, 1985
G.I.A. Faceting of Colored Stones Course 6-91
G.I.A. Second International Gemological Symposium 6-91
U.T. Arlington, TX Mineralogy course 1992
Tarrant County Junior College, TX Geology courses 1992
North Lake College, Dallas, TX Creative Jewelry Design 5-96
G.I.A. Third International Gemological Symposium 6-99
G.I.A. Extension Class- Update on Gem Treatments 10-99
G.I.A. Extension Class- Advanced Diamond Grading 2-00
Lone Star G.I.A. Gemology Seminar 9-00
G.I.A. Seminar-Synthetic Gems-Update 2-00
G.I.A. Seminar-Synthetic Gems-Update 2-01
GemFest-Texas 9-03

Professional Organizations

Texas Jewelers Association-past Board member and current member
Jewelers Board of Trade-member
Past President-North Texas Alumni Assoc. G.I.A., Charter member
Past President –Lone Star Alumni Assoc. G.I.A., Charter member
Austin Gem & Mineral Society-member
Women's Jewelry Association- Southwest Chapter- Charter member