Happy Stories From our customers

Freshwater pearls have a bad rap. They are often considered the poor step-cousin to the ever-glamorous saltwater pearl. For many years, freshwater pearls came in awkward sizes, rough textures and garish colors. But the past ten years, the freshwater pearls have experienced a real “makeover” in the jewelry world.

Freshwater pearl farmers have revamped their cultivation and processing techniques, creating a pearl that is comparable to saltwater pearls in luster and nacre.

Thing is, seawater pearls are very regulated to ensure that the customer is only presented with the cream of the crop, whereas freshwater pearls don’t have the same restrictions. In other words, you have to find the right jewelry dealer with the highest quality product.

That’s where we come in. For a short time only, we’re offering luscious, high-quality freshwater pearls at a price that won’t cost a lot of clams.

As the economy worsens, more customers are opting for the quality, revamped pearls, which give expensive cultured pearls a run for their money…literally.

Take a look at the photo below (courtesy of The Pearl Outlet) of a strand of saltwater pearls (running close to $19,000) entwined with a strand of freshwater pearls:

Click on the photograph. Look closely. Can you tell the difference? That’s how far Freshwater Pearls have come!

For the full pearl experience, view our
wide array of oversized Chinese Freshwater Pearl necklaces, available
for a limited time only.

Shop our Joseph Schubach Freshwater Pearls Now!

One of the most important facets of Joseph Schubach Jewelers is our personalized customer service. We have customers spanning decades, returning to us because we genuinely care about what we do and how our customers feel.

Take Katherine Mowry for instance. She came to us with an engagement ring that needed some serious loving care. It was over 20 years old and needed our touch to appear as dazzling as the day her husband proposed.

We completely refurbished it, including replacing two bezel set
sapphires, one on each side of her diamond, with new ones and replacing
the shank (which is the bottom part of the ring) that had worn out. One of our prize team members, Sherry Sheridan, spent time with Kathryn, experimenting with different stones until the ring was just how Katherine dreamed.

If you’re in the market for an anniversary band with a classic style like Katherine’s, consider a unique, custom jewelry design of your own.

(above) A variety of Gemesis cultured diamonds offered at Joseph Schubach Jewelers for custom designed jewelry, where you are the artist

So what is Gemesis and why is it causing such a stir in the market?

Well, let’s explore what Gemesis is not, first:

• It is not a diamond imitation, like cubic zirconia
• It is not as expensive as mined diamonds
• It is not lacking in brilliance, fire or hardness as a mined diamond

Gemesis is a laboratory-grown diamond of exceptional color and clarity. It is considered a “cultured” diamond but a diamond nonetheless.

How does one “grow” a diamond?

With a diamond seed, of course! Seriously. The seed is placed in a carbon-rich environment, heated and pressurized, then begins to grow, molecule by molecule into a beautiful gem.

 A diamond seed (do not try this in your garden!)

Gemesis diamonds can be produced in a myriad of rich, inviting colors such as yellow, pink, blue, green, or even red. In these times, customers are looking for a quality gem and affordable prices. Gemesis offers just that, hence its success.

So what is a “Gemesis cultured diamond”? As the Gemesis Company puts it so aptly:

Hand engraved pendant with hand applied scrolls and a 3/4ct Gemesis
cultured diamond with fancy yellow or orange color on an 18″ wheat
chain. Pendant measures approx. 8mm in diameter.

Available Metal: 18kt White Gold and Platinum
Available Stone Size: 3/4ct

Trade Up
Our Guarantee

The first date my current wife and I went on was to Dairy Queen on a
Sunday afternoon; so it only seemed natural that when it came time to
propose marriage to her I had to do it at Dairy Queen. So on a Saturday
night I took her to Dairy Queen and ordered a banana split for the two
of us. Then I placed a diamond solitare ring on the top of the sundae,
as I got to the table where she was seated I got down on one knee and
asked her to mary me. It was a night that we will never forget (and
probably the folks in Dairy Queen too).

Thank you!

Randy Pope

I have a beautiful diamond set in platinum from 1928.  It belonged to
my grandmother and then my mother.  People who appreciate fine jewelry
always comment on how lovely it is.

Michelle Dry

I have a special jewelry story.  Four years ago, my father died
suddenly.  It was such a shock and tragedy.  He was only 49.  My whole
family took it really bad.  But I think I took it the worst, since he
died at my house and I found him.  That night after we all left the
hospital, my mother came into my room and sat on my bed.  She looked so
sad, I will never forget that look.  She took my hand and gave me hers
and my fathers wedding rings.  I looked at her in shock.  She said he
would want you to have them.  I told her I would treasure them
forever!  One of my sisters was upset she did not get one.  She just
got engaged, and I went to my mother and said maybe we should give "Lu"
your engagement ring.  My mother said OK, if it is alright with you. 
It wasn't but I loved my sister so I said OK.  To make a long story
short.  A year later my sisters marriage didn't work out.  I noticed
she didn't wear the ring anymore, so I asked her where it was?  She
said "away".  Well come to find out she pawned it!  How could she of
did this!  I was so upset.  I prayed to my father to bring the ring
back to me where it belonged!  With the other rings.  Three months
later, my mother called me.  She said "guess what?"  I said what?  She
said I got the ring back!!!.  I was shock and asked her how?  The ring
she had was specially made and one of a kind.  She said a friend of
hers was shopping and spotted it in a pawn shop and recognized it as my
mothers and bought it!  To this day I still think my father sent her
friend into that shop that day!  Thanks DAD!!

Gina Benway

I asked my wife to marry me after meeting her on a cruise
and only physically see her 5 times.  She wanted an antique ring.  We went to
30 pawn shops in the Memphis
area.  We gave up and were driving to the airport to send me back to Idaho when we saw   a
pawn shop.  We found the most fabulous ring for only $500.  Fifteen years later
and two kids and we are still happily married.
Steve Scott

My Grandfather had an old battered trunk that he brought over from
Norway as a young man at the turn of the 20th Century.   I have been
storing it for years in the attic knowing it was beyond use or repair.
 I found an old silver chain necklace that belonged to my Mother in my
jewelry box and put the key to the trunk on the chain.  I finally had
the heart to throw out the trunk knowing I can wear the necklace with
fond memories of them both.
—
Marilyn Chapman

To preface: I am originally from Arizona and I am going to law school
in Minnesota.  My fiance lives in Arizona.

I have really fallen in love with a great man.  The story?  We call it
Trains, Planes and Automobiles: Engagement Version.

It all started when Rob's mom presented him with a ring that she
wanted to pass down to me.  Up to this point we had been talking about
marriage for months.  I really thought it would happen this past
summer, but it didn't.  In God's time, right?  So, once Rob received
the ring, he immediately began trying to figure out how to meet me in
the midwest.  He would be starting a job in 2 weeks so he wanted to
get out here as soon as possible.  Flights at that time were about
$1000.  So, the best thing he was able to find was a train ride to
Chicago.  The train didn't have a connection to MN.  So, he called me
and asked me to meet him out there.  It's only about a 5 hour drive
from here.  That way we'd have more time to spend with each other and
get to see Chicago.  I'd never been there.

We planned to go to mass once he got into Chicago and then to dinner.
Little did I know, he was going to propose on the steps of the church
before we would go into mass.  He spoke with a priest at the church
and asked him to give us a blessing before going into mass.  We would
then go to dinner and enjoy the town.  Notice I said "would."

The adventure begins.  So, he would drive to Flagstaff to get on the
train for what he thought would be a 32-hour trip.  The train that was
suppose to pick him up was delayed because of a train wreck that
killed over 2 dozen people in California.  Needless to say he had to
wait a few hours for his train.  Once he boarded it was free sailing
(or free training) right?  Wrong.  Passing through New Mexico, the
train hit a cow.  The train didn't just knock the cow off the tracks,
it actually ran over the cow.  So, the train officials had to get
stop, get out and look at the cow.  For another couple hours.
Meanwhile, Rob called me and told me not to leave for a couple hours
because he was going to be late.  We probably wouldn't make mass.  :(
When they finally removed the cow from the tracks and started moving,
we thought he'd be in Chicago in time for dinner.  Wrong.  Going
through Kansas, the train had to stop for a few hours because there
were several tornadoes touching down.  They had to wait until it was
clear enough to pass through.  Rob told me that all the passengers
were restless and almost protesting.

46 hours later (almost two days), he arrived in Chicago.  When I
picked him up from the train station, he seemed a little anxious and
just glad to be off a train ride that ended up being 14 hours longer
than anticipated.  Disappointed that all of his plans fell through,
but so excited and happy to be with me, he just couldn't hold it in
any longer and got down on one knee.  Although it didn't happen the
way he wished, I couldn't help but think how romantic it was that he'd
go through all that just to get to me and ask me to be his wife.  Of
course I said yes!  We enjoyed the day in Chicago…did you know that
Chicago received record rainfall that day and the streets flooded?
Yea.

We drove back to Minnesota and celebrated with my friends and brother.
 We were able to merge his mom's ring with my late mom's ring.  It's
absolutely beautiful.  Once we got back to Minnesota I told him that
we would look for a plane ride home for him this time.  Luckily, I
found a one way ticket for $100.

Thank you for letting us share our story!

Regards,

An Nguyen