Profile

Ms. Michelle Jirkovsky

Gemological Institute of America

Contact Details

Gemological Institute of America

Bio

Michelle Jirkovsky, under her stage name of ​Gigi Marco, brings a unique set of skills and experiences to her role as show host at JTV. After attending Stanford University, where she pursued a degree in Art History, she enrolled in a Master’s program in Art Business at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, England. There, she received unsurpassed instruction in the buying, handling, displaying, and selling of fine jewelry, art, and other luxury goods.

Though her family has been in the jewelry industry for four generations, her great knowledge and passion for jewelry came to a head while obtaining her Graduate Gemology degree in 2005. At the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the preeminent global leader in gem grading and education, she was exposed to a huge variety of fine quality gemstones, as well as insight and guidance from some of the foremost authorities in the gem world. She expanded her knowledge and experience of precious stones by traveling through Australia while she was a law student at the University of Sydney. Visiting opal mines, diamond mines, pearl farms, and sapphire cutting centers provided an invaluable opportunity to make global connections and experience the jewelry pipeline from rough stone to jewelry store window. She is also an expert in legal matters of intellectual property such as design, copyright, trademark, and contracts pertaining to the jewelry industry.​​

After a brief stint with a law firm in New York, Gigi opened her own jewelry store in her hometown of San Diego, California, where she specialized in bridal jewelry. She is a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, the Women’s Jewelry Association, the National Association of Professional Women, and the Jewelers of America. In her spare time, Gigi enjoys traveling, mining, studying for her FGA degree, reading, cooking, playing the harp, singing, and spending time with her husband and three dogs, Luna, Ruby, and Bella Luce.​