Keeping it Relaxed

They're BA-ACK!  The holiday tunes, that is.  Some stores (not naming names but rhymes with shmillards) started playing that infernal holiday music about 3 weeks ago, pretty much as soon as we all got over our Halloween hangovers.  Don't get us wrong, we love Christmas carols, but if you've worked retail for a combined 60 plus years, (Jay, Laina, Hawk, Kenny... the original gangsters of retail) then you know that starting in on the holiday music too early can lead to premature and serious holiday meltdowns.  The sort where you wake up in a cold sweat at 2 am because you've just dreamt that zombie bargain shoppers are beating on the front door as you watch naked,  your teeth falling into your mittened hands, while Santa Baby plays on eternal loop.  egads.

Good news is...  we celebrate our holidays one at a time, and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving, thanks for asking!  Just today we turned on a little Holiday jazz, and anticipate that our official seasonal decor will come out of hibernation on December 1. Pacing ourselves during this special time of year helps us truly enjoy our clients and allows us time to reflect and feel the gratitude we have for our bustling shop on beautiful Pearl Street.  We think you'll feel equally relaxed and comfortable when you come in to our shop during the next month.  We can't wait to see you and help you find something lovely.

Here's the latest:  6 carat (well 5.78 carats to be exact) natural black diamond pendant with white diamond accents. $3750

Sincerely, Your Fine Jewelry.

My Dear Sweet Owner,

I was a gift from someone who's totally into you.  I also happen to be very beautiful and worth quite a bit.  I know that you're gaga for me because you flaunt me to your friends daily, turning me in the light and cooing about my carat weight.  ooh la la!  Also, you nearly got into a car accident after staring at me too long while driving that one time.  Remember?  So I don't mean to be rude, and forgive me for asking, but if you love me then why you wanna treat me so bad?

I am a fine fine fine piece of jewelry, painstakingly created from precious metal and gemstones and toiled over for many hours by hand.  I've been seriously considered at every step of my evolution... am I the right size and shape?  Is my structure perfectly perfect?  Am I sparkly in the right places and smooth in the rest?  Am I unique and thought provoking?  You better believe it, buddy.

You know, if I were an actress, I'd be Meryl Streep for sure.  If I were a car?  I'll go ahead and say it, I'm the Aston Martin of fine jewelry.  I'm sure you agree, obvs.  So let me ask you, would you drive an Aston Martin every day and never change the oil?  Would you drive it through the steaming hot desert and not suds it up afterward? Get a dent and not fix it?  I think not. 

Just like an expensive ride, I need a bit of maintenance to stay fabulous and not break.   My prongs,  bezels and other tids and bits need checking twice a year please.  If you wear me doing glove-less manual labor (ouch) or while cleaning with harsh chemicals (yikes), or so help me, while you are lifting free weights (how dare you), I will become damaged.  So the next time you're laying bricks or doing dead lifts at the gym, cut me a little slack and put me somewhere safe for a sec.   You're the best.  You might even wash me up in gentle jewelry cleaning solution (one part ammonia to one part water) before you put me back on because you do not even want to know what can happen to your finger if you never clean me. gross.  Lotions, perfumes, sunscreens, and soap have chemicals in them that can be corrosive to soft gemstones and can seriously irritate me and you.  Metal is relatively soft and malleable and just like granny's ring, metal (be it on the prongs, tips, bezels, clasps or shanks) will wear away over time.  When this happens to me, it doesn't mean that I'm a an overpriced hunk a junk.   OMG!  Not at all!  It just means I'm normal and need care.  Lucky for you, I know a guy.

The jeweler who  made me is The Man.   He'll take care of all of my necessary cleaning and twice yearly checkups... at no cost!!!  You can prevent bad, bad things from happening to me!   And do you want to know what else?  If you maintain me, I will give you and your family joy for generations. How awesome is that?  Forget about me and it's possible I'll end up a wonky, broken down ol' mess after just a few years, causing you grief and expense.  major bummer.

Oh, and while we're on the subject, get a little insurance on me too... it's not expensive at all and can really come in handy if ever an unfortunate garbage disposal situation arises!   Thanks a bunch!

Sincerely,

Your Fine Jewelry

p.s. that friend you had coffee with yesterday? Totes jealous of me.  Snap!

18k rose gold with 1.3ct cognac diamond

Who Rocks the Party? Kenny.

Our brother in law, Kenny, wears many, many hats.  Yes, he's known as the fearless tattooed goldsmith who's a bit nutso for his little doggie Roxy, but did you also know that he's also a talented musician with a big heart? (awwwwwwww...)  Recently Kenny took a Saturday off from his jeweler's bench... he put down his torch and picked up his drum sticks for an afternoon of music for kids. 

Twice a year, Kenny partners with other musicians in the area to hold an afternoon jam session where anyone is welcome to try out an instrument and rock a little.  Kids of all ages and experience show up with nothing at all, the instruments and equipment are all provided for them, and by the end of the afternoon are on stage playing two songs with a pick up band.  The jam session begins and ends with a frank discussion about  drugs and alcohol where the message is; music is cool no matter what... you don't need to do drugs to rock in a band.  We agree. 

 

Lovely Tall Ring

Here's a lovely ring that we finished for a client recently.  It's derived from our "Flat Band" series, a style we're known for with hefty prongs and a single accent diamond to the side of the center stone. 

This gal is in 18k yellow gold and showcases a 2 carat round brilliant diamond.  Optically the ring appears very tall, but in reality it's no taller than  most rings that a fit a 2ct, we've simply cut way the area where, in most rings, the shank typically makes a gradual rise to meet the crown.  We then elongated the prongs slightly to show off the culet of the stone. 

Finishing touch... our signature single flush-set accent diamond.