Founder Story

Hewan Zewdi

Hello! My name is Hewan Zewdi, and I was born and raised in Ethiopia, where the art of smithing is a cherished tradition. My fascination with gemstones began in my early years after a vivid dream and was further fueled by reading "Gemstones of East Africa" by Peter C. Keller. Despite the lack of gemological education in Ethiopia, I pursued my passion in the United States, earning my certification from the Gemological Institute of America. Since then, I have been deeply involved in gemstone trading. In 2009, Ethiopian gems gained international prominence, but I noticed unfair pricing strategies at a gem show in Denver. This inspired me to found Agere Treasures in 2015 to empower independent suppliers by evaluating their gems and ensuring they receive fair market value.