About

Hi! I'm Michelle, the owner of Gem Fatale, and I'm so happy you're here. ♥ For me, owning a crystal shop is not a hobby, trend, or get-rich-quick scheme.

You might say owning a crystal shop has always been in the stars for me...

In the 1980's, my parents immigrated to the United States. They weren't able to settle into their careers right away, so they found a temporary job selling - you guessed it - crystals. I remember being absolutely mesmerized by a jar of crystals my parents kept in the house. Rose quartz, tiger's eye, hematite, onyx - I wanted to collect them all!

Growing up, I was quiet, shy, and preferred to be alone 99% of the time. Making friends was a challenge, and I found myself feeling like I didn't belong. On top of that, I was raised in an extremely conservative Christian Asian home. I wasn't allowed to go out, listen to the radio, or read Harry Potter (just to name a few). I guess not having many friends made it easier. Things began to improve in college when I gained some confidence and social skills, but no matter how many "friends" I had, or parties I attended, I still felt lost.

In 2013, everything changed. I moved to San Francisco on my own, not knowing a single soul. Aside from the expected anxiety, everything seemed okay. However, within a matter of months, I began to develop OCD. I didn't realize it right away, and next thing I knew, it was completely out of control. Getting out of bed seemed impossible, my showers took hours, I was washing my hands 50+ times each morning...the list goes on.

I felt trapped inside my body. It was debilitating.

So I did the only thing I could do - I quit my job and moved home. Let's get one thing straight - I'm not one to give up easily, but I'm also not afraid to admit defeat. At that point, the state of my mental health was bleeding into friendships, relationships, and my job. I needed help, but more importantly, I was ready to get help.

Mental health was not widely understood let alone talked about. It still isn't. Even after opening up to people about my condition, they couldn't understand how something they couldn't physically see was affecting me so deeply. I was told that I talked about it too much, that I was lazy, and to get over it. Once again, I felt alone.

Fast forward to 2020, I found myself stuck in quarantine and having an existential crisis. Tomorrow wasn't promised and the pandemic put things into perspective. I began spending my time learning new things and exploring new interests. One thing I had always been curious about was tarot (don't tell my parents ✖). I got my hands on a deck and while I was interviewing the deck, it requested that I create a crystal grid. I know how that sounds, and at the time I wasn't sure how much I believed, but I had time so I obliged. I went to a local crystal shop and bought what I needed to set up the grid.

If you're visiting this website, I'm sure you can guess what happened next.

My love for crystals was reignited.

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Growing up feeling overlooked and left out made me value human kindness. OCD, depression, and anxiety taught me empathy and patience. Combined with my passion for helping others, starting a crystal shop just made sense.

In the fall of 2020, I launched my crystal shop. I hoped to create a community where everyone felt welcome, accepted, and heard. But first, I needed a name. After the pandemic hit, fate was redefined. I wanted a name that reflected both the beauty and precariousness of loving crystals, while emphasizing the mystery of fate itself. Hence the name, Gem Fatale.

Crystals helped me find my true self.

They taught me not to base my worth on the opinions of others. They encouraged me to embrace my weirdness and creativity. They showed me there's more to life than money and success. They revealed the true colors of those around me. They brought me back from the darkness.

I want to give people something to look forward to. Even if it's as small as a crystal tumble. Because no matter what you believe, one thing is for certain - crystals bring happiness and togetherness.

The universe reminds us time and time again that life is short. So go on that trip. Start that business. Find that thing that makes your heart shine bright. After all, fate should sparkle.

Gem Fatale ✦ Est. 2020

Thank you so much for visiting my shop!
I hope you find something that makes you smile. ☻