Rocks is a small family jewelry business located in Franklin, North Carolina. Mark and Cherry Starkweather have been serving the Sylva and Franklin communities for over a dozen years, producing fine quality gold jewelry at exceptionally low prices. They specialize in colored gemstones from around the world, set in 10k, 14k and 18k gold. They also design and build custom jewelry.

Until January, 2001 they owned and operated a family jewelry store in Sylva, NC and manufactured gold and silver jewelry for both their store and wholesale to others in Western North Carolina. In 1998, they chanced upon eBay, and their lives were changed. Within months, it was evident their ability to manufacture held a pricing edge over many of the other sellers on eBay, and customers were buying their rings as fast as they could make them. More and more, their efforts were being drawn to the web, and the decision was finally made to close their physical store front and concentrate wholly upon their internet customers.

Mark and Cherry are uniquely talented in many areas that are making their business a success. They both, for instance, hold degrees in Computer Science. Mark was a successful software developer for 15 years in the Atlanta area. Cherry has over 15 years experience in accounting and office management.

When they made the decision in the early '90's to leave the "Big City", move into mountains and finish raising their children there, they turned a hobby into a business. Mark had been cutting Fire Opals for years, and had crafted many fine pieces of jewelry just to finance his love for Opals. One thing led to another and they woke up one morning as the proud (and broke) owners their own jewelry store. They loved what they were doing, though, and together with their teenage children (Jason, Deborah, and Stephanie), started casting their own gold, setting their own stones, and finishing each piece with pride.

It's been several years now since then, and the kids are all grown. (But not, maybe grown up...)

Life goes on, and so does the business...

Since Mark and Cherry went "Internet", they're now able to run their business in their jammies at 2:00 in the morning if they feel like it. They cast and build rings in the daytime, are about happy as the law allows.