Valentine's Day Memories

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

Valentine’s Day was always a special day for my late husband and me. The man who wrote you yesterday sounds a lot like my guy. He was a true romantic from the day I met him to the day we lost him, always sending me flowers, surprising me with gifts. Valentine’s Day was our big celebration. We didn’t like the crowds, so he would cook dinner for me, open a bottle of our favorite wine, and the desserts! I think I gained five pounds every February.

 

But then an earlier illness came back. We were careful and he never caught COVID-19, but it was still really hard not to be able to spend his last days with him in the hospital.

 

That was last August. I’m feeling better, but I miss him and want to find a way to celebrate our love on Valentine’s Day. I’m cooking one of the dishes he used to make. We bought a case of that wine, so there’s enough for a glass or two on Saturday. But I also want to give myself a gift, as he always did, and since he made me promise to take his picture off my phone I want to get a locket so I can keep him close to my heart.

 

I’m guessing you have lockets. Could you show me some? Oh, and one more thing: I’m petite, so nothing gigantic, please. I need to wear it, not have it wearing me.

 

Fanny in North Dakota

 

Dear FIND:

 

So sorry for your loss! And what a lovely tribute to your late husband, to cook something he made for you. Don’t forget about dessert. As you may have heard, there are no calories on holidays.

 

Now about that locket: Here are some wonderful lockets—on the smaller side, as you requested. Just call us at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244) and we’ll discuss the details.

 

Note: Online pictures are often larger than the real-life version. So I’ll give you the measurements for each of these lockets.

 

This one is in 14 karat gold. It’s 13.5 x 12.5mm, or a bit more than ½ inch by ½ inch. https://www.stuller.com/products/2388/?groupId=15476&recommendationSource=productpage&recommendationType=recommendation&recommendationId=107155

 

Here’s a pretty 14 karat white gold locket. It’s 13.5 x 12.75mm, which is just a little larger—but again, just a touch over ½ inch by ½ inch.

https://www.stuller.com/products/84921/?groupId=107161&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

 

Finally, here’s one in sterling silver. This one is a little larger—19.5mm x 12.75mm—but that’s just over ¾ inch by ½ inch, so it still won’t be wearing you :>. https://www.stuller.com/products/21838/?groupId=13061&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

 

Again, you can reach us at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244). Look forward to helping you create a meaningful Valentine’s Day as you treasure your Valentine's Day memories.

 

Love, 

 

The San Francisco Jewelry Doctor

 

©2021 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

True Love

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

Not sure you can help, but it’s worth a try. My girlfriend laid down the law: no gifts this year! That’s partly due to the pandemic, and partly because we’re saving for a house.

 

“I know you,” she said. “Valentine’s Day is coming, and you’re going to want to give me jewelry. Don’t even think about it.”

 

But I really want to give her something! Especially at Valentine’s Day, which I know some people think is corny but which I really look forward to each year because it’s a time when everybody, all over creation (well, at least, in the U. S.), is saying, “I love you.” My friends say, “What’s your problem? Just get her something. Tell her you found it somewhere.”

 

Sitting on My Hands

 

Dear SMH:

 

Well, your heart is certainly in the right place: You want to honor your girlfriend’s wishes, and you also want to give her a gift.

 

Your Jewelry Doctor, like all good doctors, makes a practice of not “over-treating”—i.e., recommending things that are not needed. So the question becomes, “Should you just sit this one out?”

 

Maybe. But there’s another option. Why not have a conversation with your girlfriend specifically about Valentine’s Day? Tell her how important it is to you to be able to give her a present. (Since the holiday is about a week away, I’d have that conversation sooner 

than later.)

 

If she says okay, we can put our heads together about a great gift for her. If not, you know where to reach us when the time is right.

 

Love,

 

The San Francisco Jewelry Doctor

 

©2021 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

What About Mom?

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

I’d like to get something for my mom for Valentine’s Day, but she is so picky! And she already has tons of jewelry. So I don’t know where to start when it comes to her gift. Can you help?

 

Hapless In Honolulu

 

Dear HIHO:

 

How lovely that you want to get your mother a gift! Based on what you’ve said, here are three equally fine approaches:

 

1.  Gift certificates are a great way to go when it comes to those with what we could call “very specific requirements.” To redeem the gift certificate, the recipient pronounces a special incantation—

 

Oh, sorry, we had to give that up. She can just call Laynie at San Francisco Jewelry Doctor (415/796-3969; text 415/596-4244) and make her selection.  

Presto! Brand-new jewelry she chooses herself. And you get the halo!

 

2.  People who love jewelry often have a lot of jewelry. They are also often delighted to know about the Jewelry Doctor, because many times their favorite pieces of jewelry are in need of a little TLC. And this is why jewelry restoration gift certificates were invented.

 

Even bigger halo for you.

 

3.  Once upon a time the Jewelry Doctor thought of all the conversations she had had with a certain kind of person—okay, men—and sat down and wrote an article about how to choose jewelry gifts with confidence. 

http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2014/04/hard-to-shop-for-not-any-more_27.html

The good news is the article also works for women shopping for gifts for women, or men, or—well, you get the idea.  

 

True, this approach is a little riskier, since you’re doing the choosing. But people who have read “Hard to Shop For? Not Anymore!” consistently report great success with their gifts. Now you can join them!

 

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. A daughter’s best friend (and if Mom is reading? Aside from her mother, that is.).

 

©2021 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

  

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.

Meet The New Steven

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

Can it be? Can I change my habit of either forgetting special occasions or running out at the last minute (well, not out this year, of course, but online—you know what I mean) to get a gift? I’m hopeful, because I saw that Figaro chain you recommended to Ronald yesterday and I thought if by chance that came in a narrower version my wife would be all over it. She’s a white gold and sterling girl, though. Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

 

Pattern-Breaking Steven

 

Dear PBS:

 

Hooray for you! Your jewelry doctor loves a great pattern—in design. Personal ones that don’t serve us? Out they go!  

 

Now about that chain: Here’s a really pretty one in sterling from Stuller. It’s 2.5mm wide, making it a great, understated choice. Plus, don’t you think the links look like hearts? I do! (Oh, but you two already said that, right?) https://www.stuller.com/products/ch434/?groupId=45916&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

  

So give us a shout at 415/796-3969, or text 415/596-4244. Sing out if you need a box.  

Oh, and Steven? Now, while you’re thinking of it, would be a really good time.

 

San Francisco Jewelry Doctor. Helping you shine.

 

 ©2021 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

Gifts for the Manly

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

 

Help! I’d love to get my husband a Valentine’s Day gift, but I can’t see him wearing jewelry. He’s very masculine—not macho, but just very manly. (One of his better qualities, if you ask me :>.) So cufflinks are out. One of my friends suggested something in leather, but that’s not him, either. Maybe a tie bar, if it’s not too too, if you know what I mean. Or maybe you have other ideas for me?

 

Ronald in Oakland

 

Dear RIO:

 

Oh, honey, not to worry! Of course we have tie bars. You know, tie bars were originally invented for men, since for a long time they were the main ones wearing ties (though some women have always enjoyed them). Try one of these, from Stuller. 

https://www.stuller.com/products/86544/?groupId=194199&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

 

https://www.stuller.com/products/652889/?groupId=196778&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

 

I know most of us use cards these days, but some folks still love our money clips. https://www.stuller.com/products/84429/?groupId=93076&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

 

https://www.stuller.com/products/mc805/?groupId=102800&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

 

Another thing that might be great for your guy is a Figaro chain. They’re simple, elegant (okay, forget I said “elegant,” just stick with “simple”), and the wide ones are plenty manly.

https://www.stuller.com/products/ch629/?groupId=46113&searchTerm=ch629&recommendationSource=SearchRedirect

And you cannot go wrong with a curb chain.  

https://www.stuller.com/products/ch647/224632/?groupId=46131&recommendationSource=RelatedSiteSearch

 

Here’s one in stainless steel.  

https://www.stuller.com/products/c801/?groupId=105101&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

 

So there you have it! Get ready to be a hero. 

Oh, and honey? Next time, it is all about you. (Oh, please. Of course it is.)  

 

©2021 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

It Can’t Be! (But It Is.)

Ahoy, all ye kings and queens of the last minute: It’s that time again.

http://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2018/12/wait-christmas-is-day-after-tomorrow.html

 

“Isn’t it too late?”

 

Not for handcrafted jewelry from the Laynie Tzena Collection, which is always a great choice. We’ve got beautiful pendants, necklaces, earrings and bracelets, in porcelain, Venetian glass, gemstones, and Swarovski crystal. Choose your gifts up to 8 p.m. tonight, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, and you can pick them up anytime up to 5 p.m.

 

So call us at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), and we’ll find something wonderful for everyone on your list.

 

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

 

©2020 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.