Gems From The Heart Story Contest Entries

My fiance and i were young and since we were both teachers we had little money.
I wasn't even sure I'd receive an engagement ring.

But I did and my first thought was, "That's the ugliest ring I ever
saw!"  (I was pretty sure the tiny "diamond" was cubic zirconia and
there were a lot crudely wrought traceries and rosettes around the
stone that gave the ring a certain dime store air).

But of course I didn't voice my feelings.  He looked so sweet and pleased with himself.
He put the ring on my left hand.  When family and friends asked to see it I did my best to respond with pride.

Over the years we built a good marriage and became financially
successful.  My husband presented me with jewelry over the years but I
never took that engagement ring off.  It came to represent our love
story, a small beginning investment that led to many happy dividends
over a long life together.

He's gone now and yes, I still wear that ugly little ring.


Patricia Nieh

When
I turned 18, my mother took me to the jewelry store to buy a diamond,
white gold cross necklace. After picking it out and purchasing it, I
put it around my neck. I have worn it everyday every since. A few
times, I missed the large link to connect the fine chained necklace.
The necklace has been lost at various public places twice. Each time,
it was found by someone and returned back to me. I wear it now because
it reminds me of my faith, my family and I believe it brings me good
luck. I even shower with the necklace. I will likely be buried with
this necklace. It does mean so much to me.
sara denhart

When
I was a kid I used to ride my bicycle to Tower Plaza Mall.  I didn’t
have much money to spend, but there was a video arcade a few doors down from
the Schubach Jewelry Store.  When I had exhausted my allowance, I’d
look into the windows of the store, fascinated by the watches and jewelry.

A few
years later I became a client.  Well, sort of.  On my 16^th
birthday my mother gave me a 14kt gold serpentine necklace (they were actually somewhat
popular then!).  Being a teenage boy, I wasn’t always very careful
with it.  It was easy to kink, and I would take it to Mr. Schubach for
repair, not wanting my parents to know how careless I had been.  I still
didn’t have much money, and Mr. Schubach would always charge me a
ridiculously low repair fee. 

As
the years progressed I’d take watches and other items to Mr. Schubach
whenever I managed to mangle another gift from my parents (which always came
with a speech about responsibility).  As I began to earn money, first
delivering Penny Savers, then working at Cloth World as a stock boy, and eventually
my big move to Mary Coyle’s as a busy boy and waiter, I started
purchasing inexpensive gifts for Mother’s Day, birthdays, Christmas,
etc., from Schubach’s. 

What
I remember most about that small storefront at Tower Plaza
is how well Mr. Schubach treated me, with the respect one might a high-dollar
customer.  I was an awkward, insecure teenager, and wouldn’t even
enter the store unless Mr. Schubach was working, knowing that I’d be
treated like an adult, in spite of the fact that I had such limited spending
power.    

I
recall my mother losing a favorite earring – a lapis lazuli drop in a 14kt
filigree setting.  She was devastated, as it had been an especially
meaningful gift from my father.  I took the remaining earring to Mr.
Schubach, who scoured his catalogues in search of a replacement.  He found
a similar pair, which I purchased, and which my mother still wears today. 

When
the Schubachs decided to leave Tower
Plaza I felt as thought I
was losing a friend.  I’m thrilled to know that Joe has continued
the family tradition, and look forward to becoming a client once again.

Warmest
regards,

J. David Smith

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been a huge fan of the Pink
Panther. Peter Sellers was so fantastic in that movie. He made me laugh
so hard. I watched every Pink Panther movie  that came out. But, even
better then his performance was the magnificent Pink Panther. Not the
cartoon character, the diamond. Oh how I dreamt that one day I would
marry someone as rich as Richard Burton and he would buy me a big pink
diamond ring.
In 2006 the new version of the Pink Panther with Steve Martin came out.
I am a huge fan of Steve Martin. Not only is "Roxanne" one of my
favorite movies but I also have read his books. I was so excited to go
see the movie and my husband and I talked about both versions after we
watched the new one. I told him about my dreams of having a big pink
diamond. So, last Christmas, even though money was tight, my husband
bought me a 3 carat pear cut pink sapphire. Even though it was not a
diamond, it was gorgeous!
I couldn't believe that he remembered my childhood dream. Now I have my
very own pink panther. And he is way better than Richard Burton!
Crystal Yaeger