"You Shouldn't Have!"

It’s that time again. You open the box—

“Oh, honey! You shouldn’t have!”

Because even though you love him—really, you do—you do not love that jewelry. 

And you know he meant well. Some store clerk said all the women were wearing it this year and he thought, “Great!”

Not long ago a woman on the bus, upon hearing I’d just written an article to help men make better gift choices (right here: http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2014/04/hard-to-shop-for-not-any-more_27.html), said, “I’m giving that to my husband,” who had, with the best of intentions, bought her diamond hoop earrings. Not little, delicate earrings, which is her style. J. Lo hoops.

“What was he thinking?” she asked.

Poor guy. He was in a store, nervous, wanting to do the right thing, and the clerk sold him the earrings.   

And she didn’t mean any harm, either. She just didn’t know your style. He went along with what she said the trend was, and she forgot how women view trends: We view them. We think about them. We think about what part of the trend looks like something we would actually wear. At least, most of us do.

So there’s the box, destined for your drawer. Not to worry. Take it out. Bring it to the Jewelry Doctor. Those big diamond hoops?  No reason the diamonds can’t be repurposed in other earrings, or a pendant, or maybe a ring. And the hoops themselves? They can be set with other gemstones. Garnet, for example, or citrine, or amethyst.

“But I wouldn’t wear them.”

Right. But that friend of yours that loves big everything? Honey, you now have her birthday gift.

Or say he gave you a gold pendant. You think the sapphire in it is wonderful. But you haven’t worn gold in years. You like platinum. (Or white gold. Or sterling silver.)

Fine. The sapphire goes in a platinum pendant mounting for you, and the gold pendant mounting is set with lapis, or blue topaz, or smoky quartz. Another gift.

Maybe somebody gave you a choker, and you don’t wear chokers. Fine. We can make the choker into a longer necklace. Or the necklace is too long, and you end up wrapping it around and around and around. We can make that into two or three separate necklaces that you can wear separately or together. 

Perhaps you like some of the elements in the necklace, but it doesn’t work for you as a whole. We can take it apart and redo it. Or the pendant he gave you is tiny, but you’re not, and it’s lost on you. We can put a frame around it. (See how we solved that challenge here: 

http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2009/04/music-for-josie.html).

 

And then there are the things you bought when you were out with the girls after the champagne brunch, or bought when you were much younger and your style was—well, you're not sure what it was, but it sure isn’t your style these days.

So gather everything you have no intention of ever wearing (or wearing again), call Laynie at San Francisco Jewelry Doctor, 415/796-3969, and we’ll make it all better.

“Promise?”

Promise. Oh, and you know the best part? It’ll be our little secret. Just tell him he’s the greatest. Well, he is, isn’t he? Of course he is. He’s with you.

©2015 Laynie Tzena.

"A Little Something" Is A Very Good Thing

“We're going away for the holidays, so I don't really need a gift.”

How lovely! And when your beloved hands you your gift, you just smile and say, “Well, the trip is my gift.” 

Fade to sunset.

Does that ever work? Sure. It works really, really well--if you also use an "under-the-pillow" gift. 

“What’s an ‘under-the-pillow’ gift, pray tell?”

I thought you'd never ask. An under-the-pillow gift is a surprise gift. You've already said you're not exchanging gifts, or the trip is a gift, or just being together is a gift.

All fine. And people still like to receive gifts--especially surprise gifts. 

So just before bed, you place a little box under the pillow. (If it's still there when you're ready to leave the next day, then just say something like, “Oh, drat. I can't find my favorite pen. I was writing something in bed. Could you see if you can find it?” Then wait for the “Wow!”)

“Okay, I get it. What goes in the box?”

It could be a pair of pretty earrings--a lot of folks like martini earrings. Gemstone earrings are also perfect. Or maybe she'd like a solitaire pendant, or a tennis bracelet?  

Stuller is a great source for all of the above--plus we have handcrafted jewelry in porcelain, Venetian glass, Swarovski crystal, and gemstones. To see Stuller jewelry, just key in the name (plus “.com”), using your favorite search engine. Jot down the item numbers of your favorites, and call us so we can check on pricing and availability.

To see our handcrafted jewelry, just send an email (and call us at 415/796-3969, so we know the email's coming--there is that holiday in two days); we'll send you pictures on the double. 

Just one thing: minutes ago, we received a message from Santa saying “Don’t delay” (he’s got the reindeer just about ready to go), so call us at 415/796-3969, and we'll put our heads together about the perfect "under-the-pillow" gift for you. 

©2015 Laynie Tzena.

Saddle Up the White Horse

“Nooooooo!”

“Janet, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, Bob, I was just getting my jewelry organized for the weekend—you know, it’s not just Christmas, but all the parties over the weekend—and my favorite necklace got caught on something, and now it’s broken!”

“Now, Janet, don't worry. We’ve been through this before. This would only be a problem if we didn’t have a jewelry doctor. But we do. So just call Laynie at San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. And I'd call her now, because it’s the busiest week of the year. Honey, I bet she can fix it in time. And if for some reason it can’t be fixed, she’ll take one look at it and recommend something just as pretty, or even prettier.”

“Hooray! I just found the number. Write this down, would you? 415/796-3969. Oh, Bob, I’m so glad I married you!”

"And I’m sure glad I found out about San Francisco Jewelry Doctor,” Bob thinks. "Wonder if this makes up for forgetting our anniversary that time." But he just says, “Oh, honey, me, too.”

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. Creating happy endings (and beginnings—ask us about engagement rings), one day at a time. 

©2015 Laynie Tzena.

Add a Little Color

At a holiday gathering I met a woman wearing a wonderful blue jacket with a silver thread. She was striking and so was the jacket.

I looked at her earrings. They were also silver, about two inches, almost like an exclamation point without the dot. Very pretty. I looked at her blonde hair and then at the jacket.

"Ever wear color?" I asked.

Not often.

Nothing wrong with that. But I always tell my customers, "My goal is to help you find great jewelry in keeping wih your style--and every so often, to encourage you to stretch a bit."

So I said, "Your earrings are great," and they were, "but you know what would also be pretty with that jacket?"

She waited.

"Sapphire," I told her. "Or lapis." (Blue topaz would have been another good choice.)  "Don't be afraid of color."

I think many people instinctively reach for gold or silver--and don't get me wrong, a lot of metal jewelry is really beautiful--because they haven't been taught how to work with color. (And yes, sometimes also because they are running out the door and it happens to be the easiest thing to reach for.)

So wear your metal jewelry. And when you get home, maybe over the weekend, when you have a moment take a look at the clothes you especially love to wear and consider what colors you would like to highlight.

"Can you give me some more ideas?"

Absolutely! To schedule a jewelry wardrobe consultation (and for all your jewelry needs), call us at 415/796-3969. (Yes, we'll also give you ideas for how to combine accessories for a great look.)

Just as you choose a blouse or scarf to jazz up that suit or sweater and skirt, let your jewelry make your outfits sing.

©2015 Laynie Tzena.

Can Mommy Have Jewelry?

“My wife loves jewelry, but we have a new baby. What to do?”

Mazel Tov, and here's the good news: while dangles (both pendants and earrings) are out, for the moment--little ones love to tug, and Mommy's jewelry goes flying--there is still plenty of jewelry Mommy can wear*. 

Studs 

Stud earrings are a great way to go. Choose from gold, platinum, and sterling silver studs, either plain, with a pretty pattern, or set with diamonds, pearls, or whatever gemstone you prefer. 

“Hi. I'm a guy. I know zero about gemstones.”

Well, the Jewelry Doctor thinks you're being too modest. You probably know a fair amount about gemstones. But here are posts specifically designed to help you purchase gemstones with confidence. 

Is your wife a blonde?  Here are some ideas for jewelry that looks great on blondes. http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/search/label/blondes

You say she's a brunette?  Have a look here. http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/search/label/brunettes

“What about redheads? My gal's hair is red.”

Lucky you. Here are great ideas for you. http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/search/label/redheads 

Where were we? Ah, yes. Stud earrings. When the baby goes to college--okay, when Baby stops pulling on Mommy's jewelry--those gemstone studs can fit perfectly in earring jackets.

“There are jackets for earrings?”

Yes. An earring jacket is a flat or slightly curved piece of jewelry designed with a little opening for the stud. (Jackets are also a fine choice for those wanting to update stud earrings they bought years ago or were given as a gift for a special occasion.) 

Button Posts 

Moms can also enjoy "button posts." As the name suggests, these are earrings that sit flush against the ear the way a button does on a coat or sweater. They come in a wide variety of designs, from tiny ones similar to studs to larger ones that make a statement. (Clip earrings are often button posts, and most can be converted to pierced.) 

"Mommy Necklaces"? Maybe. Maybe Not. 

"What about those necklaces advertised for new mothers?"  

The jury is still out. Some people think they're fine; others raise concerns about what exactly Baby is chewing on. 

Rings  

Rings (especially right hand rings) are a wonderful choice. Those with a bezel setting are ideal. (Bezel settings are the kind that wrap around the stone: no prongs to get caught, or to tempt those tiny fingers to see "What's that?") And that ring can be set with a gemstone--cabochons are best bets, with a smooth, half-moon surface that won't scratch when Baby comes in for a hug.

*Yes, it's also fine to give the new mother a "push" present. But if she's a smart mama, anything that dangles will be saved for "Mommy and Daddy's night out." 

"What's a "push present"? These are gifts given after the birth of a child. They range from an especially luxurious bouquet of flowers to--well, Beyonce's gift from Jay Z after the birth of Blue Ivy was an eight-to-ten carat blue diamond ring :>.  Feelings are mixed about push gifts.  Some say the name isn't ideal, and neither is the concept.  Others say, "Hush, I want to give my wife a gift. She just carried our baby for nine months." If that's you, let's put our heads together about a push present your wife will treasure. 

©2015 Laynie Tzena.

Just the Right Ruby

As jewelry-lovers with birthdays this month are happy to tell their loved ones, July’s gemstone is the ruby.

http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/ruby_gemstone.aspx

It’s quite a beautiful stone, with that rich red color (and also pink; more on that in a moment), and has been beloved for centuries.  It is corundum, which is not a riddle but a species of gemstone, and has a well-known family member:  the sapphire.  In fact, all corundum but ruby is sapphire. So we could actually consider the ruby a sapphire that just happened to turn out red.

It’s always a good practice to buy gemstones from a reputable gemstone dealer or someone who works directly with reputable gemstone dealers (at San Francisco Jewelry Doctor, we work with top-notch gemstone dealers, gemcutters, and gemologists).  This is especially important with rubies, as much of the ruby jewelry sold in stores contains stones that have been filled with glass.

*  *  * 

A Love Story

Once upon a time, a young man proposed marriage and his beloved gladly accepted.  The ring he chose featured rubies flanking the diamond and, since he was just starting out in his career, the rubies in question were not the famed “pigeon’s blood” but instead their less-expensive but no less beautiful deep pink siblings. 

Fast-forward 40 years.  By now the man had had a quite a career, including time spent as a diplomat; when he came to the Jewelry Doctor he was the director of a large nonprofit organization.  His anniversary was approaching, and he asked to have a ruby-and-diamond brooch made for his wife.  That ruby, of course, needed to match her engagement ring, and so I spent three days at the American Gem Trade Association (“AGTA”) pavilion at the Gem Show in Tucson choosing just the right ruby.

*  *  * 

Which takes us back to last month’s theme:  choosing what’s right for you (and your loved one). Clearly, the gentleman in question could now afford a “pigeon’s blood” ruby.  But that wouldn’t go with her ring.  It would have no real meaning.  And jewelry, especially when it comes to anniversaries, is all about meaning.

Were you a July baby, or do rubies just make your heart and soul sing?  Or perhaps your anniversary is on the horizon?  Give us a call at 415/796-3969, and we’ll design something beautiful and meaningful for you or your special someone.

©2015 Laynie Tzena.

Quality is a Girl's (and Boy's) Best Friend

Our stone of the month is (drumroll, please): the diamond. Since this is the fourth month let's focus on the four important aspects to consider when buying diamonds, usually called "The Four 'C's": color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.

Let's start with the size of the diamond. Some people think that the biggest diamond is the best--and the stories we read about celebrity engagements feed that belief. But it's not true. The best diamond is the one that's right for you. 
 
Others think all diamonds are really the same, and the work is about finding the best price. Not long ago someone told me that he had been shopping online and at a well-known mall store for diamond earrings. He really liked the prices, especially given the size of the stones he had in mind. And who could blame him?  

Educating the customer, helping people to make sound choices when it comes to jewelry, is part of my job as the Jewelry Doctor.  So I suggested we dig a little deeper.  

I called my appraiser, who is also a gemologist, and we took a look at the gemological certificates (called "certs" in the industry) for the loose diamonds on the dealer website and the earrings on the mall store site. (He mentioned in passing that "off" diamonds--i.e., lower-quality diamonds--that don't sell in the showroom are sometimes unloaded online, as the customer is seeing them from a distance.) 

In both cases, the diamonds were not good choices.  Either the cut was different (a cushion cut "matched" with a princess cut, for example), the color was off--meaning the diamond in one earring didn't match the diamond in the other--or the clarity was different (one was an SI2 and the other an I1. These designations ["slightly included," and "included," respectively] describe inclusions in the stone, which determine how much light passes through the diamond).

"So what?" some might say. "It's on her ear."

Some people see it that way. But even setting aside the question of brilliance (where color, clarity, and cut all come into play, since it's not just a cushion cut, but the way it's cut) that people love in a diamond, don't you think that when you're choosing to buy a gift for someone--especially diamond jewelry--it's a good idea to focus on quality?

We think so, too.  So if diamonds make your heart sing, call us at 415/796-3969, and we'll find something wonderful just for you.  

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor.  The real deal.

©2015 Laynie Tzena.