I’m Special...So Special

As you can imagine, anyone in the jewelry business is busier than a one-armed paper hanger with poison ivy, and I’m no different, being so close to Christmas and all. I’m handling it better than I expected even in my later years and yes, even my children who work beside me are amazed at the late hours I have been putting in even after they leave after a long day. It’s the way it has been for me for decades and has always been that way from Thanksgiving and on through Christmas Eve. It’s called “crunch time” in the Biz and if you can’t take the heat, then it’s time to get outta the kitchen, so to speak. 

My wife and daughter are, of course, concerned; after all they question “why”? Why is not something easily explained. I’m always afraid I will not have enough inventory - both new stock and my special handcrafted pieces that my clientele love to buy for their very own someone special. 

Jewelry that is unique is my specialty. The masses go to the big box stores and buy the same thing the person before them bought ten minutes ago. And yes, almost every year there is some new style that is supposedly the “Rage Piece.” This year I believe it is two diamonds kissing or some nonsense like that. I guess because they had too much stock left over from the last Christmas bust diamond promotion that was called the two stone diamond. Supposedly now the diamonds are kissing, please spare me…

Another good one was thirty some odd years ago - do you remember the “Champagne Diamond” ads? Well fast forward to the present time and now the exact same diamonds are called “Chocolate Diamonds.” Hey if you like off white or brown diamonds that’s your choice; personally, I think they are pretty homely, they don’t shine or sparkle and don’t get me going about “Black Diamonds.” I have had folks come in with three or four carat rocks, bragging about the beauty and I’m dumbfounded by how much money they spent on something that is actually well…worthless?

A black diamond is a chunk of carbon that should have ended up as a drill bit or a grinding wheel not a piece of jewelry. Sorry if I bend a few noses out of joint but facts are facts. You can buy a black onyx stone for 30 bucks that will look just like a three-carat black diamond! 

Nothing to me is more spectacular than a fine white diamond or a fancy colored one such as a bright yellow canary or a vivid green or blue diamond and even a rare pink! Colored diamonds are for special people, like less than 2% of the population I believe. 

Special…the same goes for unusual gemstone colors. My favorite is the Paraiba Tourmaline. This rare gem is a fluorescent blue that is like no other gem color. My fave’s are also colored sapphires; they don’t just come in the color blue in case you didn't know, there is green, pink, yellow and lots of other shades. I love Padparadscha Sapphires that are a vivid and bright orange. 

The world of precious gems can bring you endless colors you never dreamed existed. They are unusual and that’s what makes the folks that purchase them all that more special. Why be normal…Be different!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Richard Alan is a designer /goldsmith and owner of the Harbor Goldsmith Of Marco Island. He has been a purveyor of fine and unusual diamonds and gemstones for over fifty years. He welcomes your questions and comments about All That Glitters www.harborgoldsmith.com.