About HinsonGayle Fine Pearl Jewelry
HinsonGayle LLC is a pearl jewelry company that specializes in creating traditional and unique jewelry designs from select pearls sourced onsite in Asia. HinsonGayle's collection of fine pearl jewelry is available from the company's exclusive online boutique at HGpearls.com. The company was founded by Gregory Guest (see bio) and is based in Anderson, South Carolina.

Gregory's academic and professional experience has made him known to many as a China expert. As most people know, China is now the world's leading cultivator of pearls. Gregory's interest in pearl jewelry started some years ago during one of his many flights to Shanghai. He noticed a flight attendant who was wearing a strikingly unique pearl necklace and he was intrigued by the fact that she was attracting attention and compliments from many passengers. He was curious about how he could introduce women back home to pearls as alluring as the ones she was wearing.

Of course, as a man Gregory could not be a walking salesperson for pearl jewelry. He also didn't know anything about pearls! But Gregory did speak excellent Chinese and had the unique ability to connect with Chinese people. He had what it would take to learn everything about pearls directly from the people who supply jewelers around the world.

Gregory had helped his grandmother buy a pearl necklace when she visited him in Beijing and over time he began helping his clients and friends buy pearl jewelry when they were in China. As he learned more about pearls, Gregory was convinced that he could start a pearl jewelry business in America and he mentioned the idea to his colleague Jayne. She asked Gregory to buy some pearls on his next trip so that she could see some examples. She loved the pearls he brought home to her and so did her friends and family members!

His dream had always been to own his own business, and pearl jewelry seemed to be the perfect fit for Gregory's Chinese language skills and entrepreneurial spirit. The next step was to select a name for his company. He had, unfortunately, lost his mother to breast cancer eight years earlier. Knowing how much Gregory loved and missed his mom, Jayne suggested that he name the company after his mother. And that is exactly what he did. HinsonGayle is his mother's name and maiden name in reverse. Gregory knows that his mother would be crazy about the pearl jewelry and he is proud to have named the company in honor of her memory.

Over the past six years, Gregory has continued to educate himself about pearls. He has formed excellent relationships with Chinese pearl traders and has learned a lot about the different types of pearls and how they can be used to create stunning pieces of jewelry. In his pursuit to create unique pearl jewelry that is different from what is offered at most jewelry stores, he is constantly soliciting feedback from female friends and customers.

One of Gregory's greatest strengths in the pearl jewelry business is his ability to speak fluent Chinese. This has allowed him to quickly learn the pearl industry and speak intelligently to Chinese pearl traders about their products. The relationships Gregory has built with pearl traders, his attention to detail, and his endless pursuit to source high quality pearls where they are cultivated are the key elements that elevate HinsonGayle's reputation among pearl connoisseurs.

HinsonGayle appreciates the timeless quality of classic pearl jewelry and also strives to bring pearls to the forefront of modern jewelry design. HinsonGayle Fine Pearl Jewelry is exclusively marketed on the company's web store at HGpearls.com. The HinsonGayle brand is also available to premium local jewelers and retail stores that want to create a market niche for premium pearl jewelry in their community.

Thank you and enjoy your visit at HGpearls.com!

About the Founder
HinsonGayle LLC was founded by Gregory Guest. A native of South Carolina, Gregory was born in Charleston and grew up in Summerville. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clemson University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Financial Management. Gregory was recognized as Clemson's "Most Distinguished Finance Graduate 1998" and also holds the distinction of being Clemson's first student to study abroad in China.

In 1995, during the second semester of his freshman year of college, Gregory began to develop an interest in Chinese culture and China's economic development. He was amazed that such a large and historically important country as China could achieve nearly two decades of rapid economic growth, yet not even register on the radar screens of many major American universities and businesses. Gregory understood that China's economy would one day reach critical mass such that it would inevitably play a major role in world politics and trade, and that China could not be ignored by America for much longer.

In addition to pursuing his interest in business and financial markets, Gregory decided that he wanted to learn as much about China as possible. Prior to the creation of Clemson University's China Program, Gregory personally organized and obtained Clemson's administrative approval for a yearlong study at one of China's top universities. He spent his senior year studying Chinese language at Tsinghua University in Beijing in 1997-1998 and became the first Clemson student to receive academic credit for Chinese. Gregory also urged Clemson's leadership to establish a Chinese language program, a Chinese track in the school's Language and International Trade program, and study abroad opportunities for Clemson students in China; the establishment of all three programs has since been realized at Clemson University.

Prior to founding HinsonGayle LLC, Gregory held several professional positions. He has served as a management consultant with Accenture and as a financial analyst for Cummins Engine Company. Several years after college, Gregory returned to Beijing to pursue advanced Chinese language training. After spending several years living and interacting with locals in China, Gregory gained significant insight into Chinese culture and customs. It was also during his second stint in China that Gregory began to learn about pearls.

Gregory dedicated several years of his life to intense study of the Chinese language, and this is how he developed excellent Mandarin speaking skills. After returning from China the second time, he accepted a position to serve as the Asia Pacific Manager for the South Carolina Department of Commerce. This position provided Gregory with the opportunity to utilize his advanced Chinese language skills and unique understanding of business culture in China. He was responsible for developing business and government ties between South Carolina and China and helping to recruit Chinese investment into the state. His accomplishments included spearheading the successful hosting of China's largest-ever official trade delegation to the United States, led by Vice Premier Wu Yi, during her 2006 visit to South Carolina; leading South Carolina Trade and Investment Missions to China and Japan; and arranging and participating in meetings with high level Chinese and U.S. government and business leaders.

Gregory's professional experience, talent and exceptional ability to deal with Chinese pearl traders in their native language have come together to make HinsonGayle a success. His endless pursuit of premium pearls, passion for creating unique designs, and determination to build a world-class pearl jewelry brand are the driving forces behind HinsonGayle Fine Pearl Jewelry.