Built to Last

Today is 5/8.  If you sew, you know the “5/8 rule.” For those unfamiliar with that term, it means you aim to have your seams measure 5/8 of an inch. Using this amount of fabric at the seam provides support to the finished garment.

Savvy shoppers look at the seams when they’re shopping for clothes. Lots of manufacturers started cutting back on the width of those seams years ago, down to 1/4 inch or less. Some say that’s why clothes don’t last the way they used to. Remember the expression, “falling apart at the seams”?

Clothing also used to have “finished” seams. This means that the fabric has stitches in two places, once to hold the fabric together (the inner seam) and again at the border of the fabric. This helps to protect the fabric from fraying. Designer Linda Lorraine’s gloves stand out not just for their jazzy houndstooth and leopard patterns, but because she finishes her seams. She does the job right.

Sometimes, when I admire a necklace, the person mentions the name of the store where it was purchased. Have I seen their jewelry?

“Yes, I think so,” I tell the wearer. 

That store, like many these days, has great designs for very low prices. I restored one of their necklaces for a customer. 

“The design is great, but the construction—not so much,” I told her.  

When my customers bring in jewelry for repair, I can usually tell right away why the necklace or bracelet broke. Often it has been strung on filament or wire too light to support the weight of the jewelry. The manufacturers cut costs, using flimsy material (including cotton thread) to string with and cheap fastenings. This brings down the price, but doesn’t help you once you start wearing the jewelry. And the funny thing is, using good quality materials doesn’t cost manufacturers that much more since they buy in such quantity. But they figure they can get away with skipping that step.

I was picking up supplies at one of my vendors when a woman asked, “How long do you think this necklace (which she was stringing on filament) will last?”

“Probably as long as the trend,” came the answer.

The good news is you don’t have to settle for that. All our work—whether it’s jewelry we design, jewelry from our sources, or jewelry we repair for you—is built to last. Guaranteed. Period.

Oh, and those teeny clasps they’re putting on gold chains now, also to bring down prices? We can replace those with something designed for someone over the age of seven.

You are so welcome.  And honey, we love you, too.

©2013, 2014, 2015 Laynie Tzena.

Opportunity Knocks Again

You win again! Gold ended the day at $1405 yesterday. And the other day it closed at $1380. Your Jewelry Doctor has been busy helping brides and grooms with the jewelry they’d already ordered, and just got back to checking the market today.  

So here’s what we’ll do: all gold jewelry orders placed before 5 p.m. Pacific time today will be priced at at $1380 per oz., regardless of what the market does today. (I had promised to keep you posted, and the Jewelry Doctor is a woman of her word.)

What’s on your wish list? Call the (San Francisco Jeweiry) Doctor at 415/796-3969. 

Opportunity Knocks, and A Chilly Day Suddenly Looks a Whole Lot Better

Yes, it’s true:  Gold is at $1559 today, the lowest it’s been since—wait for it—December of 2011.

So what’s on your wish list?  Call San Francisco Jewelry Doctor at 415/796-3969.  We’re all ears—well, that, and great jewelry.  

What’s that?  Oh, honey, you are so welcome.  But don’t dilly-dally.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

What Now, My Love: Time to Update That Ring?

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. But the ring, after all these years? Not so much.

“But she never said anything.”

And she may not. To you. But here’s what she told a dozen of her closest friends, including the Jewelry Doctor.

“It’s a beautiful stone, and the ring was perfect—for then. But I’d like something a little more up-to-date. And I’m afraid to bring it up, because I don't want to hurt his feelings.”

Okay, fellas, you heard it here: if you’ve been married more than a few years, ask your wife. But how?

Here’s an idea. Try your own version of this: “Honey, I saw a really pretty pair of earrings the other day. They were in the same style as your ring. And I almost bought them for you. But then I thought I’d better ask you first. It’s such a beautiful ring. And I love the way it looks on you. But somebody told me sometimes women like to update their wedding rings after a while. What do you think?”

You will probably receive one of two responses—either “No, honey, I love this ring. I don’t want to touch a hair on its head,” or “Well, now that you mention it, I’ve been thinking about that myself. Would you be okay with changing the ring to a different style?”

If the answer is “a” (leave the ring as is), take a picture of it, if you can, or just make a quick sketch, and we’ll choose a pair of earrings that echo the design. And if it turns out your wife has been dreaming of updating the ring, just say, “What a coincidence. I just met Laynie Tzena, who’s known as the ‘Jewelry Doctor.’ I bet she can help us create a jazzy new ring for you. How does that sound?”

Hark! I believe I hear music.

©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.