Happy Stories From our customers

We’re so happy for Elena and her future husband. Wishing you all the best!
Joe and the crew

Most don’t realize the many ways jewelers and gemologists give back to their communities. Take veteran gem cutter Roger Dery, for instance. His family has created a nonprofit org whose sole focus is helping to educate and provide vocational training to East African mining communities. The name of the nonprofit: Gem Legacy.

According to JCK:

Gem Legacy supports several initiatives, including those that increase educational opportunities in gemstone faceting, a trade that hasn’t flourished on the continent, but makes sense for it:

“The employment is sorely needed and has the ability to transform families and communities,” said Dery in a prepared statement.

The nonprofit has currently sets its eyes on a new goal: raising $9,500 to buy and install a used compressor for the Precious Women mine in Kenya, a mine run by local women, many widowed and in need of steady income.

This amount raised by Gem Legacy will make the use of power tools possible (since the female workers currently mine with farming tools).

Tsavorite garnets from the Precious Women mine in Kenya

According to many wedding experts in the know, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the most popular days of the year to pop the big question (followed by New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day).

But is it really the best time of the year to make such a big decision? On some levels, it certainly has its perks. The holiday season brings families together which means everyone can share in the positivity of a couple making such a loving commitment.

Then there’s also a spiritual element: people tend to be at their best behavior, open-hearted and receptive to big changes like engagements. (This means a higher likelihood of the lucky ring recipient saying yes.)

On the flip side, here’s a downer note for proposing during the holidays. According to the Washington Post: 

Legally, an engagement ring is considered a “conditional gift” based on the marriage taking place and the ring goes back to the purchaser if the engagement is broken, regardless of who ends it. But rings given on Christmas, Valentine’s Day or birthdays are typically classified as more traditional gifts, and the majority of courts have allowed the receiver to keep it.

Okay, not a very romantic aspect but reality nonetheless. We say go with your heart. If the holidays seem like a perfect time to make a proposal, go for it. Life is short and Christmas is beautiful and very romantic afterall!

Don’t you wish there were a book where you could turn to Chapter 423 and read “What to give your significant other who you’ve only been dating for five months but its looking like it could be serious”?

This simple little video hits on important points (like giving consumable gifts for early relationships so they can be enjoyed in the here and now and not be long-term reminders if things go south).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uczi6R4NonA

While they aren’t sure of its worth yet, we’re guessing its a smidge more than the amount in your piggy bank. According to JCK:

Dominion Diamond Mines announced that a 552 ct. yellow diamond has been discovered at the Diavik mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The mine says the stone is the largest gem-quality diamond ever found in North America.

A Dominion statement says it doesn’t plan to sell the stone as a piece of rough but will find a partner to cut and polish it, noting that “only a handful of master cutters” are qualified to do so.

This diamond will replace its predecessor (as the largest diamond in North America); the 187.7 ct. Foxfire, found in 2015.

It’s “too soon” to approximate its worth but we can’t wait to hear every detail about this stunning gem’s transformation.

“The color and texture of the diamond are a unique example of the journey that natural diamonds take from their formation until we unearth them.”

Do you ever wish you could hit a “skip to next track” button on the holidays? I know I have…and I actually enjoy this time of year! Gift-giving, cozy clothes, pretty/shiny things, sparkling trees, dazzling lights…so much magic to it.

But then there’s the (da da dum): stress. While the holidays are supposed to be a time to relax and genuinely appreciate our blessing and loved ones, it’s often filled with a bunch of shoulds.

“I should get my neighbor a gift because he gave me one.”

“I should get my sister a nicer gift this holiday since she always spends so much money on me.”

“I should be happier even though I’m not really feeling it.”

And that’s where we fall into the stress loop: feeling as if we have to pack our home with decorations, buy a ton of gifts and be ho, ho happy, no matter what.

My grandmother gave me advice many years ago. “Be happy with enough,” she said. And its something I always employ during the holidays. Because Christmas is not a contest but a time of appreciation, of gratitude.

So the next time you feel you’re on the holiday rollercoaster of stress, remind yourself to be happy with enough. Don’t overextend. Dare to be present during the holidays instead. Take some time for yourself. Buy yourself that sparkly little something you’ve always wanted as a personal reminder that you count too.

There was a time when people didn’t even exchange gifts but memories instead. Or one gift would be exchanged…and everyone was thrilled with that arrangement. Can you imagine?

So dial it back if the holidays are stressing you out a little. It’s all right to do just enough and no more.