Richard Alan

harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

I mentioned in my last article that going back to basics just wasn’t working in this economy. But here on Marco Island or Southwest Florida, for that matter, the love of basic sea life jewelry hasn’t wavered. (No pun intended.)

Silver and Gold crab nestled in coral.

The love of the ocean is why people flock here. Those who visit for the first time are amazed by the beauty of the beaches and the joy of living life by the shore. Personally, I was astounded by the abundant fish and wildlife that the Ten Thousand Islands offer.

My first years here were spent on the beach sketching ocean scenes and the critters that dwell there, and I kept coming up with ideas and designs that could be created into unique but wearable jewelry.

That was 18 years ago, and many of the hundreds of sketches and designs became reality, The most popular is my now famous ‘Marco Bracelet’ consisting of kissing dolphins in two tone precious metal.

Dolphins have always fascinated me and when recreated in gold or silver or combinations of both, sales were huge for these most loved sea creatures.

I don’t leave out the other wondrous and seemingly endless sea life. Some years, manatee jewelry is number one, other years, it’s the pelican. One constant seller, year in and out, is the sand dollar.

I create pieces in gold or silver and the ladies enjoy them as rings, earrings, pendants, charms, bracelets, anklets and even belly button rings!

The simplest designs are created by Mother Nature. The lines are clean and easy on the eyes.

Beside my own designs, I am privileged to carry sea life jewelry lines from other designers such as Denny Wong from Hawaii and Steven Douglas, a California artisan.

My most prolific line is Kabana Jewelry. They are an American Company that has been making animal and sea life jewelry for decades in gold and sterling silver.

There is also jewelry for the nautical enthusiasts on the island, that please both sailors and “stink potters” (engine propelled boaters) alike. The pieces they like involve propellers, anchors, sailors’ knot rings and bracelets.

I don’t want to leave out the indigenous birds, such as eagles, blue herons, even burrowing owls. Fishermen enjoy sterling and gold pendants portraying snook, redfish and sea bass. One piece displays all three, known as a “Gulf Grand Slam” when they catch all three in one day.

I have created pendants and bracelets with rope or fish hook designs. The demand for turtle jewelry is by far my overall most requested sea life creature. A favorite item is a mother and baby turtle pendant, but in reality once a turtle hatchling leaves the nest and makes it to the Gulf, they are sadly on their own.

The overall pleasure customers experience once they find and adorn that special sea life piece speaks for itself. Take home a piece of paradise…..Sea life jewelry!

Richard Alan is a designer/master goldsmith with over forty years of experience creating fine jewelry and is the owner of The Harbor Goldsmith at his new location in Island Plaza on Marco Island.

He welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” at 239-394-9275.

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Richard Alan

harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

The faint ray of light at the end of the dark tunnel, to my amazement, was actually a splinter of sunshine, instead of an oncoming train. Are things actually getting better? My conversations with customers who happen to be realtors, also tell me there has been more favorable activity in their field recently.

There was a general census taken randomly in a U.S. jewelry trade website last week, asking individual store owners how business was this past holiday shopping season. We shop owners need some signs of reassurance in order to plan for the future. Are we to continue hunkering down in the trenches, keeping our heads and our expenses down, or climb out slowly and strategically restock to satisfy demand? It’s expensive decision that could lead any retail store to success or failure. The nationwide survey was bitter-sweet, and to me, the message was whatever the individual reader made of it.

Many stores claimed it was their best season in years. Others claimed their worst ever. Still others saw some improvement and some found no change at all. Talk about mixed signals! I’d be better off flipping a coin. I committed myself to some major paradigm moves over the summer to induce change and hopefully improve what to me had become the same old, same old.

A new location, a new look, new merchandise and a new perspective on how to do business in Paradise, U.S.A. As I expected, holiday shopping on the island was off to a slow start just like the three years past. My wife and I made plans months ago to spend Christmas and New Year’s with family in Europe. So I worked the bench like a mad man from Black Friday until I completed all my custom holiday orders, in order to depart on the 22nd of December.

Reports from the new store during the last few days of shopping were favorable. Besides enjoying the holiday festivities that can only be found in Europe, it’s impossible not to get in the Christmas spirit. We also found time to visit shopping malls in both Germany and France.

Europe is experiencing the mildest winter in decades which I’m sure is a favorable factor for shopping. The malls were packed. Jewelry stores were full of buyers, not shoppers. I thought the EU’s economy was supposed to be in worse shape than the U.S.? You would never know it from what I have seen there. In Paris, we witnessed a crowd (tourists?) waiting in line while the cold rain poured down on them, just to gain entrance to Louis Vuitton.

Watches and silver jewelry appeared to be the choice gifts in Europe. I found the shopping frenzy astounding between Christmas and New Year’s. There must be something in the drinking water over there! It so reminded me of how it was in my line of work in Boston many years ago. When business was good, it was very good, gold was cheap, around $250.00 an ounce compared to nearly $2000.00 today. Even diamonds were affordable to nearly everyone.

Back then, the holiday shopping season began for me even before Thanksgiving and lasted until darn near midnight, Christmas Eve. The incoming orders were overwhelming. (I would compare it to drinking water from a fire hose!) It required working late nights and weekends. I hardly remember a Christmas morning that I didn’t feel like I had the stuffing kicked out of me rendering me almost comatose, not much time to be infused with the holiday spirit. I can’t say I enjoyed working like that but in that decade and environment it was required because the following months could be a bit lean. In those days Valentine’s Day didn’t require a gift of jewelry. Candy and flowers did the trick.

So what does the future hold for jewelers in 2012? As a whole I can’t answer, but I know what I’m doing! When I returned to the island last week, to my surprise I had more sales of gold jewelry than expected, not the heavy stuff but lighter weight pieces such as earrings and rings sold extremely well. We sold diamond pieces such as earring studs and pendants which was a tough sell these past years. I talked to friends in the business around the Boston area and their diamond sales were slim to next to non-existent.

A bizarre worldwide thing in December, the spot price of gold actually went down more than $200.00 during the so called shopping peak. I have been in this business for decades and never have I seen the price drop during the holiday season. It always spiked upward…why not this year? To further add to the mystery, the spot price of platinum is less than gold right now. Another oddity to ponder.

It is a fact that platinum is harder to mine, is far more scarce than gold and it has always been the more expensive precious metal. Why it costs less defies logic. Another little known fact is that last year the price of diamonds steadily increased despite a crummy economy. Things are so topsy-turvy, that normal business barometers you could rely on for fifty years are useless. I have more faith in a Calusa Indian rain dance or tea leaf reading.

When gold got too expensive most of us, some reluctantly, moved to alternative metals and materials such as silver, stainless steel, titanium, bronze, pewter, even leather, wood, rubber and ceramic. My stores are no exception. You’ve got to sell something to stay in the game.

2012 will be no less challenging and the strategy I implemented late last summer for “keeping it real” so to say, has worked well so far, though it required a 360 degree radical change from what I was accustomed to. Three old business rules prevailed… location, location, location.

Change is good but sometimes it also requires a kick in the proverbial derrière to implement. So, I made the leap of faith and when the dust settled and the paint dried, change happened. A wonderful thing happened when we re-opened, just days after Labor Day. In our brand new store, in a new location, a flood of new customers appeared along with clientele we hadn’t seen for a while. It was for me like a Renaissance (and I will admit a bit overwhelming for a couple of months!) Where there was the darkness of uncertainty there is now light.

I’m optimistic this will be a great season all through this year….my fortune teller told me so!

“The balance (scale) distinguisheth not between gold and lead.” George Herbert (1593-1633)

Richard Alan is a designer/master goldsmith and owner of The Harbor Goldsmith @ Island Plaza and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” at 239.394.9275 or harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

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Buying gold from the public has become big business for many retail jewelry stores. I have to admit, it is a big part of mine. In the past three years I have easily bought tenfold the amount of gold that I have sold.

It is true, with the exorbitant prices of precious metals, folks selling their gold are getting more money that ever before and in some cases, more than they paid for it originally. I get all kinds of reactions when quoting prices for what is presented to me. “You’re kidding me!” or “That much?” and the occasional “That’s all it’s worth?”

Obviously most people have a preconceived idea of what they feel their gold jewelry is worth. The reality of it all is…. most are disappointed. Selling gold at the scrap price means just that. The fact that it was made by Cartier or K-Mart means nothing, you get paid for the weight of the gold.

Most shops advertising that they buy gold, purchase it this way and do not pay for the sentimental value it may have to you. The fact that Aunt Grezelda gave you that hideous ring when you graduated high school in ‘68 doesn’t factor here. What karat and what it weighs does.

Don’t expect to receive top market price you see on the TV screen every morning, unless it is pure 24 karat bullion, because you won’t.

Most jewelry manufactured in the U.S.A. is 14 karat and that is only 58.5 % pure making the other 41.5 % of the scrap piece base metals or alloys. These metals can include copper, brass, nickel and silver to name a few, nowhere near the cost of gold. The higher the karat gold your scrap is the more money you should receive for it. Obviously, dealing with reputable buyers is advised, because how you are paid can be confusing.

Gold can be weighed two ways, by the gram or by the pennyweight, two different forms of measure. 31.1 grams = one ounce and 20 dwts. ( pennyweights) also = one ounce.

Here’s a simple example. Let’s say the dealer offers you $20.00 a pennyweight for your gold, sounds like a lot of money but when converted to grams it’s only $12.86 because the weight of measure is different. $20.00 x 20 dwt = $400.00 $12.86 x 31.1= $399.946 The same money just sounds like more.

So how much should you get? Good question, and hard to answer. The market changes are so volatile now that we count by minutes not days or months as before. I have quoted prices to folks, who reply they will think about it and come in the next morning to find their gold is worth less than the day before. It’s within my right to pay the exact market price at the time you sell it, so when you leave with your gold after a price is given, all bets are off when the door closes behind you. We both take a gamble. The next morning gold can open up or it can be down and the gold we talked about yesterday is worth less.

Personally, I pay higher for “clean gold” than I do for 10 karat or small broken chains and gold teeth. They are full of impurities requiring the use of a refinery to remove the alloys and solder to make the scrap valuable, thus reducing the weight. It is also costly which is why I have to pay less.

I will pay more for solid pieces such as wedding bands, bracelets, earrings because I can utilize the gold in shop to make new jewelry avoiding refining costs. I dread when someone comes in with pure gold bullion or ingots, especially when they expect to get exact market price. It simply leaves me no room to make even a dollar. If the market is $1800.00 an ounce, they want $1800.00 as they should. You’re just not gonna get it from me. When I refuse to buy it they look at me as if my cheese slipped off the cracker. “But your sign says you buy gold!” I’m not crazy, I’m smart.

To lay down 1800 smackers and not make a dime in profit is nonsense to me. I would offer $1700, a fair deal. Even the gold brokers you see on TV charge commission fees both when you buy and when you sell. It’s never exact money for gold. Some pawn shops may pay more for high dollar pieces. They clean and polish them and reprice them and hope they sell in the showcase.

I don’t sell second hand jewelry. One of the problems with estate jewelry (a fancy term for second hand jewelry) is you can buy someone else’s headaches, such as worn prongs or fractures, worn or chipped stones, etc.

Buying gold daily from the public means there is never a dull moment. It always seems the uglier the piece the more the customer wants for it. I then say, “if it’s so wonderful why are you selling it?” As I have said before, if the jewelry is sentimental don’t sell it, it can never be replaced.

Richard Alan is a Designer/Goldsmith and the owner of  The Harbor Goldsmith of Marco Island and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” at 239-394- 9275 and harborgoldsmith@comcast.net 

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harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

In my last article I mentioned I took in a lot of diamonds in any given week, but that doesn’t compare to the amount of watches that land on my bench in a single day.

I look at and work on a hundred or more timepieces a week. I replace dead batteries, shorten or enlarge metal watch bracelets, replace broken, worn pins and the rivets that hold them together, tighten clasps that don’t clasp and replace worn out leather or rubber straps… lots and lots of watches. They can come from the dollar store, or from a fancy jewelry store and cost thirty thousand dollars or more. ( Yes, a solid gold gent’s diamond Rolex “Presidential” retails at $30,000+!). But most watches all have two things in common, pricey or not.…they are designed to tell time, and most today run by battery. I’m a goldsmith and have never claimed to be a watchmaker, but being around them most of my life, I have learned what makes a watch tick or not tick.

Changing a dead battery in most watches can be performed by a well trained monkey and, judging by the condition of the many scratched and hacked up watch case backs I see caused by human hands, the monkeys would in my opinion do a much better job.

Oh I love it when ordinary folks walk in after attempting to change their own batteries at home, and guess what? The watch doesn’t run and they can’t seem to get the back cover back on. First things first, I admit changing watch batteries in many models is fairly simple to accomplish. (This is where the primate mentality comes in to play.) Trouble comes if you are a klutz when it comes to handling really tiny itty bitty objects, such as the screws that hold in most batteries, and I mean tiny! Many are half the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Drop it and you have a better chance of finding the winning lottery number than that screw on your floor!

And guess what? The watch won’t work without that screw in place and I’ll guarantee you won’t find a replacement at Ace Hardware. The first time watch “home battery replacers”, as I call them, have one heck of a time prying the back off, it usually involves marring the beautiful finish on the rear of the watch. It’s kind of like shucking an oyster only not as messy unless, of course, you slip and slash yourself with the sharp pocket knife and have to call 911 to have an emergency medical team stop the bleeding.

I can usually tell the first timers by the watch parts they are presenting to me in a sandwich bag with bandaged fingers. Folks, Clint Eastwood said it perfectly. “A man’s got to know his limitations.” Pay the ten bucks and get it done right. Oh! I heard a snicker out there, Ten dollars! Is he crazy? I go to the flea market and get it done for a buck! So be it, now your watch gets impregnated with an ancient 2 cent Chinese or Korean battery that’s been sitting in a damp and steamy warehouse for who knows how long. Now it will surely leak and dissolve the inner workings of your favorite watch rendering it useless and that’s guaranteed! Go ahead and save the nine dollars.

My favorite incident involved the five dollar battery kiosk at the mall years ago. A gentleman wouldn’t give me the ten bucks to do his solid gold Movado watch right. He drove all the way to the mall in Naples to save $5.00. (Did he figure on the gas he used?) The gum snapping teenager at the kiosk changed his battery all right, and in the process, broke the crystal and bent the case trying to put the back on. At least he got a free battery. The $1,500.00 gold watch, needless to say, is no longer pretty nor does it tells time.

Some watches require a skilled watch maker or authorized service center to change the battery. This can include some Movados, Ebels, Concords, Tissots, Breitlings and Tag Heuers to name a few. Simply, because the watch has to be completely dismantled, reassembled and important gaskets replaced… a costly process but the only way. An expensive watch like a fine automobile has to be maintained, especially manual winding watches or automatics (non-battery powered watches).

Of the hundred or so batteries I replace a week, the inevitable always happens. Now remember, the customer brought in the watch because it was not running (i.e. not telling time). I replace the battery, it’s still not running. When I explain that the problem is not the battery, I sometimes get a perturbed response.

“ Well, it was working before.” Are you sure you used a fresh battery? Or worse, I, meaning me, must have broken it! First of all, it wasn’t working when it was brought in and the battery was definitely dead. You have other watch issues. If your car won’t start it’s not always the battery and don’t you blame the mechanic.

The watch could be full of dust, sea or pool water could have gotten inside, or the watch could have been dropped or smacked around and sometimes its life expectancy is over… kaput! You need a watchmaker to figure it out.. If you want to keep it, you have to get it repaired, if he says it’s not worth the money… pitch it.

Another fallacy about watches is, if it says “water resistant” on the case it’s ok to swim with it. I don’t suggest doing that, it’s not water proof. Oh, sure, you wear it swimming anyway, it’s only a matter of time until water gets in through the stem and crown and your watch is a portable fish tank. Salt water is devastating to the insides of a watch rendering it irreparable.

Not all watches are created equal. The more time it takes to perform the battery change, the more some jewelers charge. It can sometimes take 20 to 30 minutes to change a battery and may require removing a dozen of those elusive tiny screws I mentioned earlier.

Anyone know an Orangutan who’s good with its hands? A word to the wise… keeping valuable time pieces in some safe deposit boxes can destroy the inner movements because of the combination of air-conditioning and humidity that plagues most confined spaces. A customer was in recently and showed me several watches that were totally rusted out from being confined in the bank for many years.

Time waits for no one. Mick Jagger

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Richard Alan is a Designer /Goldsmith and the owner of The Harbor Goldsmith of Marco Island and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” at 239-394-9275 and harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

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In any given week, I look at a lot of diamonds, lots and lots of diamonds. I examine them for security in their settings, which includes prong wear and tear. I examine them for damage to the diamond itself. Contrary to public belief diamonds are not unbreakable and can be chipped or severely damaged if proper care is not practiced. Those folks who believe a diamond is indestructible have been reading too many Marvel Superman comics.

I also inspect to identify questionable white stones that have been found in recently deceased Aunt Mary’s jewelry box. I inspect diamonds to assess their value for insurance appraisals, verify or condemn questionable pieces of diamond jewelry for uncertain tourist purchases while abroad.

Not to mention the innumerable folks who walk in and simply hold out their diamond ring and ask me, “what is this worth?” My favorite question is, “How old is this diamond?” Being the smart Alec I am known to be, I usually answer, “Oh, around two or three million years old I guess, give or take a few hundred thousand years!” Nevertheless it’s a good question. The “age” of a diamond can be determined by the way the diamond is cut, but it is next to impossible to narrow it down to the exact day and date unless it is a renowned gem. Obviously, certified diamonds cut within this century, purchased from a company that did the cutting should have “birth information” about an important diamond. I can usually pick the part of the century when a customer’s diamond was cut. Thus the customer can some- times figure out what ancient relative it belonged to. (I can also cheat by reading the initials and date on the inscription engraved inside the ring! This skill results in ooh’s and ahh’s of amazement!)

In a nut shell, without getting too technical, the older the diamond the more crudely it was cut. As technology progressed so did the art of diamond cutting. Diamonds before the 18th century, were odd shaped, flat on the bottom with most of the faceting resulting from the original crystal found in the mine or riverbed-not the prettiest thing. By the early 19th century the old miner cut appeared. Mankind could actually cut diamonds into shapes and add more facets to give the diamond more brilliance and sparkle. The diamond was no longer pancake shaped. This era was when the art of diamond cutting and polishing progressed dramatically.

The Belgians or Flemish were on top of their game as far as creating the best cut diamonds in the world, and they still are today. The old miner progressed into the old European cut, to the European cut and to today’s Ideal cut. I was recently asked by a customer if the diamond she inherited from her grandmother was a “holocaust diamond.” On my close examination, my assumption was, possibly, because it was an old Euro cut. The age of the cut and polish made it feasible but without physical proof, impossible to prove.

To identify the cut of your diamond is not difficult. A magnifying glass or jeweler’s loupe would make it even easier. (I will gladly let you borrow one of mine.) There are very few diamonds circulating out there cut before the 1700’s and 1800’s. Most have been recut and resold. There are some in exhibits and personal collections.

But there are millions of old miners set in ladies’ engagement rings, gents’ rings, pendants, etc. First thing to look for is a diamond which is not perfectly round. Some can be rounded squares or as I call them “rovals,” a combination of round and rectangle.

The top of the diamond, which is known as the table, is small, the sides or edge of the gem, known as the girdle, is thickly cut. Some can be like a knife edge and will most likely be chipped from a century of wear and tear. The facets are not uniform and do not have an identical cut.

The tell tale identifier is the bottom of the diamond should have a large facet or flat spot. (a.k.a. the culet.) Normally, in modern cut diamonds there is a pointed culet. This can be seen by looking through the top of the table to the bottom of the diamond and looks like a little “window”.

As time marched on, the old European cut emerged into a form which is relatively easy to identify; more exact roundness to the diamond, a larger table and the faceting more exact and uniform. The girdle is not too thick, not too thin and the culet facet is minimal or non-existent. In fact, it is a pointed culet. The brilliance of the gem is quite remarkable.

After the 1800’s the old European progressed to what we have today, the Ideal cut, which is literally engineered, computerized cutting that maximizes brilliance, scintillation and beauty of the diamond.

Today there are numerous shapes and cuts that involve multi-faceting diamonds so that the finished product makes the old miners pale in comparison.

As for me, I love the older cut diamonds. There is a romance and history to each one which was reset and passed down from generation to generation. We have a treasure we can prove graced the hand or neck of our ancestors.

Who knows? Centuries from now the state of the art diamond cutting of today may be considered old crude cuts to our future generations.

“I never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.” – Zsa Zsa Gabor

Richard Alan is a Designer /Gold- smith and the owner of The Harbor Goldsmith of Marco Island and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” at 239-394-9275 and harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

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I tend to come across a bit on the sarcastic side, (In case some of you haven’t noticed.) I will try to control that emotion as I write this serious column.

For me celebrating the holiday of Thanksgiving was for most of my life a day I dreaded, in those days my family was spread all over the state and I ended up on the road with a car load of kids going from dinner to dinner, it was far from being a thankful day.

But today things are very different; I never leave the island and my family and friends celebrate at our home or under a chickee hut at Residents’ Beach where the traveling time only takes five minutes.

I have also realized that I have a lot to be thankful for; a great wife, family and friends and despite the worst economic conditions I ever faced I never had to lay off a single employee and my businesses are still up and running, sure we sprung a few leaks and we worked as a team regardless of the sacrifices and kept the ship afloat. We have since moved the flagship store from Front Street and dropped anchor at The Island Plaza next to Beall’s outlet, resulting in a future so bright and shiny we’ll have to wear shades.

I would like to offer a whole hearted thank you and A Happy Thanksgiving to my family and irreplaceable staff and of course my hundreds of loyal customers; the regulars and the scores of newbies without whom I would have little to be thankful for. Richard Alan.

Thankful jewelry? Believe it or not there is. The traditional anniversary ring is the first thing that comes to mind. The husband presents a diamond anniversary ring to his loving wife for putting up with him for so many decades. More often than not it is a complete surprise and an emotional moment to the unsuspecting bride, which ultimately results to a very, very happy husband.

Gifts of thanks traditionally presented to bridesmaids and ushers at most weddings, can include earrings to compliment the ladies’ gowns and monogrammed money clips for the men.

There are other dated reasons to presented baubles at other thankful occasions. Diamond and religious jewelry was customarily presented to a new mother and to the new arrival or arrivals.

Sweet sixteen was often celebrated by presenting a birthstone ring from thankful parents to their little lady on her sixteenth birthday; this is rarely practiced today especially if she was anything like my first sixteen year old. (Sorry! sarcasm once again is trying to rear its ugly head.)

The tradition of presenting a ring to a boy becoming a young man, was common in my youth! I still have it today. It was usually a stone ring or a monogrammed signet ring, something to be cherished and handed down from generation to generation.

My grandfather handed his down to me before he died, as I will to my son when my time has come…but not yet!

Sadly, many of these thankful traditions have gone by the wayside because of the fast-paced lives we now live.

Traditions like giving jewelry for thankful reasons have persevered for centuries. Even the Pope presented priceless jewelry to royalty or his own bishops in thanks for his safekeeping and preservation of the holy church. I saw many of these magnificent pieces with my own eyes while traveling in Europe.

Certain nationalities, for example the Italians and Latinos, give jewelry as gifts for almost any reason involving thanks. The very young are usually covered with gold.

Giving jewelry for any reason not only makes the recipient happy but also makes the giver feel good.

Richard Alan is a Designer /Goldsmith and the owner of The Harbor Goldsmith of Marco Island and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” at 239-394-9275 and harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

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Rarely a day goes by that I don’t get astonished and or flabbergasted by comments made by misinformed or superstitious folks who enter my establishment.

I’d like to quote Rick who runs the Las Vegas pawn shop on the T.V. show Pawn Stars. “Even after 30 years in the business you never know what will walk in that door.”

Call them wives’ tales or folklore, you name it, most of the time it is just wrong information. Here are some of my favorite ones. You may even believe they are true. Never give opal jewelry to someone if it isn’t her birthstone, it will give her a life of bad luck.(Guys, I guess you could give your ex’s opals to get the desired effect.) Giving pearls as a gift to a bride to be will only bring her misery and tears. (Wow! Don’t invite any ex’s bearing gifts to that wedding.)

Some other good ones are home remedies for cleaning your jewelry, for instance… toothpaste? Where this one comes from beats me. Toothpaste contains abrasives and can do more damage than good and is just plain messy.

Only yesterday some British tourists told me they clean their jewelry in gin or vodka? I can think of a better use for that cleaning agent, only that would include tonic water, a bit o’ lime and ice. One of the worst jewelry cleaning “tips” is cleaning with bleach. After a few Clorox cleanings your jewelry will promptly begin to corrode and fall apart and be rendered unfixable. Nice tip! Don’t do it! Glass cleaner is ok for the most part, provided you rinse all of it off with warm water and dry.

Then there are misconstrued ideas that people have about jewelers. Like how we work on a three times mark up on all the trinkets in the show case, especially diamonds. That’s a good one, with gold at nearly $1,800.00 an ounce. I add a dollar to the wholesale price and they still won’t buy it. I did better than that last week with a client who was “shopping” for prices on a heavy gold chain. The client was in half a dozen times, and quite frankly making me crazy. The price was always out of the question (fine, more gold for me.)

Next day the client is in again this time looking at a heavy bracelet and asking “How much?” I did something I never do, I purposely quoted a price $1,000.00 below cost (client succeeded in making me crazy, I did this for a reason.) The client answers… “Price is too high, can you do better?” You can come to you own conclusion, I know I did…I put the bracelet back in the case. Next customer, please.

Another touchy subject is the public’s suspicion about leaving a valuable diamond with a jeweler and the anguish it causes some people. How do they know they will get the same diamond back? Is it safe there? I had one lady tell me that she better get back the same cubic zirconia in her pendant when she returned to pick up the repair. I assured her she would. (What did she think I would do replace it with a real two carat diamond?)

I once had a couple who wanted to inspect my store’s security system. I asked them if they would also like a copy of my alarm codes and safe combination? I don’t make this stuff up! I also cringe when I hear how many baby boomers will claim their engagement ring contains a “perfectly flawless blue white diamond” and on my close examination, the diamond quality couldn’t be further from the truth. Then I have to point out the ugly fact they got duped. I’d love to meet the N.Y. diamond dealer who sold thousands of single one carat “blue white flawless diamonds” for $500.00 back in the 60’s. He probably owns a Caribbean island enjoying a luxuriously peaceful retirement.

So every Monday, I open my doors to the public and rake in the wealth of useless information and slowly save my hard earned shekels to someday retire and purchase my own Mediterranean island, where I can lounge on the beach, where I can request my butler to bring more ice to refresh my glass of lime flavored jewelry cleaner.

Richard Alan is a designer /goldsmith and owner of the Harbor Goldsmith now located at Beall’s Plaza, 680 Bald Eagle Dr., Marco Island and welcomes your questions and comments about “All That Glitters.” 239.394.9275. 

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Buyer beware is a term used probably before ancient Roman times, to warn even savvy consumers that if the price of merchandise they are purchasing is too good to be true it usually is. I grew up with a saying my mentor, and at the time my master, often quoted (I was an apprentice goldsmith then though I felt like an indentured servant.) “The bitterness of a low price lingers long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten” Ben Franklin. 

That saying influenced my whole life, not just what I bought for my household, but even the merchandise I carried in my retail shops. Best quality is always more expensive, better, a little less expensive, but inferior quality is simply inferior. It’s all justified by the price you pay. The trick is not paying a lot for mediocre merchandise.

Ever try to dry off with cheap $5.00 beach towels? All they do is spread the water around. They absorb nothing. Jewelry is no exception, there is so much being done to attract the public to buy jewelry that may not necessarily be solid 18 karat gold, 14 karat gold or platinum. You may notice I listed gold prior to platinum. Gold has actually surpassed the cost of platinum recently.

The holidays are around the corner and regardless of economic conditions, women in general, love jewelry as a holiday gift. I heard the guys just groan painfully as a group after reading my last statement. It’s not as agonizing as you think.

It’s reality, guys, let’s face it, nothing gets us out of the doghouse like jewelry does. Except maybe getting her a new 2012 Mercedes turbo coup, what did you do? Now that’s an expensive peace offering! For a lot of jewelry lovers heavy gold pieces may be out of the question budget wise, so many manufacturers, including yours truly, saw the writing on the wall and now we are producing a lot of sterling silver jewelry with gold accents that seriously keep the cost down. Men’s jewelry created with alternative metals such as stainless steel and titanium are popular as ever, but I’ve noticed the ladies on Marco haven’t warmed up to wearing it just yet.

Back to the point of this article… stay away from the horrible super light weight gold chains and rings, etc. being offered today on TV or elsewhere. You’d be better off giving your significant other a new vacuum cleaner and enduring the glare of her initial reaction on Christmas morning. At least your thoughtless gift will last longer than the worthless alternative.

Diamonds are forever and so are credit card payments. Once again lots of my newest pieces incorporate small diamonds set in silver and gold. Also, the latest styles from Europe are following the same trend. This is all good. It was hard to find fabulous styling with a rainbow of colored gemstones, that include diamonds in silver, at reasonable prices that make you look like you gave this gift giving thing some thought.

Don’t misunderstand me, certain famous designers still fetch spectacular prices for sterling jewelry and the cost of silver has more than quadrupled in these past years but thankfully it is no where near the price of gold. The high end jewelry store with the pretty blue box has been charging for silver as though it were gold for decades, and does now, only more so. Jewelry should be substantial enough to withstand daily wear, be attractive and have a practical design.

Its design should not cause pain to the wearer or damage one’s clothing or maim other people within a 3 foot radius of the wearer. (Those of you out there who enjoy pain can ignore this last paragraph.)

Now become that sophisticated and savvy consumer, shop well and shop smart and don’t become the prey of misleading pre-holiday sales that offer ridiculous percentages off for gold. In this current metal market it’s impossible to offer savings unless it’s hollow and shoddily made.

Always be that buyer who bewares! 

Richard Alan is a designer/goldsmith and the owner of the Harbor Goldsmith and Richard’s Reefs on Marco Island and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” 239-394-9275. 

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I’m finally settled in and open at my new location at Island Plaza (better known as Beall’s Plaza) and in just two short weeks I have achieved the desired results I was hoping for.

One was to be busier than I was at my old Front Street location, the other was to attract some new clientele. It’s no secret to many of us seasoned island business people that lots of our customers abandon “the rock” each year and many never return for whatever reasons.

I have seen a lot of new faces with the old and that’s a great thing, and with new faces comes questions of my honesty and integrity. I used to find it hard to believe that being on the island since 1994, and the thousands of dollars I have spent on advertising, still some islanders have never heard of my business.

That goes for a lot of island businesses. It just goes to show you word of mouth is everything here and it better be good words. It took me 17 years to build the reputation I have on Marco. (My Mom and her friends tell me it’s an honorable one.)

Marco’s population is like the tide, or as Jimmy Buffet says “In the tropics they come and they go.” I can name quite a few characters with questionable business ethics who seem to have vanished into thin air.

So, when a new customer questions my honesty and integrity with a piece of his or her treasured jewelry he/she is contemplating leaving in my care, unlike many jewelers I don’t take offense, it’s a perfectly understandable question. The customer could be a Naples or Marco newbie. Let’s face it, the new ones don’t know me from Adam.

There is not a week that goes by I don’t hear a customer’s horror story about what had happened with some other jeweler “up north” or in a nearby town that involved possible stone switching or how their cherished piece was destroyed by an amateur bench jeweler.

I can relate. All a person needs in this country to open a jewelry store, is the capital to build and stock it. Nowhere is it required by the state or government that you actually have any knowledge or training in the craft.

Many European countries require documented schooling, apprenticeship or training just to be a waitress or hairdresser.

It can be very difficult there to get a license to practice the art of a goldsmith. Just look how many fly by niters in Collier county store fronts who are advertising they buy gold lately. I heard some guy on the island works out of his car and comes to your home, for Pete’s sake…Integrity?

The jewelry business as a whole is a very honorable marketplace where transactions of thousands, even millions of dollars worth of gold or diamonds are conducted with just a handshake.

You break that trust and watch your business shrivel up and blow away in the wind when other jewelry vendors and dealers hear you are not a man or woman of your word and you quickly become a jeweler with a tarnished reputation…or a lack of…Integrity.

What I’m trying to say is the industry as a whole does not tolerate anyone who gives the business a bad name whether it is wholesale or retail. There is nothing more sacred to jewelers as the moral foundations they build with honesty, trust and integrity. Lose it with your peers or customers, it’s time to find another career.

There are many ways to test “a jeweler’s worth.” First, ask around town; you will hear of his integrity first hand. Research the business with the local Better Business Bureau- lots of complaints cannot be a good sign.

Doing business with a jeweler, you expect everything to be above board, experience and professionalism, the quality of product, craftsmanship and fair pricing, (like getting what you paid for.)

For me, most important, is security of my client’s possessions while in my care for repair or restorations. My customers know that when anything is left in my shop, regardless if it’s for ten minutes or two weeks, I am responsible for its repair and safekeeping no matter if it was a ten dollar Timex or a $20,000 Piaget watch…Trust.

My goldsmiths or I perform the repairs with the utmost care and skill that over 60 years of combined bench experience can provide, thus assuring the customer that the article they left will be repaired or restored perfectly and will continue to bring joy to its bearer for years to come.

Customers uneasy about leaving large important pieces, diamonds or gems in my shop or any other can request a “plotting” of the gem that points out and describes measurements and photos of the diamond or gemstone’s characteristics.

No two diamonds or gems are exactly alike. This simple security process leaves no doubt that the diamond or gem is the exactly the same one left for repair or alteration when they come to retrieve the diamond piece…Honesty.

A shop that is conducting business in a professional and friendly way can alleviate a lot of fears. My goodness, my mom works in the shop three days a week and would box my ears if I showed disrespect in front of her. My point is a jewelry store would never continue to do business if even rumors, let alone convictions of dirty dealing or stone switching are their daily practices.

Of course, I employ a state of the art security system that includes daily monitors and motion alarms, a large safe keeping system and more than adequate insurance for the entire store…

And for me that is…Peace of Mind. 

As good as gold. Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Richard Alan is a designer/goldsmith and the owner of the Harbor Goldsmith and Richard’s Reefs on Marco Island and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” 239-394-9275.

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September is almost over, and I finally got my business moved to my new location at Island Plaza. All my thanks to the contractors, inspectors and my father in-law, Ray, who designed and created the shop of my dreams.

September is also the month that has one of the nicest birthstones… the sapphire.

A beautiful multi colored gemstone that is also hard and enduring; it can take what life throws at it and not show scratches or chips.

The sapphire is a member of the basic superior gem group which includes ruby, emerald and diamond. Sapphire is a very popular gem stone in my business. Whether it is their birthstone or not ladies love it in all forms of jewelry. A lot of men enjoy the sapphire in the rings I design.

The sapphire’s diverse colors offer a great medium for me in my custom work. Beside the many shades of blue that can be found in the gem, colors of yellow, orange, purple, green, hot pink and white can also be found.

In my opinion it’s brighter and more brilliant than a yellow citrine or topaz and it can out shine even the finest amethyst. Once again it’s the hardness of the gemstones and that is important to me.

The sapphire is found all over the world, one of it’s main sources used to be Sri Lanka, but today sapphires are found in East Africa, Eastern Australia, Thailand, Madagascar and even right here in the good ol’ U.S.A., like Montana, for instance.

For years I was partial to the hot pink sapphire. It was different, but it has also become hard to find at a reasonable price. Smaller stones are affordable, but lack the neon color of a larger gem.

Basic blue is king around the world. With the recent royal wedding, it brought back the popularity of the sapphire with Kate’s smashing engagement ring. It was an oval blue sapphire and diamond classic design that once belonged to Princess Di.

Sapphire and diamond tennis bracelets are far more requested than other gem combinations. Blue is a favorite color for lots of folks and a sapphire will not disappoint! The shades of blue are endless, from pastel to deep dark blue. An almost black and opaque sapphire is to me, unattractive. A truly fine blue sapphire is described as cornflower blue (or for you that remember the color of a milk of magnesia bottle, close to that shade.)

Don’t forget the other colors sapphire is found in like bright yellow, orange and green, mixing the combinations of color in pieces of jewelry make the creations stand out because it’s that different.

Years ago when I had my shop in Boston, I created a snake ring for a gentleman that sported a one carat round blue Ceylon in its head, fiery pink sapphires in the eyes coiled around a two carat brilliant yellow canary diamond.

When finished, I had to admit no one but Elvis, Liberace, or Elton John could have pulled off wearing that piece, it was so out there! My client loved it so much he later had me create a pendant to match. My wife, Andrea adores sapphires and preferred them over diamonds for her engagement ring and wedding band.

I would like to reply to a question I received last week concerning the sale of a collection of antique silver place settings. The customer was distressed over the fact that the antique ten place set would wind up in a smelting oven. Sadly it is a true fact, I have exhausted every lead to locate a company who would buy them outright and try to resell them intact… NADA!

There is no one that I could find who would pay above the scrap price. The demand for sterling silver place settings in this economy is non-existent. You would have a better chance selling snow cones to the Eskimos. So my advice is, unless you really need the money, hold on to Grammy’s silver until things change, if they ever will. These days newlyweds pick out stainless steel, not silver, for kitchen utensils.

“Gold dust blinds all eyes.” English Proverb.

Richard Alan is a designer/goldsmith and the owner of the Harbor Goldsmith and Richard’s Reefs on Marco Island and welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” 239-394-9275.

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Again, things are a bit tricky on the rock surrounded by water, a new bridge, torn up streets, detours everywhere, all this with an unpredictable season in the future.

I chose this moment in time to move my jewelry business because of the alignment of the planets and tea leaf readings and yes, I factored in this marvelous economy we have been experiencing.

I figured it would take a few days to clear out Front Street. I figured wrong, it took two weeks. Set up the new shop in Island Plaza and get it running in a couple of days? Wrong again. I’m still at it. I was practically changing batteries from the back of the moving truck!

I hope to be a totally functioning goldsmith shop by Labor Day. I expected things to be quiet, especially during the month of August. Once more, wrong again. I could be working with paint brush in the new store and a minute later I’m next door at my Richard’s Reef shop with a pair of pliers adjusting a pair of clip earrings or tighten a loose diamond.

I’m crazy busy, and technically I’m closed. The steady rise in cost of all precious metals has made my gold buying part of the business a near frenzy. (Gold was near $1900.00 an ounce at this writing.) I have been buying gold from the public for a couple of years now. In the recent past the gold jewelry went across the counter from me to the customer and now it’s the other way round.

Everyone is selling their unwanted gold jewelry for large cash results. I have noticed a huge increase in jewelry repairs and re-styling of customers older pieces and that tells me that people are becoming aware of the cost of new jewelry. Please understand that it isn’t always the least expensive path to take. In many cases to re-design, dismantle, recreate and reset numerous diamonds and gemstones, can actually be more expensive than buying a brand new piece of jewelry.

Keeping the re-design work simple can be cost effective. A competent designer can advise you which way is best. Sterling and gold combination pieces will be popular this year.

Big colored stone jewelry is still in high demand, along with exotic ear wear. There is a rash of cheaply made super- light weight pieces being sold to the large chain stores. So take some advice from my experience. The light weight hollow pieces of gold jewelry are a waste of your money, it will not hold up to day to day wear. It will most certainly break and you will discover even the best bench jeweler will not be able to repair it.

It’s a sad state of affairs, I hope the gold bubble bursts soon, so nice gold jewelry becomes affordable again.

A question from cyber-space… Is it true that diamonds can actually be purchased with a serial number inscribed on them?

Yes, this process has been in the diamond industry for many years now. Usually, if a diamond is certified it can actually have the certified number laser engraved either on the edge or on a top facet.

Some folks have their social security number etched on their prized baubles. It is a simple process that can cost anywhere from $200.00 and up. It does not harm the diamond and is impossible to see without magnification.

Richard Alan is a designer/goldsmith and owner of the Harbor Goldsmith at his new location 680 Bald Eagle Drive (Island Plaza) Marco Island. And welcomes your questions 239-394-9275.

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Up and up we go! Clickity, clack, clickity, clack, over the crest and down, then up, then down, then way, way up!

Where’s my stomach? I’m getting dizzy. Will some one please get me off this endless roller coaster ride? No, I’m not talking about being trapped on a crazy ride at some amusement park. My metaphor is about the precious metals market that includes platinum, silver and most important GOLD!

I’m a goldsmith, remember? I need to buy this stuff to ply my trade and make a living. It’s not just me but all my colleagues in the jewelry biz are very concerned about what the future will bring in this very volatile metals market.

It’s amusing that many of my customers congratulate me on my “good fortune” for being in the jewelry business. Good fortune? The jewelry biz? Good fortune, are you kidding me? Sure it’s true I have three stores on the island stocked with this desirable metal, only it’s in the wrong configuration. It should be in handy one pound bars, then maybe it would be more popular. The only good fortune I will admit is much of the jewelry I own was purchased before gold hit $1600+ an ounce.

But a jeweler has to sell jewelry, not hoard it, to pay the bills and make a living. Once again I’m fortunate at being able to repair and restore jewelry, alter and appraise, which helps pay my bills.

How new jewelry stores without a goldsmith survive that only sell gold at current prices is a mystery to me? Nothing lasts forever and seasons come and go. Sooner or later I will have to purchase new gold merchandise to restock my inventory, but the thought of it grates against every fiber in my body. Buying gold now even at wholesale is as sensible as checking how full your gas tank is with a lighted match!

I have tons of beautiful earrings with base prices at $1000 an ounce but I can’t move them because they appear expensive. If I buy them new today they will cost me 60% more. That’s scary. How do I expect to sell that pair, if the least expensive pair looks pricey? Don’t even ask the retail prices of men’s heavy gold chains or bracelets. I’m thinking of installing oxygen masks and smelling salts by my showcases for the faint hearted.

Where’s it gonna end? Do I think gold will hit $2000 an ounce? Who knows? I was convinced the bottom would drop out three years ago at $900. It never did. It did it in the 1980’s, why not again? Beats me?

My theory is, I have never seen in my life time an economy so resistant to improving. The media (don’t get me started with them) bombards us with so much doom and gloom it’s a wonder most of us aren’t under our beds crouched into the fetal position.

Next add a large dollop of lack of faith in our government, rising unemployment, a sluggish real estate market and you have every business involved in luxury items hunkering down and preparing for the worst.

I take it day by day. Americans are selling their gold as fast as investors ( mostly foreign ) are buying it. This also drives gold prices up. Why lower the price of bullion when you have morons lining up with more money than sense who will pay top dollar for it!

The costs get passed on to jewelers who pass it on to you. If you want new gold jewelry, it has a universally set price. There is little room for haggling (2nd hand jewelry is another matter.)

As for me, I’m back to the basics. I’m going to do my own manufacturing, where I have control of almost everything, back to my roots creating jewelry with my own two hands where all I have to lose is my time and labor.

If gold shoots up to $5000 an ounce, I’m not worried. I’ll melt my gold into the most impressive door stops you’ve ever seen, move on down to Mexico, open up a small beach side jewelry shop and be known by the locals as “that crazy gringo.” Heck, you may even run into me, because when the U.S. becomes a third world nation after China evicts the whole darned population, you’ll all be caravaning to the Mexican and Canadian borders to join me!

“When a ship sinks gold weighs down its possessor.” Properties (1st Century A.D.) 

Richard Alan is a designer /goldsmith and owner of the Harbor Goldsmith and Richard’s Reefs on Marco Island. And has no intention of entering politics, but will gladly answer any questions you may have about “All That Glitters.” 239-394-9275 or harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

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Besides being one of my favorite gemstones the ruby is also the birthstone for those blessed to be born in the month of July.

The rubies originating from Thailand are perhaps the most recognizable of rubies although East Africa is more recently a source.

But the Burma ruby is coveted for its deep red color, clarity and overall magnificence. The color of ruby varies from bright “cherry red” to a soft bubbly pinkish color. I prefer what is called pigeon’s blood for the ideal color.

Dark red to the other end of the color spectrum, light pink. Some are even very purple which I consider undesirable. If you like those colors I suggest garnet or tourmaline or amethyst … I like my rubies blood red.

Also it’s a fact that too dark or too light is also next to worthless, especially if ridden with inclusions or imperfections and should never warrant high expense regardless of size.

Rarely does a month go by when I am not presented handfuls  of “precious gems” purchased by the naïve for large sums of cash only to inform the bargain hunters that what they have are, in fact, gems but basically worthless because of their lack of luster.

The gem should blow you away, so to speak, its beauty readily apparent. That’s what I look for.

Don’t be duped by T.V. gem shows or cruise ship bargains. Those are the “Dogs” the jewelry industry refused because of irregular sizes and shapes that make it difficult or impossible to find settings for them. They may be tempting but, trust me, the folks selling them to you bought them cheap and by the shovel full.

Back to the lady in red. In comparison, a fine three carat Burma will command a higher price per carat than a Thai counterpart and less for the east African. This is where it gets dicey. It’s next to impossible to analyze the gem to discover its source. So I have to trust the gem merchant I’m dealing with.

The source of smaller gems already set into jewelry can be difficult to identify because manufacturers buy from many dealers.

Rubies, like most gems, are in fact heat treated to enhance color and clarity. There has also been a rash of glass fusion treated gems that have raised an eyebrow or two on the  illegal “non-disclosure to buyers” use of this technique.

Quite simply glass is melted into cracks and flaws to “enhance” the gem that in effect cheapens its value and is hard to detect. Once again knowledge is the key here.

The ruby is the second hardest mineral on earth. Diamond is numero uno. So it wears well and resists scratches or chipping of the stone.

For centuries the gem has held mystical beliefs that the wearer of the gem would have an increase of health and wealth. It supposedly increased blood flow. If placed under your pillow at night it would ward off bad dreams, worn in battle you were invincible. As for its romantic principles it was said to make the wearer more passionate.

The ruby is in the top four for beauty and popularity because it is appealing to lady and gentleman and a truly fine gem will hold its value for years to come. Hail the beautiful red ruby!

A question was asked of me by way of cyber-space from Lisa, in Naples. “When cleaning my emerald ring I’m afraid I left the ring in the solution too long, my emerald now looks dull and lifeless, help!!  Lisa, the cleaning solution removed the oils in the gem, also never leave your jewelry in the cleaning solution for long periods of time it only does harm. Try soaking the gem in baby oil or light machine oil then wipe off excess, it should bring it back to normal…. Richard

“The price of wisdom is above rubies.”   unknown

Richard Alan, a designer/goldsmith and a purveyor of fine gemstones is the owner of The Harbor Goldsmith and Richard’s Reefs on Marco Island. He welcomes your questions about “All That Glitters” 239-394-9275 or harborgoldsmith@com

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Richard Alan

I realize most men need to be reminded about certain events deemed important by the opposite sex such as first dates, birthdays, holidays, and the most serious of sins… to forget one’s wedding anniversary date.

Many of us alpha-males who have experienced “The quiet punishment” resulting from forgetting a wedding date or heaven forbid her birthday will be sure to make a mental note to self… I must avoid that silent torture in the future.

Good gawd, I got punished for forgetting what she was wearing the day we met! (So I bribed a close family member to remind me of our anniversary next year.)

Not unlike most men I’m busy! Even if there were ten days to a week I would still be behind in all I do. Heck, last season I noticed every time I needed to clean my windshield, forget it, nada, it’s empty! It took me nine months to actually get around to filling my car’s window washing fluid reservoir.

So when I see some guys come in my shop in the summer who are actually holiday shopping, making males like myself look bad, somehow these guys have discovered some kind of a time warp to slow the day and accomplish simple errands and even complicated shopping excursions.

Most men are like me, they hate to shop; it’s just not in our D.N.A. like gift wrapping, doing the dishes, vacuuming or dusting (There are exceptions if it involves one or all of the following… cars, motorcycles, boats, fishing, golfing, bowling and all the tools or accessories involved therewith.)

When I need to get something it’s a simple quest, not really shopping, it’s basically a need. I don’t give a rat’s behind where or when it’s on sale or not on sale. I need it, I go to the nearest destination and buy it. (For crying out loud, I know people who will burn a half a tank of gas to save five bucks on a watch battery)!

Many of you may have already felt the sting of presenting her a household commodity like a new microwave or cleaning utensil; my worst to my bride was a new floor steamer for our hardwood floors. I thought she’d like it! Wrong!

So when the majority of guys venture into a jewelry store, the term “A lost ball in the tall weeds” comes to mind. Relax, it’s easier than you think to surprise the one you love for that special occasion. Try something different for a change… Give her what she wants.

So guys, if you are like me and shop on or before the day of the occasion, a suggestion … you should actually think this out when it comes to jewelry…I know, I know the mental grief and physical anguish that even the thought of planning ahead can cause us.

So let’s get down to brass tacks. When was the last time in her eyes you did something right? (A month ago I washed her car without her asking. Of course that was after I washed my car and motorcycles!)

Presenting your favorite lady a really nice piece of jewelry she actually loves is like hitting it out of the park with bases loaded. Basking in the after glow of getting it right is worth the investment. Still not sure what to get her?

You can even flat out ask her or, I suggest, simply browsing with her in a jewelry store can even give you an idea of her likes and dislikes. Once again make a mental note of this important fact or like me, bribe a loved one to remember for you.

I know it’s not easy and when easy is the only option and all else fails try a gift certificate to one of my shops. The act of presenting her a gift certificate at least shows you made an effort to go to a store with her in mind… PRICELESS.

Just remembering a few of the following can get the ball rolling in the “getting it right department.” How to please a woman…

Wine her, Dine her, Call her, Hold her, Surprise her, Compliment her, Smile at her, Pray for her, Listen to her, Laugh with her, Cry with her, Romance her, Encourage her, Believe in her, Cuddle her, Shop with her, Give her jewelry, Buy her flowers, Write love letters to her. And in my case…play tennis with her.

Good luck, gents you can do it.

“What female heart can gold despise? What cat’s adverse to fish? Thomas Gray (1716-1771)

Richard Alan is a designer /goldsmith and the owner of the Harbor Goldsmith and Richard’s Reef’s on Marco Island and welcomes your questions about all that glitters. 239-394-9275.

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