“Now cut this very carefully; it’s an emerald.”

Twelve-year-old Paul Haig, SEHS ’73, worked diligently to make sure the “stone” was cut perfectly, carefully mapping out his next move with surgical precision. Then, a little slip of the hand and he miscut. But he didn’t panic. Keeping his composure, Haig salvaged the “precious stone” and presented his immaculately trimmed “gem” to expert stonecutter Pierre Touchette, who inspected it and poured over each delicate cut.

Touchette, who taught the young Haig how to cut stones, pulled out the remaining parts of the emerald-colored 7UP bottle, which had served as the “stone” he gave Haig to practice on.

“Whatever you do, treat it like it’s the most valuable thing in your life, and do the best that you can”; Touchette’s words of wisdom to his young student left a lasting impression — and became a life lesson that Haig didn’t take lightly.

That mindset has been woven into Haig’s life and has helped him in all his ventures, whether in his jewelry business that’s celebrating 50 years of service this year, in his marriage with his wife, Diane, SECS ’83, or in his journey collecting textiles, stones, and whatever else he’s curious about at the time.

Growing up, Haig and his family didn’t stay in one place for too long as his father was a scientist whose job required frequent moves across the country. Haig bounced around from Massachusetts to California and nearly everywhere in between.

“I never saw a tree grow as a kid,” explains Haig. “I never watched anyone grow up. We were just constantly moving.”

As the family journeyed around the country, Haig and his brother went on their own adventures in each city. “My family would drive our VW Microbus as we traveled from place to place,” Haig recalls. “When we stopped somewhere, my brother and I would go collect stones. We had a 40-pound limit each, and I would end up paying my brother to put my stones in his bag.”

Haig would also frequently visit museums along the way — the LA County Museum, The Smithsonian and The Museum of Natural History — where Haig explored the exhibits, learning about textiles, stones and relics. These adventures ultimately sparked his curiosity, the driving force behind his impassioned personality.

Haig’s initial interest in stones transitioned into a passion for the gemstone business. He joined rock clubs wherever his family moved. By the time he was 14, he had his own business license to polish stones and repair items, and a year later was working for an opal dealer. Haig traveled to Seattle to work gem shows alongside his boss, who would buy and sell precious opals. Haig was like a sponge at these events, absorbing any information he could about not only stones but the business side of things.

Eventually, Haig’s family was able to set down some roots in his father’s hometown. “It was wonderful to come to Rochester and just have one place to stay,” says Haig.