Paging Carole Lombard

The mail is just piling up over here! Always great to hear from you.

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

I sometimes ask my girlfriend, “Are you sure you’re not time-travelling from another century?” She likes ’30s movies, late ’50s cars, makes a mean meatloaf, and—get this—she sends thank you notes. Thank you notes! I don’t know anybody else who does that.  

 

So the latest, trendiest styles are not for her, and that’s what you see everywhere. What’s a guy to do? I saved up and took her to New York one year (we spent most of our time in the historical museums, natch, and looking at old churches. Oy.). But in the pandemic, we’re not supposed to travel. And perhaps you’ve heard that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner? Help!

 

Stumped In Fort Lee

 

Dear STIFLE:

 

Yes, word has reached your Jewelry Doctor that Valentine’s Day is on the horizon, and she stands ready to help you. (Actually, she was standing but she’s sitting down for the moment, nibbling on a chocolate heart.)

 

Thank you notes! Your girlfriend is our kind of people. Here’s something from Stuller that looks tailor-made for her. (It’ll also bring a smile to the people on the receiving end of her notes.) It’s pictured in 14 karat gold, and it’s also available in white gold, rose gold, platinum, and sterling silver.  

https://www.stuller.com/products/87576/?groupId=207359&recommendationSource=productpage&recommendationType=recommendation&recommendationId=205764

 

Here are its companion earrings.  

https://www.stuller.com/products/87341/?groupId=205764&recommendationSource=productpage&recommendationType=recommendation&recommendationId=207359

 

A heart earring would also be a great choice to accompany the necklace. Here are a couple ideas.  

https://www.stuller.com/products/85883/8984952/?groupId=119271&recommendationSource=RelatedSiteSearch

 

https://www.stuller.com/products/84604/?groupId=99622&recommendationSource=RelatedSiteSearch

 

If her ears aren’t pierced, not to worry; we can change the posts or wires to clips. Just call us at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244) and we’ll take care of all the details.

 

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. Gifts to celebrate good old-fashioned love.

 

©2021 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

For That Up-To-The-Minute (Should We Say 'Fashionista'?) Mom

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

I read what you wrote to that nice person with the casual mom and the one with the religious mom. Help! My mom is the trendiest person I know. I don’t go around naked, mind you; people tell me I dress just fine. But I cannot keep up with my mother. So how on Earth can I choose the right gift for her? 

No Runway for Me

Dear NRM:

First of all, thank you for reassuring us that you are wearing clothing—nice clothing, apparently. How wonderful that your mother loves the “latest and the greatest.” 

Shopping can be challenging in the wider world. Your Jewelry Doctor still remembers a time in her shorter days when her mother, always fashionable herself, held up an item and she took one look and said, “Mom! I would never wear that!” and if memory serves, that was the last time they went shopping together. 

Gift-shopping at San Francisco Jewelry Doctor is somewhat different. We start with “What kinds of things does the person love wearing?” We have lots of jewelry in the latest styles; chances are, we have something just right for your mom. 

Note: If for any reason your mom is not thrilled and delighted with the gift you select, she is always welcome to exchange her gift for something else. In over 20 years of helping people with gifts, we have received countless “She loved it!” calls and notes and not a single message of regret, probably because we start by zooming in on the person’s style. People often bring or send pictures, so we can see what the person loves to wear. It’s so much fun!

Another great solution for those who want that “up-to-the-minute” look is a gift certificate, which allows her to choose her gift for herself. 

“You have gift certificates?”

Of course we do. Just let us know what you’d normally spend on a gift for your mom, and we’ll create a gift certificate in that amount. Which you then give to your mom, who jumps up and down and then calls us and everybody lives happily ever after.

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. Making your life easier, one gift at a time.

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

Your Mother Would Like a Little Something

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

I just saw a sign. Not the kind they talk about in circles on the floor, the kind you pass on the freeway. This one said Mother’s Day is next Sunday. Next Sunday! Yikes! 

What do I do? My mother always says, “Thank you, Dear,” and then never wears what I give her. Should I just send her flowers, or tell her I’ll take her out to dinner when I visit her in August or September?

Flummoxed in Baltimore

Dear FIB:

First of all, do not panic. There is a wonderful invention called “UPS” (and its cousins, “FedEx” and “USPS”). The Jewelry Doctor cannot recommend dilly-dallying, but she is pleased to tell you that if you step on it, you can have a wonderful gift in time for Mother’s Day. 

Which brings us to our next point: Flowers are out. They wilt, and she may have developed allergies since the last time you saw her. (No, we are not judging. We know you had your reasons.) Jewelry, on the other hand, is a perennial. That’s why those smart people put that sign on the freeway for you to find. As for asking someone to wait for a gift until later—well, how did you like it when they did that with your graduation present?

No, no, no. The answer is jewelry, of course. But how to select the right gift? Well, let’s talk about your mother. (Honey, there’s no way around it.)

Does she favor classic design? Is her style simple and elegant? A solitaire pendant on a chain would be a great choice—or just a pretty chain to go with the pendants she already has. (And ask about the Laynie Tzena collection: beautiful handcrafted pendants, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets in porcelain, Venetian glass, Swarovski crystal, and gemstones.)  

Is her taste more casual? Take a look at our jewelry in wood and contemporary metals. You say she’s a big sports fan? Give her a “sporting” pendant: we’ve got skaters, tennis racquets, footballs, baseballs, basketballs (and maybe a hockey puck, too—we’ll check), in both gold and silver.  

Whatever kind of jewelry your mom adores, we’ve got you covered. Call us at 415/796-3969—oh, and honey, do it now, while there’s still time.

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. A mother’s best friend (well, aside from you, of course).

©2018 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

About Your Mother (No, No Freud. There's No Time For That.)

“Oh, no!  Mother’s Day is tomorrow, and here it is almost the last minute.  My mother will kill me!”

Honey, please calm down.

a.  Reality check:  Good news and bad news.

First, the bad news:  It isn't almost the last minute.  It is the last minute.

Now for some good news:  Our handcrafted jewelry gets rave reviews, and we have lots of wonderful gifts on hand.

"How can I see it?  It's not here!"

Oh, but it is.  Just send us an email, and we'll send you some pictures.  Even better, call us at 415/796-3969.

b.  More good news:  The time you were really in danger of your mother even wanting to kill you?  That time when you were little, or maybe that night when you were 15--

"How do you know about that?"

Honey, I'm a doctor.  We know everything.

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor.  Building happy families, one gift at a time.

©2014 Laynie Tzena.

A Word from Our Sponsor, or Remember Those Cookies and Coloring Books?

Your friendly neighborhood Jewelry Doctor would like to remind you that you are only reading this because someone brought you here, and there is a day devoted to that very person.

"Do you mean Mother's Day?  I already got her a couple of cards and some flowers."

What a wonderful beginning.  A bit like what would have happened if your Mom, say, had given you a nice breakfast but decided you didn't really need lunch and dinner.

"Are you saying I have to buy a gift to show her I love her?"

Absolutely not.  And she didn't have to take you to the doctor with that ear infection, either.  Chances are, it would have healed perfectly fine on its own.

"Ah.  I understand.  Well, does San Francisco Jewelry Doctor have any Mother's Day gifts?"

As a matter of fact, we do. 

"We both hate hearts."

No problem.  We have lots of other gorgeous jewelry.  But how nice that you have that in common.

"Also, I'm in Pennsylvania."

Well, that's wonderful.  Philadelphia and everything.  I understand UPS and FedEx both serve Pennsylvania, and of course you have post offices.  Just don't leave it to the last minute.

"What's your phone number?  I'm calling you now."

415/796-3969.  Oh, there's the phone.  That must be you.  Hello!

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor.  Helping you with great jewelry for every occasion, so you don't spend the next year hearing about how it's not really that big a deal, it just would have been nice.

©2014 Laynie Tzena.

Hard to Shop For? Not Anymore!

“My wife never wears the gifts I give her,” say some men.  

Your Jewelry Doctor creates a lot of gifts (and provides others from her sources). They always get rave reviews.  Now yours can, too.  

What’s the secret?  Well, remember the “reconnaissance mission”? 

“If you’ll excuse me, Doctor, that operation is used in war.  We’re talking about love.”

True.  But “gaining intelligence”—here, about your special someone’s taste in jewelry—makes the difference in both worlds.

Here’s how it works:  on a date, or across the breakfast table, notice what kinds of things your sweetheart loves to wear.  

Color

Earth tones or jewel tones?   Warm colors or cool colors?  Pastels or true colors?  Does she wear a lot of black?  Does she like colors that blend, sharp contrast, or a bit of both?

Shape

Now let's consider the outline of the kinds of jewelry she loves.  What kinds of shapes does she choose?  Round?  Oval?  Pear-shaped?  Triangular?  (We call those "trillion.")  Rectangular? (We call the long ones "emerald," and the square, "princess.")  Does she prefer soft lines, or crisper ones--more "Art Nouveau," or more Deco?

Environment (and Personal Style)

Let's think about how she likes to wear the jewelry.  Does her style tend toward suits, or a more casual look?  Does she wear necklaces with a lot of texture or a mix of shapes, or something simple and elegant, like a solitaire pendant or a strand of pearls?  Are her earrings flush against the ear—we call that a “button post” or a “stud”—or a dangle?  How long a dangle does she like? 

When Lights Are Low

You’d be amazed how much information you can pick up over breakfast.  And if you want to step up your game, go out for a romantic dinner.  Does her jewelry change?  Obviously, it’ll be dressier.  But does she also choose different colors and/or shapes for special times?

What She Chooses for Herself

Next time you’re home alone, take a look at her jewelry box.  Notice any patterns?  Just as men often buy the same kinds of ties with slight variation, women often favor, say, a simple gold pendant on a chain.  You might see three or four of these, each with a different gemstone.  Look to see if there are coordinating earrings.  Does she prefer matching jewelry, or what we could call “counterpoint”—i.e., jewelry that coordinates, but doesn’t repeat the same exact pattern?

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Make some notes.  And take a picture of your special someone, if you don’t have a recent one.  It not only feels great to have that with you, it makes a big difference when you shop.  I’ve helped people choose gifts for loved ones across the country, using the clothes they’re wearing in a snapshot to determine their style.  (And those clothes are usually in the colors they prefer, too.)

Putting It Into Practice

So don’t be afraid to shop.  You’re no longer groping around in the dark.  Now when you go looking for gifts, you’re halfway there:  you already know what she likes!

What’s your next special occasion?  Anniversary on the horizon?  Is her birthday coming up soon?  Or is the woman in your life a mother?  Mother’s Day is just two weeks away.  Call your friendly neighborhood* Jewelry Doctor at 415/796-3969, and let’s put our heads together. 

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor.  We make gift-shopping fun.

*If you can read this, we’re in the neighborhood.

©2014 Laynie Tzena.

Make it Merry--and Have a Sunday, Too!

"Oh, I really want to stand in line today!"--said no real person ever.

Good news:  You can call the Jewelry Doctor and get great gifts before brunch!  (Or after; we're flexible.)

We explained it all at this very time last year, and the result was a lot of very merry people.  http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-jewelry-doctor-knows-santa.html

"What's that number, again?"

415/796-3969.  The reindeer are all antlers.  And the Jewelry Doctor? She's pouring another cup of tea and can't wait to hear what's on your list.

"I thought they drank eggnog at the North Pole.  And how would the gifts get here in time?"

a.  The Jewelry Doctor loves eggnog--after your jewelry has been delivered.  Didn't you see the pictures from last year?  Oh, right.  They disappeared somehow.  Well, take our word for it.

b.  Read "The Jewelry Doctor Knows Santa Personally." http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-jewelry-doctor-knows-santa.html

(Yes, she does.  He's a great guy.)  And call us at 415/796-3969.  Unless you really like coal in your stocking--

©2013 Laynie Tzena.

Veronica Has the Floor

Sorry, Betty: a British study investigating “hair color and the intensity of attraction” (we’re all ears, Wikipedia), found that a sizable portion of the male population favors brunettes. (Okay, 51 percent, but we’ll take it. 62 percent said that we were stable and competent, 67 percent said we were independent and self-sufficient, and 81 percent noticed we were smart.)

You say there are brunettes from the Americas to Asia and Africa, and how on Earth can you generalize about so large a group? You may be right. So here are some pointers when shopping for jewelry for your favorite brunette.

Those with fair skin are ravishing in red; choose ruby or garnet for her. The right purple is wonderful: amethyst comes immediately to mind, but have a look at iolite, tanzanite, and grape garnet (yes, the color is natural, and stunning), too. Sapphire—from Ceylon blue to indigo—is a great choice, and so is lapis. In the green family, consider emerald, malachite, and jade.  Smoky quartz, red tiger’s eye, and mahogany obsidian are good choices in brown; in gray and black, choose hematite, gray labradorite, black diamonds, snowflake obsidian, and onyx.

The chatoyan in both tiger’s eye and red tiger’s eye catches the light and will be lovely on a brunette with honey-colored skin; moonstone and labradorite are great on her, too. Citrine, carnelian (especially the light one that looks like melon), yellow sapphire, yellow jade, and amber are fine choices, along with two different garnets: Mozambique, and that Spessartite garnet we were talking about for redheads.   

If her skin is a deeper, richer color, diamonds and pearls are stunning, and she is oh, so pretty in pink, whether it’s a ruby, a pink sapphire, pink tourmaline, rhodolite garnet, rhodonite, or rhodochrosite. Tsavorite garnet, a beautiful green gemstone, is wonderful on her, and so is peridot. If she loves blue, choose aquamarine, a sky blue topaz, or larimar. Both blue and green turquoise are also great choices for her.

Oh, and thanks, Wikipedia, for reminding us that Leonardo’s mysterious friend, the one the world has been trying to figure out ever since she sat for that portrait, was, let us say it in unison: brunette. No information has been recorded as to what kind of jewelry she favored. Just another part of her allure.

©2012 Laynie Tzena.