No, swallowing a ring that is not yours does not make it yours.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/7109869-418/man-gets-a-12-days-in-jail-for-swallowing-womans-diamond-ring.html
The nerve.
August 22, 2011
July 21, 2011
Those Insufferable "Creative" Types... sheesh.
During our morning cruise through the blogo-tumblr-webisphere we stumbled on this interesting little tidbit:
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/21/7114042-creative-types-are-full-of-themselves-study-confirms
To sum it up quickly, researchers studied random college kids and concluded that people who identify as creative are considered by others as "full of themselves." Obviously this finding, in the grand scheme of things, means little... not unlike most random silly studies reported via news magazines. But it does give us the opportunity to reflect on what it means to be creative and to question what kinds of associations people make about creative people working in a creative industry.
Question #1
Are we blogging this topic to make our creative snobby selves feel better about being so snobby?
oooh that's a tricky one... verrry tricky.
Question #2
Do we consider ourselves creative?
Not really. But we do have a distinct point of view about jewelry and jewelry design. Most of the time this point of view drives the entire design process. During the process of designing a piece of jewelry we use common sense, experience, and innovation. When we are designing for a client, we listen. We ask a lot of questions and we listen some more. Then we listen. When we design for our cases we design what we like and have found that people respond to our taste and point of view. Every ring we make looks like a J Albrecht Ring. If a J Albrecht Ring is not for you, well then you're just crazy. (is this confidence or creative-type-who's-full-of-himself mentality? hmmm.) All kidding aside, are we "full of ourselves" enough to belive that our design point of view is better than some others? As a matter of fact, yes. We do think that hand made, considered, thoughtful fine jewelry in a clean, modern style is better than a lot of what's out there in the world of mass produced, hollow, ultra trendy, celebrity-driven jewelry. And are there other designers out there doing creative work? Absolutley, and we're humbled by them.
Question #3
What makes us so confidnet about our work?
We're confident about our work because have the chops to back it up. Insert Kid Rock song here. Seriously, though, our Goldmsith, Kenny, has 15 years on the bench. J started in the industry at 18 and went on to mentor Hawk when he was just 18. And Laina... well, you know... she's super duper creative.
When we meet with a challenge, we figure it out. Ask Jay and he'll tell you that good design solves problems. He may also mention that "it's called work for a reason." Combine 53 years experience with a workshop full of state-of-the-art technology, and you've got a shop that can take being labeled "full of themselves" with a grain of salt.
Question #4
Do we hang out trying to be "Cool Creative Designer People?"
Nope. We just happen to be a family who's carved out a little corner for ourselves in the world of Custom Jewelry. We have the extreme pleasure of helping our clients celebrate birthdays, graduations, engagements, promotions, weddings, anniversaries and births. It's an honor when people ask us to create jewelry to commemorate lost loved ones. We really just want to work hard, and be kind and honest with people, and raise our kids to do the same. We've got a feeling that this applies to just about everyone, "creative" or not.
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/21/7114042-creative-types-are-full-of-themselves-study-confirms
To sum it up quickly, researchers studied random college kids and concluded that people who identify as creative are considered by others as "full of themselves." Obviously this finding, in the grand scheme of things, means little... not unlike most random silly studies reported via news magazines. But it does give us the opportunity to reflect on what it means to be creative and to question what kinds of associations people make about creative people working in a creative industry.
Question #1
Are we blogging this topic to make our creative snobby selves feel better about being so snobby?
oooh that's a tricky one... verrry tricky.
Question #2
Do we consider ourselves creative?
Not really. But we do have a distinct point of view about jewelry and jewelry design. Most of the time this point of view drives the entire design process. During the process of designing a piece of jewelry we use common sense, experience, and innovation. When we are designing for a client, we listen. We ask a lot of questions and we listen some more. Then we listen. When we design for our cases we design what we like and have found that people respond to our taste and point of view. Every ring we make looks like a J Albrecht Ring. If a J Albrecht Ring is not for you, well then you're just crazy. (is this confidence or creative-type-who's-full-of-himself mentality? hmmm.) All kidding aside, are we "full of ourselves" enough to belive that our design point of view is better than some others? As a matter of fact, yes. We do think that hand made, considered, thoughtful fine jewelry in a clean, modern style is better than a lot of what's out there in the world of mass produced, hollow, ultra trendy, celebrity-driven jewelry. And are there other designers out there doing creative work? Absolutley, and we're humbled by them.
Question #3
What makes us so confidnet about our work?
We're confident about our work because have the chops to back it up. Insert Kid Rock song here. Seriously, though, our Goldmsith, Kenny, has 15 years on the bench. J started in the industry at 18 and went on to mentor Hawk when he was just 18. And Laina... well, you know... she's super duper creative.
When we meet with a challenge, we figure it out. Ask Jay and he'll tell you that good design solves problems. He may also mention that "it's called work for a reason." Combine 53 years experience with a workshop full of state-of-the-art technology, and you've got a shop that can take being labeled "full of themselves" with a grain of salt.
Question #4
Do we hang out trying to be "Cool Creative Designer People?"
Nope. We just happen to be a family who's carved out a little corner for ourselves in the world of Custom Jewelry. We have the extreme pleasure of helping our clients celebrate birthdays, graduations, engagements, promotions, weddings, anniversaries and births. It's an honor when people ask us to create jewelry to commemorate lost loved ones. We really just want to work hard, and be kind and honest with people, and raise our kids to do the same. We've got a feeling that this applies to just about everyone, "creative" or not.
June 09, 2011
April 25, 2011
Pearl Street is in Bloom
Pearl Street is blooming...
We simply could not work in a more beautiful place than Boulder, Colorado. All around town the trees are flowering and the beds on the mall are blooming with tulips. Why not make an afternoon of it next time you drop in to have your jewelry serviced? We'd love to recommend our favorite spots for brunch, shopping, and happy hour... just give us a call!
We simply could not work in a more beautiful place than Boulder, Colorado. All around town the trees are flowering and the beds on the mall are blooming with tulips. Why not make an afternoon of it next time you drop in to have your jewelry serviced? We'd love to recommend our favorite spots for brunch, shopping, and happy hour... just give us a call!
April 19, 2011
Diamonds and Donuts; Jolie Designs visits J Albrecht.
On Thursday we welcomed Michael from Jolie Designs to the shop. We sat down with a little coffee & donuts (Frasca Cafe's amazing maple glazed confections are really more like pure inspiration than breakfast food) and played.
Looking through the new Jolie collection we were excited to find many vintage styles with a decidedly modern point of view...one ring in particular showcased a delicate swirl of flush set diamonds across the crown, with traditional bead set diamonds trailing down the shank of the ring. In other words, not just your standard diamond-millgrain-intense ring you see advertised in "Stylish Lady Magazine."
Maybe it was the three cups of coffee, the donut afterglow, or perhaps Jolie's exquisite french baguette sapphires, but we suddenly got the urge to splurge. Aside from the assortment of stylish diamond stacking bands we're known to carry, we've selected additional fancy diamond bands that will stack with the originals beautifully and hand picked many really lovely engagement settings (many with said french cut sapphire baguettes). Along with rings, we culled some stunning pendants and several lever back earrings perfect for wearing everyday. Look for all of these new sparlkies to hit our cases the end of May. Here's a tiny preview of things to come...
Looking through the new Jolie collection we were excited to find many vintage styles with a decidedly modern point of view...one ring in particular showcased a delicate swirl of flush set diamonds across the crown, with traditional bead set diamonds trailing down the shank of the ring. In other words, not just your standard diamond-millgrain-intense ring you see advertised in "Stylish Lady Magazine."
Maybe it was the three cups of coffee, the donut afterglow, or perhaps Jolie's exquisite french baguette sapphires, but we suddenly got the urge to splurge. Aside from the assortment of stylish diamond stacking bands we're known to carry, we've selected additional fancy diamond bands that will stack with the originals beautifully and hand picked many really lovely engagement settings (many with said french cut sapphire baguettes). Along with rings, we culled some stunning pendants and several lever back earrings perfect for wearing everyday. Look for all of these new sparlkies to hit our cases the end of May. Here's a tiny preview of things to come...
March 26, 2011
You *need* these earrings.
Just finished... 14k white gold dangle earrings with cabochon cut rutilated quartz and bead set diamonds.
These look amazing with little black dress, jeans & black cashmere sweater, or potato sack. Your call.
Snag them before they end up in Laina's jewelry box. (shhhhhh...)
$1650
March 08, 2011
Behind the Scenes: Cast to Finish
Take a look at the rough cast in this yellow gold ring, compare it to the finished piece and you get a little taste of the labor involved in making fine jewelry.
February 12, 2011
Counting the Moments Bracelet
Just off the jewelers bench...
It was an exciting day when our client came to us with antique watch faces and asked for a bracelet design. Even more exciting though, was when it came off the bench (just in time for Valentines Day) looking absolutely charming.
We've designed heavy, modern, uniform 14k yellow gold links to contrast the delicate age and various shapes of the watch faces. It was important to us that the piece have a modern romantic feeling, so we've sandblasted the gold and tucked two small diamonds into the clasp for a peekaboo of sparkle.
Hand made & weighing approximately 44grams.
It was an exciting day when our client came to us with antique watch faces and asked for a bracelet design. Even more exciting though, was when it came off the bench (just in time for Valentines Day) looking absolutely charming.
We've designed heavy, modern, uniform 14k yellow gold links to contrast the delicate age and various shapes of the watch faces. It was important to us that the piece have a modern romantic feeling, so we've sandblasted the gold and tucked two small diamonds into the clasp for a peekaboo of sparkle.
Hand made & weighing approximately 44grams.
February 09, 2011
February 08, 2011
A timeless ring...
We delivered this stunning ring to our tearfully delighted client Erin, just in time for Christmas. We're just posting the photos now after spending the last month reflecting on the many designs we delivered during the holidays.
We've thought of this ring everyday since it left our shop. It's truly an honor and a privilege to work with such beautiful, well cut stones. For lack of a more subtle metaphor, it's kind of like a chef who is given a gorgeous cut of aged, grass fed, perfectly marbled beef and a basket of vine ripened, organic heirloom tomatoes. Why fuss up high quality ingredients? A good chef knows to use proper technique and knowledge of flavors to create a simple, expertly seasoned dish where the ingredients are allowed to shine and not be covered by thick sauces or unnecessary garnishes.
And that's what we've done here. This is a 2 carat, emerald cut sapphire. We've accented the sapphire with 2, half carat emerald cut diamonds and then designed a simple, heavy (not hollow) platinum setting to showcase the stones. We feel this is an example of classic, quality, sturdy, timeless fine jewelry.
We love to play, experiment and design unusual, unique jewelry... but quality materials, traditional workmanship, and perfect technique is the foundation for everything we do.
January 24, 2011
Ever Wonder?
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at your favorite jewelry shop? Well, here's what 8:30 Monday morning looks like at J Albrecht...
January 15, 2011
New Floors
Happy New Year, Everyone! Thank you to all of our friends for a fun and busy Holiday Season! We were able to take a few days off between Christmas and New Year, and despite the fact we wanted to take that time to lay around in our pajamas and eat leftover cookies, we instead took the opportunity to install new floors into the shop! We opted for cork... nice warm color, durable and eco friendly. Here's a picture:
Pretty, no? Cheers to 2011!
Pretty, no? Cheers to 2011!
December 20, 2010
Old European Cut Diamond Pendant
$1750
December 18, 2010
New Packaging is Here! Woot!
Thanks very much to Brad at Smokeproof Press! New packaging includes: letter pressed packet envelope (for appraisal, statement, receipt and care log documents), letter pressed business card, letter pressed "cigar box band" for jewelry boxes, felt jewelry pouch with embossed logo, felt buffing cloth with embossed logo,
Paper bag with cloth handles & tissue (yes, orange). Can't really see the beautiful embossing on the felt bag and buffing cloth in this picture... and too bad you can't feel how absolutely awesome the paper is on the box band and business card... it has the most gorgeous texture!
Voila!
Paper bag with cloth handles & tissue (yes, orange). Can't really see the beautiful embossing on the felt bag and buffing cloth in this picture... and too bad you can't feel how absolutely awesome the paper is on the box band and business card... it has the most gorgeous texture!
Voila!
December 16, 2010
Just Finished... Daisy Pendant
Just finished! Palladium daisy with 18k yellow gold and diamond center on a 14ky bead chain. $1850
December 14, 2010
McGooglewatches
An incredibly brief history on the wristwatch:
The wristwatch came to be in 1868 when Patek Phillipe designed a ladies bracelet that kept time. Up until this time the man's pocket watch was considered de rigueur. It wasn't until 1904 when an aviator asked Louis Cartier to fabricate a watch that would be more useful to him during flight than a traditional pocket watch. And so the modern day men's wrist watch was made to be a useful tool. It's no surprise then that they gained popularity during WW1, when enlisted men found them to be much more practical in the trenches than pocket watches. Soon these men were seen in plain clothes sporting their wrist watches and a fashion was born.
Today:
There is a watch for every outfit and day of the year and we're not entirely sure that this is a good thing. Just cruise Amazon and prepare yourself to be totally to be overwhelmed. Don't want to spend dough on a "designer" watch? Just buy the knock-off on ebay... or canal street... or a purse party, or get yourself a commercial, well advertised, well known, trendy, fashion watch. In either case, you'll be buying another one in a year and every year after that. The movements in this type of watch aren't designed to last. In fact, they cost about fifty cents to fabricate en masse in China. We've talked about this before, this culture of disposability we find ourselves in. While it's great in some instances, we find ourselves anxious for the trend to wan. I guess you could say we're weary of seeing watches, something we consider highly personal and rich with history, for sale in gas stations.
When we moved locations in 2009, we were at a crossroads with watches. To continue carrying them or not? That was the question. How did we really feel about the online saturation of the cheaply produced, possibly counterfeit, discounted and un-warrantied Everywatch? Probably a lot like you feel. We're indifferent to McGooglewatches. It is what it is and it's not what we do.
The watch we have to offer is MIDO, a company founded almost a century ago. They design watches that will last generations with proper upkeep. MIDO is a quality, warrantied, serviceable, repairable, stylish Swiss-made watch that we offer to our clients with a promise. We'll help you find a watch that speaks to who you are as an individual.
Of course your cell phone can tell you what time it is but we believe that your watch is a unique, luxurious adornment that tells something about you when you wear it.
December 09, 2010
Just finished... custom sapphire and diamond ring
We just finished this lovely piece for Sue, whose Right Hand was in dire need of some bling. This beautiful platinum ring features a channel set 2ct sapphire and has 8 flush set diamond accents. Sue's Left Hand is officially jealous.
December 08, 2010
The Make-Over Continues!
New window cases installed this week! A big thank you to our friend Ira Schiff for the beautiful work. So modern and simple and clean! More changes coming soon...
Cases Before:
Cases After:
Cases Before:
Cases After:
December 05, 2010
New tanzanite pieces...
Beautiful tanzanite! We haven't worked with it in a while... but we poked around the back of the vault and pulled out some stones we felt were too nice of a quality to be ignored any longer. Enjoy!
2ct Tanzanite and diamonds in Platinum $5500
2ct Tanzanite in 14k yellow gold on a white gold chain $2895
Trillion dangle earrings in 14k white gold $1299
Trillions dangle earrings in 14k yellow gold $1100
November 30, 2010
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
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
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