That is a great question and something I have often that about during my 14+ years in the business. To answer the question, I think it's different for each and everyone. I believe externals do play a huge role in shaping our tastes for anything to do with being drawn to items of this nature. Just as if somewhere were to like artwork. Is it an acquired taste or something we're born with is very difficult to truly ever know for sure in my humble opinion. But, I do know that in my experience, when I really started full time in the business is when I fell in love with diamonds rather quickly. I have been somewhat exposed to jewelry in some way, shape or form my entire life, but when I really started working with them closely and understanding what I was seeing when I looked in the stone, what the 3 types of light were returning to my eyes, that's when it really set in for me in that aspect. Watches were next and designer clothing has always, since early childhood, been something I've been into so therefore when branding of jewelry became such a mainstay I took to it immediately. TO sum it up I truly think it depends on a combination of variables....Our surroundings, what we're exposed to, what experiences we have when those two things happen, and then some of it basic instinct, as well.