Publications & Sites 
Lake Zurich citizen of the year earns jewelry award
Mike Roscoe preps his workspace Friday for a day of custom jewelry making at Timothy Grant Jewelry in Lake Zurich. | Joe Cyganowski~For Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: September 11, 2012 8:59AM
LAKE ZURICH — Last year, Tim Seifert designed a banjo — but it didn’t play music.
Made of fine-wire steel strings with an acrylic drumhead, the gold banjo had an inlay of diamonds and pearls that fit in the palm of one’s hand.
A local musician, who wanted a replica of his wife’s banjo as a surprise gift, commissioned the pendant.
The elaborate piece of jewelry earned Seifert, a master goldsmith and platinumsmith, two awards.
“It was a lot of different and a lot of fun,” he said.
Custom jewelry is Seifert’s forte. In 1997, he opened his namesake shop, Timothy Grant Jewelry, located at 927 South Rand Road in Lake Zurich.
Two years ago, Seifert took over a second jewelry store, this one located at 10 South Roselle Road in Schaumburg.
Seifert now splits his workweek between the two locations, and spends most of his time working one-on-one with customers.
Seifert is supported by a team that specializes in distinctive custom design, including a goldsmith and gemologist.
In addition to jewelry creation and repairs, Timothy Grant Jewelry carries designer collections.
He reported that recently he has seen a resurgence in silver-based designs. He explained that the rising cost of gold has likely contributed to silvers’ resurgence.
“It’s a much bigger look for a lot less money,” he said.
Another new trend, Seifert said, is more people are opting for wedding bands that incorporate material like triton, stainless steel, titanium, wood, ceramic and carbon fiber into the traditional gold and silver wedding ring.
Surrounding a big colorful stone with petite diamonds is another popular look these days, he added.
But for those who long for a one-of-a-kind ring or necklace, Seifert and his staff work with customers to draft a design that can be manufactured on site.
The most common process for making jewelry involves creating a wax replica for customer approval, Seifert explained. Metal is then melted in a plaster molding based on the wax creation. After cooling the piece, it is filed, polished and the stones are set.
He said hand fabrication is a more laborious method for making jewelry, but the shop will do it if the work demands. Seifert said it takes up to 24 working hours to pound and bend metal into a desired piece.
Timothy Grant Jewelry is not only an award-winning business but it also operates as an active contributor in the community.
The company actively raises money for various charitable foundations and most recently hosted a golf outing that delivered more than $17,000 to Shane’s Foundation.
Created in memory of the Seiferts’ two-year-old son Shane, who died in a home accident, the foundation raises awareness about the dangers falling furniture poses to children.
For his significant contributions to the betterment of the community, the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce named Seifert its 2011 Citizen of the Year.
Just as he credited his jewelry stores’ talented staff, Seifert shares the honor with his wife, Lisa.
“I know we’ve done good work,” he said.
