Our History
Built on Experience. Rooted in Austin.
From Moran Tairy’s early years in the diamond industry to founding M.I. Trading in Austin in 2011, discover the story behind our commitment to honest, personal jewelry evaluations.
Where the Story Began
From Herzliya, Israel, to the Diamond Industry
Moran Tairy’s journey in the diamond industry began long before he founded M.I. Trading in Austin.
Growing up in Herzliya, Israel, Moran was fascinated by diamonds, particularly their rarity and the characteristics that make each stone unique. That interest eventually led him to pursue diamond-grading studies at The Institute for Diamond Studies in Israel.
In 2004, Moran began his professional career with a diamond company in Israel. His work brought him to the United States, where he gained experience buying and selling diamonds and building relationships with customers and jewelry professionals.
After spending time traveling between Israel and the United States, Moran decided to make America his home and continue building his career in the industry.
Those early years provided the foundation for the knowledge, experience, and personal approach that would eventually shape M.I. Trading.
From Israel to Austin
Finding a Place to Call Home
Moran’s career in the diamond industry took him to several cities across the United States before he found the place he wanted to call home.
He spent approximately three years in New York, a year in Indianapolis, and several months in Washington, D.C., gaining experience and building relationships along the way.
When Moran first heard about Austin, he was drawn to its reputation as a young, growing city and its warm climate. But it wasn’t until he visited that he knew he’d found something special.
“Once I stepped foot in this great city, I fell in love and decided to stay and grow with the city.”
For Moran, Austin became more than a place to live. It became the community where he would pursue his dream of owning a business and build something of his own.
In 2011, that dream became a reality when he founded M.I. Trading in Austin, Texas.
Building M.I. Trading, One Appointment at a Time
From Coffee Shop Meetings to a Private Office
2011: The early days
In the early years, Moran met customers by appointment at banks and coffee shops throughout Austin.
Growing into a private office
A dedicated space for comfortable, one-on-one appointments.
When Moran founded M.I. Trading in Austin in 2011, he didn’t start with a showroom or a traditional jewelry store. He started with his industry experience, a determination to build his own business, and a commitment to meeting customers personally.
For approximately the first five years, Moran operated entirely by appointment, meeting people at banks, coffee shops, and even local Starbucks locations to evaluate and purchase diamonds, gold, and jewelry.
Those early years weren’t always easy. Building a business from the ground up took patience, persistence, and time. But as more customers came to him, M.I. Trading steadily grew.
Eventually, Moran was scheduling as many as seven or eight appointments a day. It became clear that the business needed a dedicated space where customers could meet privately and comfortably.
Opening M.I. Trading’s first office was an important milestone. It gave Moran a place to provide the personal, one-on-one experience he had envisioned from the beginning.
Although the setting has changed, the philosophy hasn’t. M.I. Trading continues to operate by private appointment, giving customers time to ask questions, understand their jewelry’s resale value, and decide whether selling is right for them.
“I wanted a one-on-one private experience.”
Growing With Austin
A Growing Business, the Same Personal Approach
As Austin continued to grow, so did M.I. Trading.
What began with Moran meeting customers at banks and coffee shops developed into an established diamond and jewelry buying business with a dedicated private office.
Over the years, M.I. Trading expanded its buying activities beyond diamonds and gold to include estate jewelry, luxury watches, coins, sterling silver, and other valuable items.
After approximately five years of meeting customers at banks and coffee shops, Moran opened M.I. Trading’s first private office. The business operated from that space for about eight years before expanding into a larger office on the same floor of the same building.
The additional space supported the company’s growth while preserving the private, one-on-one appointment experience Moran had established from the beginning.
The team grew as well. Debra Becker joined M.I. Trading in 2022, bringing extensive experience in business administration and operations. Her work managing inventory and behind-the-scenes operations has helped support the company’s continued growth.
More recently, Gilad Bogner joined the team as an Account Executive, focusing on building business relationships and expanding M.I. Trading’s connections beyond the office.
Through these changes, one thing has remained consistent: Moran’s commitment to personal appointments, clear explanations, and giving customers the freedom to make informed decisions without pressure.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Values That Have Guided Us
Honesty, Transparency, and Respect for Every Decision
From the beginning, Moran has believed that people deserve to understand the value of what they own before deciding whether to sell it.
One of the most common questions customers bring to M.I. Trading is why a diamond ring, piece of jewelry, or inherited item may have a resale value that differs significantly from its original purchase price or insurance appraisal.
Moran believes those differences deserve a clear explanation.
Retail jewelry prices can reflect design, craftsmanship, labor, and other costs associated with bringing a piece to market. Resale value depends on different factors, including the materials, characteristics of the item, market demand, and what a buyer can reasonably expect to recover when reselling it.
Want to understand what happens when you bring in your jewelry? Learn how our evaluation process works.
Rather than simply presenting a number, Moran takes time to explain the factors behind an evaluation and answer questions openly.
He also believes in being straightforward about the business side of buying jewelry. M.I. Trading purchases items for resale, which involves costs, changing market conditions, and sometimes considerable time before an item finds its next buyer.
For Moran, fairness begins with an honest explanation. Customers deserve to understand how an item’s resale value is determined and what an offer represents.
He also recognizes that inherited jewelry and sentimental pieces may carry personal meaning beyond their market value. That meaning deserves respect, even when it doesn’t change the amount a buyer can pay.
Moran wants every customer to leave feeling informed and comfortable with their decision, whether they choose to sell or not.
Honesty. Integrity. Transparency. Fairness.
These are the principles that have guided M.I. Trading since 2011 and continue to shape its future.
Honesty
Straightforward conversations about jewelry and resale value.
Transparency
Clear explanations of what affects an item’s value.
Integrity
Respectful treatment and a consistent approach to every customer.
Fairness
Thoughtful evaluations and freedom to decide without pressure.
M.I. Trading Today
The Same Commitment, More Than a Decade Later
Today, M.I. Trading continues to serve Austin and the surrounding communities through private, one-on-one appointments for people considering selling diamonds, gold, estate jewelry, watches, coins, and other valuable items.
Moran remains personally involved in evaluating customers’ jewelry and explaining the factors that influence its resale value. Alongside him, Debra Becker helps manage the company’s day-to-day operations and customer experience, while Gilad Bogner focuses on building relationships and expanding the company’s connections within the industry.
As M.I. Trading looks toward the future, Moran hopes to continue building relationships throughout Austin and the surrounding communities while maintaining the personal attention that has defined the business from the beginning.
What started as one person’s dream in 2011 has grown into an established local business supported by a dedicated team.
And the story is still being written.
Your Questions Are Always Welcome
Learn What Your Jewelry May Be Worth
Whether you’re considering selling a diamond ring, inherited jewelry, gold, or sterling silver, you deserve clear information before making a decision.
At M.I. Trading, your private evaluation is free, and there’s no obligation to sell. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions, understand the factors affecting your items’ resale value, and consider your options.
Call 512-551-9577 to arrange a private appointment in Austin.
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