Happy Stories From our customers

Hi Joe & Beth (and team),

She adores it! “It’s so shiny!”

Thank you so much for a job very well done. It could not have been better. Despite friends and family trying to discourage me ordering a ring abroad, you guys have proven that impossible timezone differences, huge distances and time constraints should not compromise customer relation and satisfaction. I really enjoyed working together and becoming one of those happy customers. Doris (my fiancée) is in love with the ring and gets compliments all over. One happy lady!

New Years’ eve, we travelled to Sydney. I booked a cute restaurant, central city next to the water. We walk the jetty to have a better view on the 9PM fireworks. The first explosion lights the sky, and I slide on my knee. Needless to say, we missed the rest of the 9PM show J

As you guys predicted; the ring was slightly too big but didn’t spoil the excitement. We went back, finished our dinner, opened champagne and enjoyed the midnightfireworks as an engaged couple!

Once more thanks, and all the best for 2016!

Regards,

G & D

Perhaps you’ve heard this endearing phrase, expressing a lot of love. But how much love exactly?

According to essayist Lucy Wickham from the Thought Catalog, it’s not as much love as you’d think:

Why the moon? Why not the sun? Why not some planet such as Pluto or Mars? Actually, apparently Pluto got demoted and is now considered a dwarf planet, but that is beside the point…

I guess I just do not understand why it is that specific distance. The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles away. So technically people are saying they love you 477,710 miles (the distance to the moon and back).

You think that’s a lot, but in terms of a car, it’s not really. A car gets an average of 12,000 miles a year. Saying someone loves you 477,710 miles is like saying someone loves you for 40 years. That is not a very strong guarantee.

Well we still think the moon and the stars are stellar examples of romance. If you’re in the same stratosphere as us, send us your favorite moon and star design, and we’ll create a piece uniquely you and yours.

Journey of Dreams pendant in 14k white and yellow gold with diamonds by Stuller, $1,593 [source: JCK]

Is it really 2016? According to the calendar, yes. According to the staff at our office, we’re slowly getting used to the fact.

One thing that does excite us about January? The amazing birthstones that represent this month. As you may already know, like several months, January has several gemstones to represent its often frosty but fresh exterior.

Garnet is the most widely known birthstone for January. Before garnet was made the birthstone of January, it was the zodiac gem for Capricorn and Aquarius, both falling partly on the month of January.

Garnet represents eternal friendship and trust and is the ideal gift for a friend. Garnet is derived from the word granatum, meaning seed, and is called so because of the gemstone’s resemblance to a pomegranate seed.

Antique Pyrope Hairpin in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – Chip Clark, courtesy Smithsonian Institution

But wait…we’re not done with January yet! 

Zircon is often seen as a transparent gemstone but is also popular in blue and red. This red zircon is the birthstone for January according to the ancient Italian and Russian calendar. Zircon is believed to enhance peace of mind, as well as bring prosperity.

Emerald is the birthstone for January in the old Tibetan calendar. It’s believed to bring well-being and as stimulate clairvoyance.

Whatever you favor, we can create a unique piece of custom design jewelry based on your gemstone!

https://youtu.be/R2xsL6xAxM0

What is it about the sound of bracelets clanging together that sounds so pretty and inviting? In the winter, its reminiscent of the sound of tinkling icicles. In the warmer months, an armful of bracelets is an audio accompaniment to a pretty summer outfit, like your own personal band.

But there’s a method to layering your bracelets. This video gives some loose tips to keep your bangles beautiful!

This commercial from Blue Nile has certainly got a lot of attention in our circles over the last few weeks. Many jewelers have complained that its a disparaging look at brick and mortar stores with an implication that you’re safer purchasing your jewelry online, from a massive retailer.

Well obviously, we couldn’t think differently. We’re also surprised that a retailer the size of Blue Nile would bother to knock the “little guy.” Perhaps its because ultimately, with all their retail power, they still can’t capture something that we so readily offer: personalized service and a real location to display our wares.

So go ahead, Blue Nile…mock away. We’ll continue providing quality, face-to-face service and an actual studio for you to visit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZoQy9JhsSg

Hi Joe,
I love, love, love the ring. Thank you so much for making the process of creating and purchasing this important piece of jewelry as smooth and stress-free as possible. It was a little nerve-wracking purchasing this without seeing it in person, but you were so helpful and prompt with every question I had, and I really appreciate that. The ring pop was a nice touch, too. [😊] I can’t stop looking at it…
P

This must mean a lot of pine needles to clean up after the holidays. The largest Christmas tree resides in a little town in Italy. (We just love the shooting star on top!)

Here are some more festive details:

Over the weekend, the tiny town of Gubbio flipped the switch on their annual installation of a giant Christmas tree spread over the hills that surround the city. The holiday display, which has been in the Guinness Book of World Records since 1991, uses some 1,000 lights with the shooting star tree topper requiring 250 more, to light up the slopes of Mount Ingino overlooking the medieval town. According to The Local, the annual display — aptly referred to as the “World’s Biggest Christmas Tree” — stretches over 10,760 square feet, ensuring that Santa’s reindeer will know where to land come Christmas Eve. [Time]