Santa is Ready. Are you?

Yes, it's true: Santa is coming down the chimney in just two days. But will he arrive empty-handed, disappointing children (large and small) everywhere? Not necessarily!

“How is that possible?”

Oh, honey, we are on it: You can still get wonderful handcrafted jewelry from the Laynie Tzena collection: pendants, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets in porcelain, Venetian glass, Swarovski crystal and gemstones. Just call us at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), tell us about the people on your list, and we'll put our heads together and find great gifts we can send overnight.

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. We’ve got you covered.

©2023 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

   

Jewelry on Mars

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, by John Gray, made a big splash when it came out. It built on an idea that had been kicking around for a while—that men and women often see the world quite differently. But there’s a lot of common ground, too, including when it comes to jewelry. 

Some think men don’t like to adorn themselves. But many a man reaches for a tie bar https://www.stuller.com/products/86545/?groupId=194200&recommendationSource=SiteSearch&recommendationSearchId=ZiR9PlHMkj&recommendationSearchTerm=silver%20tie%20bar&recommendationIndex=3&r to secure his tie.  

 

He might prefer a casual look in his off-hours, and also enjoy putting on cufflinks https://www.stuller.com/search/results?query=cuff%20links to go to a wedding or a holiday gathering. 

 

Lots of men like rings.https://www.stuller.com/search/results?query=rings%20for%20men

 

Your guy might well love a great chain necklace (though he might not call it a necklace).https://www.stuller.com/products/ch9/224627/?groupId=46310&recommendationSource=CategoryBrowse&recommendationIndex=5

 

And of course quite a few men wear religious jewelry.

 

So what about your favorite Martian? What kind of jewelry does he wear? Give us a call at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), and we’ll find something that’ll make him shine even brighter in his orbit.

 

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. Making your world bigger.

 

©2023 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

Pro Tip for Great Gifts: Build, Baby, Build!

A time-honored way to know your gift will be a winner is to build on something your loved one already adores. “Bill”* has such a story.

 

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

I am so excited! For once, I know what to get for my holiday gift. Ever since I bought that gold curb chain from you last year my wife hasn’t stopped wearing it. I actually have to remind her that she has other jewelry she could wear!  

 

“Very nice,” you say. "But why, aside from your newfound confidence (which we applaud), are you excited about this year’s gift?”

 

Well! I looked at that holiday gift guide from Stuller you just mentioned, and what did I find? Curb. Earrings. Curb earrings! And then when I took a look at the earrings on the site I noticed a curb ring. With an emerald. She has green eyes. She’s going to love it. Thank you!

 

Bill

 

You are so welcome, Bill. Those earrings are really pretty.  

https://www.stuller.com/products/689016/21176630/?groupId=215102&recommendationSource=Brochure1225

 

That ring he mentioned? 

https://www.stuller.com/products/72328/19337343/?groupId=210529&recommendationSource=productpage-MatchesWith

And here’s that beautiful chain. 

https://www.stuller.com/products/ch26/15022/?groupId=45744&recommendationSource=Brochure1225

 

Be like Bill. Choose a gift that builds on the last successful one.**

 

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. We put the “happy” in “Happy Holidays.”

 

*Not his real name. (He’s kind of a private person.) 

 

**”But I gave her a car last time.”

 

No problem. https://www.stuller.com/products/28242/?groupId=108576&recommendationSource=SiteSearch&recommendationSearchId=bnKahYAlB8&recommendationSearchTerm=car%20charms&recommendationIndex=0&r

 

©2023 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

Is It Really Next Monday?

You say you just realized there’s a holiday a week from today? Not to worry*. Stuller, one of our very favorite sources, has a handy Holiday Gift Guide. Here ‘tis. https://assets.stullercloud.com/web/apps/images/flipbooks/2023/merry-to-the-max/index.html

 

So have a look, make your selections, and give us a call at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244) and we’ll take care of the rest. Just make sure to place your order by noon Pacific Time on Wednesday, 12/20 so it arrives here on time to send it your way. (Bay Area jewelry-lovers are welcome to pick up your gifts in person.)

 

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. The very best jewelry, in the nick of time.

 

*Worrying not encouraged. Stepping on it? Essential.

 

©2023 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

Gifts for the Perplexed

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

I’m sorry, but this is not the most wonderful time of the year, by a long shot. The most wonderful time of the year is the time between 

holidays, when I get to return to feeling like a competent human being.

 

To be specific, the reason I hate the holidays—all except Thanksgiving (L-o-v-e that turkey! And sweet potatoes. And dressing. And pie. And—never mind)—is that no matter what I choose for my one-and-only she takes it back, or it gets banished to the bottom of the jewelry box.

 

I know it’s hopeless, but I thought I’d write just to let you know there are people like me out there.

 

When are the Holidays Over, Already?

 

Dear WHOA:

 

Honey, not to worry. Help is at hand. Your Jewelry Doctor has helped lots of nice people like you. She would love to hand you a cup of hot cider, but she is seriously afraid you might throw it at her. So she is restraining herself, and instead offering a bit of advice. 

 

1. Let us talk about gift certificates. Simply call us at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), let us know the amount you’d like to spend, and one of our fabulous gift certificates will be on its way so you can give your one-and-only a present she is sure to love!

 

2. If you would like to buy her something yourself, read this beloved, informative story from our archives. It will help you shop confidently now and in the future. https://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2014/04/hard-to-shop-for-not-any-more_27.html

 

Fret no more!

 

The San Francisco Jewelry Doctor 

 

P. S. Your one-and-only mentioned a paperclip chain necklace. Just sayin’.

 

©2023 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

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.

The Jewelry Doctor Knows Santa Personally

“Please don’t tell me I have to go over to the stores in this weather or else I will be a Really Bad Person*.”

Not to worry, Honey. We’ve got plenty of beautiful handcrafted jewelry for you and yours: pendants, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, in porcelain, Venetian glass, and gemstones. You can have your gift today or tomorrow.

Now, if you feel a tinge of a need for that certain ambiance, just ask and we’ll put on some of that nice holiday music and see if we can get anybody to yell and scream in the background. You’ll have to get someone on your end to spray the perfume and other memorable fragrances, though.

Escape from the stores. We’re friendly—and we have jewelry! Call the San Francisco Jewelry Doctor at 415/796-3969. Reindeer standing by.

*Honey, don’t be silly. Going to stores at this time of year doesn’t make you a better person. (It might make you something else, though.) Becoming a better person only happens through a lot of soul-searching and giving great gifts from the Jewelry Doctor.

©2012, 2013, 2014 Laynie Tzena.

Last-Minute Miracles

Yes, of course, we’re open today. Grab that list (including something for you, of course), pick up the phone, and call 415/796-3969. Your shopping will be done in a jiffy and you’ll be free to, you know, have a Saturday. (And yes, we gift-wrap.)

And if you start to feel guilty for not sitting in traffic or standing in those lines, just sit quietly for a moment and visualize last year or the year before and how a loved one or two said afterward, “Fine! Then don’t give me a gift next time!” and stormed out of the room. That ought to do it.

Call it “family therapy.” Call it “couples counseling.” Just call us. 415/796-3969.

But I live in Ohio.

We're sorry.

Just kidding. We love Ohio. (How could you not? It has those "O"s on both sides.)

For you, honey, we have beautiful handcrafted jewelry, in Venetian glass, porcelain, and gemstones. Here's how it works:

a. You choose your gift from the collection. (Yes, we accept PayPal, as well as MC and Visa.)

b. We wrap and ship it via UPS, FedEx, or Express Mail for next day delivery.

c. Your treasure arrives on your doorstep on Monday.

Presto! You're a hero. Plus, you get to watch TV (or whatever you usually do on Saturday).

415/796-3969. No charge for the halo.

Another Happy Couple

As we enter the room, Rhonda and Bill are sitting by the fire. Rhonda stirs the coals, sits down and says, “Bill, honey, remember how I was saying I was thinking about how nice it would be to have a new gold chain, and maybe a couple of other things, too?”

“’Deed I do,” says Bill, giving Spot a treat.

“Well, someone just told me gold is at $1651* an ounce today, the lowest it’s been since August!”

Bill smiles.

“So help me, Rhonda, you have the greatest timing. I was just trying to decide on your gift. I know: why don’t you call Laynie at San Francisco Jewelry Doctor and pick out some pretty things?”

Rhonda jumps up and down. Spot follows suit. “Bill,” she says, “I love you so! I always will,” and on her way to the phone she leans over to give him a kiss, as we quietly depart.

Yes, it is the most wonderful time of the year, if you ask the Jewelry Doctor. 415/796-3969.

*The fine print: Remember, that’s today’s gold market price. So all the gold jewelry you order today (and yes, PayPal, MC, and Visa are all fine) by 3 p.m. PST will be priced at $1651/oz., even if the market closes higher.

©2012, 2013, 2015 Laynie Tzena.

Baby, It’s You: “Popping the Question” During the Holiday Season

Raise your hand if you, too, love those “How we met” stories. Got a great one? Sing out! 

I also love hearing how people “pop the question.” Lots of them do it during the holiday season. (Is it all those lights that make your certain someone look irresistible?)

Are you getting ready to pop the question? Yes, there’s still time, but those calendar pages are turning, so don’t delay. And good news:  you’re not limited to what this or that store buyer decided you’d like, and you don’t have to stand in those lines. Just call 415/796-3969. (If you’re getting married this month and still need a companion band for your sweetheart, your own ring, or gifts for the bridal party, happy to help there, too.)

As a bonus, couples that got engaged in a previous December, send in your stories. If yours gets featured, you’ll get ten percent off a pair of earrings (or, for men, a pair of cufflinks) to complement that ring.

Here’s a great one I heard recently: Knowing that his sweetheart loves crossword puzzles, our hero created a custom-made one, making it look like something you’d find in a magazine and planting it in the car (they were on a vacation) so she would find it.  The answer to the last clue was, “Will you marry me?”

How romantic is that? Hooray!

Can’t wait to hear your stories, and help you with your rings. Call 415/796-3969, and let’s put our heads together about the best choice for you and the one you love.

©2012 Laynie Tzena.

Do Blondes Have More Fun? You Decide.

As we recently discussed, I once aspired to be blonde, and ended up with hair that was screaming orange.

I came to love having dark hair—good thing, too, since that’s the kind that grows on my head—but I really enjoy designing jewelry for blondes and those who love them.

Today we’ll talk about what kind of jewelry is best for blondes.

You’ve probably already thought of gold jewelry, and that’s certainly a good choice.  Anything that picks up that beautiful color works well.  So for a lovely gold pendant for that blonde in your life (or the one in the mirror :>;), set that gold with citrine, topaz, tiger’s eye, amber, agate (“Picture Jasper,” anyone?), or yellow sapphire.

That sapphire could be a blue one, too, a stone that is stunning on many a blonde.  A glance at the color wheel might explain why that’s so, and why lapis is such a winner, too. But had you thought of emerald? Wow! And don’t forget jet or onyx—the contrast is what makes that “little black dress” such a knockout when the wearer is blonde).

At the other end of the spectrum, pink tourmaline, diamonds, and pearls are all beautiful on blondes.  Also on brunettes.  More on us soon.

©2012, 2014 Laynie Tzena.

Sun-In Not Required

I love it when people ask, “What kind of jewelry do you design?” All kinds of beautiful jewelry, actually—from very simple to very elaborate. A few years ago I created a line of tiny pendants (called “pendientitos”) in porcelain, Venetian glass, and gemstones for the “Tiny” show at Studio Gallery. They were so much fun to make! But I also love multi-strand necklaces and great big pieces my friend Jane would call “show-stoppers.” It’s all about the customer’s taste. 

There are wonderful pieces in the collection that I could never wear. They’re either not in my colors, or not my style. That’s one of the things I love about designing jewelry—the variety of it, and the fact that it’s all tailored to the customer.

As a teenager, I so wanted to be blonde. Honey, did I ever!

"Blondes have more fun!" people notified us regularly. "If I've only one life to live, let me live it as a blonde!" said a woman on TV.

"Sign me up!" I thought.

Alas, my brief fling with Sun-In did not yield the desired result. My hair turned orange—and not an orange that worked for me. Take my word for it.

But I sure do love red hair. It's so beautiful! For you redheads out there, and those of you who have a friend or loved one with red hair, here are some gift ideas.

First, let's talk about gold tones vs. silver ones. The gold shimmers next to that red hair, but white gold, platinum, and sterling silver all provide a nice contrast. Think about what the redhead on your list chooses most often.

Carnelian sings on redheads. I paired it with hematite in a bracelet for a great look. It's available in both deep orange (in clothing, the color is called "rust") and a lighter shade, too.

For those who favor earth tones, "flower agate" or striped agate is wonderful.  Red tiger’s eye is terrific, with that chatoyan (the band that shimmers a bit), as is mahogany obsidian.

In the green family, unakite is a great choice, since the green is flecked with a russet color; labradorite is lovely, too. Green tourmaline and emerald are also fine choices.

Redheads who love blue look wonderful in aquamarine, blue tourmaline, lapis, larimar, sapphire, and Swiss blue topaz.

For a sparkly look that will pick up that red hair, choose yellow sapphire or Spessartite garnet. (Yes, it’s a garnet—a gorgeous orange one.)

There are many more choices, of course, but these will get you started.  Call 415/796-3969 and let’s talk about the redheads on your list.

©2012, 2014 Laynie Tzena.