llyn strong’s Gemstone Roundtable is a special in-person event in Midtown Greenville where guests gather around food, drinks, conversation, and loose gemstones. Instead of shopping from a traditional jewelry case, guests get to see, handle, compare, and choose gemstones in a relaxed social setting. The event is personal, colorful, and full of creative possibility. Guests can call “dibs” on the stones they love most, build a personal stone pallet, and talk with the llyn strong team about turning favorite gems into custom fine art jewelry.
Read about the 2026 Gemstone Roundtable recap or watch our video on TikTok.
The Gemstone Roundtable at llyn strong is not a typical jewelry shopping appointment. It feels more like a gathering of people who appreciate color, craft, and the stories hidden inside beautiful materials.
Guests sit together, enjoy food and drinks, and pass around folded stone papers filled with loose gemstones or beads. Each packet brings something different to the table. A flash of blue. A rich green. A strange cut. A stone with texture, movement, or a color that seems impossible to ignore.
The mood is relaxed and conversational. Some guests arrive with a custom jewelry idea already in mind. Others simply want to look, learn, and see what catches their eye. There is no pressure to buy.
That is part of what makes the event so loved.
During the event, guests pass folded stone papers around the table, opening each one to see the loose gems inside. If a gemstone stands out, a guest can call “dibs” on it.
From there, selected stones are placed on a personal stone pallet. This gives each person a chance to see their choices together, compare colors, notice patterns, and begin understanding what they are naturally drawn to.
Some pallets become bright and bold. Others feel soft, tonal, or deeply symbolic. A guest might find themselves choosing stones that remind them of a place, a person, a birth month, a family story, or simply a color they cannot stop looking at.
One of the most personal parts of the Gemstone Roundtable is the chance to hold stones connected to your own story. Birthstones are especially meaningful because they can represent your birth month, your children, your partner, your parents, or a family line you want to honor through custom jewelry.
Use our birthstone guide as a starting point, then come see which colors, cuts, and textures feel most like you in person.
The meaning of the spinel birthstone is often connected to strength, renewal, resilience, and enduring beauty, making this August gemstone especially relevant for jewelry that
Spinel deserves a comeback because it offers remarkable color, lasting durability, and a fascinating history that rivals many better-known gemstones. Once mistaken for ruby and
This is part of our birthstone education series. Read more in our Birthstones by Month Guide. Alexandrite birthstone magic comes from its rare ability to shift
Gemstones look different when they are outside of a jewelry case. At the Gemstone Roundtable, guests can hold loose stones, turn them in the light, notice their depth of color, and compare how each gem feels beside another. A stone that looks quiet at first may suddenly glow in your hand. Another may surprise you with its shape, texture, or natural pattern.
Popular gems often include sapphires, tourmalines, garnets, aquamarines, pearls, opals, emeralds, rubies, spinel, topaz, citrine, moonstone, turquoise, tanzanite, and diamonds. Some guests are drawn to classic birthstones. Others fall for unusual cuts, unexpected color shifts, or beads that feel rich with movement.
This hands-on setting makes it easier to understand what you actually love. You are not just looking at jewelry. You are choosing the raw materials for something personal, artful, and lasting.
One of the biggest questions guests ask is simple: “What should I do with these beautiful gemstones?”
That is where the llyn strong team brings real value. A loose gemstone may be stunning on its own, but it becomes even more meaningful when it is placed into a design with intention. During the event, designers can sketch ideas and help guests imagine what their chosen stones could become.
A gemstone might become the center of a custom ring. A group of colorful stones might inspire a necklace. A pair of gems could become earrings. Beads may lead to a bracelet with texture, rhythm, and personal meaning.
The goal is not to rush the process. It is to help each guest see the artistic potential in the stones they love most.
Gemstone Roundtables often lead to pieces that feel deeply individual. Some designs are bold and sculptural. Others are delicate but still full of story. Many clients use the event as a starting point for milestone jewelry, anniversary gifts, birthday pieces, heirloom additions, or personal pieces they have wanted to create for years.
Selected gemstones can be used for:
A single gemstone can become the centerpiece of a custom ring, or several stones can be grouped together for a more layered design.
Pendant designs allow color, shape, and symbolism to take center stage. A special stone can rest close to the heart.
Gemstones and beads can create bracelets that feel personal, artful, and connected to a specific story or season of life.
Pairs do not always have to match perfectly. Color, contrast, and asymmetry can make custom earrings feel expressive and modern.
Some stones call for something less expected. The team can help imagine brooches, statement pieces, or custom designs that feel more like small-scale sculptures.
llyn strong has been designing bold, luxury jewelry since 1972. Her work is known for color, scale, originality, and strong visual impact. Clients come to the shop + studio for pieces that feel personal and artistic, not mass-produced.
Her design career has earned major industry recognition, including multiple AGTA Spectrum Awards. That level of recognition matters, but so does the way she sees a stone. llyn has a gift for noticing possibility, for seeing how color, shape, and setting can become something with presence.
At the Gemstone Roundtable, that history is part of the conversation.
Sydney Strong brings another layer of expertise to the event. With training from GIA and a background connected to gemstones, jewelry design, chemistry, and geology, Sydney helps guests understand what they are seeing and why certain stones may work well in specific designs.
Her knowledge helps bridge beauty and practicality. Some gemstones are better suited for rings. Others may be ideal for pendants or earrings. Some cuts invite bold settings. Others need a lighter hand.
That guidance helps guests make confident choices while still allowing room for instinct and personal taste.
The Gemstone Roundtable began in 2009 when llyn strong was located on Main Street in downtown Greenville. The events quickly became a favorite for clients who wanted a more personal way to shop for gemstones.
Today, the tradition continues at our current llyn strong shop + studio in Midtown Greenville at 1322 East Washington St, Suite C1, Greenville, SC 29607.
The location has changed, but the heart of the event remains the same: good conversation, beautiful stones, thoughtful design, and a room full of people who love jewelry with meaning.
Gemstone Roundtables happen twice a year, in the spring and fall. Each Roundtable includes weekend and weekday options so guests can choose the gathering that best fits their schedule.
Saturday and Sunday brunches are held from 1–4 p.m. Weekday dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday are held from 6–9 p.m.
Attendance is free, but seating is limited. Because these events are personal and table-based, guests are encouraged to reserve a spot early.
The Gemstone Roundtable is for anyone who loves gemstones, custom jewelry, conversation, and the creative process. You do not need to arrive with a finished idea. You only need curiosity and an eye for what speaks to you.
To reserve a seat at the next Gemstone Roundtable, call 864-233-5900 or email info@llynstrong.com.
Join llyn strong in Midtown Greenville for a table full of fine art gems, thoughtful design ideas, and the kind of conversation that can turn a loose stone into something lasting.
Read about the 2026 Gemstone Roundtable recap or watch our video on TikTok.
