Jewelry FAQ’s

Boy, do I have some new material for all of you lovely readers. I helped my dad with a few of his articles last year. I was really surprised at how difficult they are to write! But with this last season coming to an end, my material has been replenished. I have observed that a lot of the same questions come up daily. Here is a small sampling of the most frequently asked questions.

Do you pierce ears? 

No, we do not. I have done research on this subject and have found that some doctors' offices offer ear piercing. You can start there. If they do not, there are many reputable body piercing technicians in Naples. They can be found in tattoo parlors. These establishments are highly regulated and offer the utmost in hygienic practices. They also use hollow needles which offer the best quality piercing. Avoid establishments such as mall kiosks or low-end accessory stores, they tend to use the piercing gun, and most people complain that their earrings never hang quite right. There is an art to it, and the angle of the piercing can affect the outcome. Trust the professionals! They know what they’re doing. I had an older couple come in and tell me they had a lovely experience with a tattoo parlor. They had never stepped foot in one before! Envisioning this darling elderly couple working with a tatted-up tattoo artist tickled my funny bone. They thanked us for our suggestion when they came in to buy diamond earrings for the wife.

Why is it so expensive? Will gold ever go down?

This is a loaded question. You can go down the rabbit hole on the internet for this one. Some analysts are predicting $3,000/ounce gold prices by the end of the year. We really don’t want to see that happen. My father jokes that he’s going to close up shop and start selling hot dogs at that point. Honestly, it would just put gold out of reach for the average consumer. This makes me sad. There will always be a demand for gold jewelry, but producers of these items are going to begin to produce inferior products just to capture the customer looking for a bargain. At our store, we strive to offer items of heirloom quality, pieces that will stand the test of time and be handed down in nearly the same condition they were purchased. My father’s Marco bracelet is such an example. Many of these bracelets are still being proudly worn on Marco Island 25 years after their initial purchase. My father creates timeless pieces meant to be worn and enjoyed for many years. People often question why it is so expensive. We certainly could skimp out on the components and make it less expensive but then it would be disposable jewelry. It’s just not how we do it! We carry a lot of unique designs from all over the world. These fabulous designs tend to be a bit more expensive due to taxes and import fees. But rest assured, you won’t find them anywhere else! My father has spent decades scouring the earth for unique and one-of-a-kind designs to offer for sale in his little shop on Marco. Think of all the money you saved on airfare! 

In all seriousness, though, in my experience, gold has always increased in value. I don’t think holding off on a purchase or major repair for gold to come down is a good choice. 

Did your dad Richard retire yet? 

Not completely. He still comes around helping and assisting his longtime customers. He’s doing his best to avoid working the fifty to sixty hours a week that he had been doing for most of his life. He is slowly stepping away from the day-to-day duties of running the store and thanks to his loyal and experienced staff and me, he can do so. He finds time to pop in and work on some of his custom designs for the hundreds of loose gemstones he has accumulated over the past decades. Now that he is in low gear, he has been feeling very inspired and his recently finished pieces rarely last a few days before being grabbed up from his clients who are always looking for “What did Richard make lately?” To avoid disappointment, I highly suggest you call ahead if you are seeking a consultation or my father’s assistance. Presently, our workshop has two highly skilled goldsmiths, one who happens to be my brother, Andrew, they are more than capable of the repairs and our stellar sales staff can help you pick out the items of your dreams. Give us a shot! Dad just celebrated his 70th birthday and has spent three decades serving our wonderful Marco Island, Naples and visiting worldwide clientele. We plan to continue offering the same stellar service for decades to come. 

Are lab diamonds real diamonds? Why do they cost so much?

Lab-created diamonds are chemically identical to earth-mined diamonds. They are not natural; they are grown in a laboratory. It’s more of an industrial, warehouse type setting where they are made. They have the hardness characteristics of a natural diamond which is what makes them so appealing for engagement jewelry. The cost is significantly less than a natural diamond and the customers find it ideal to use lab diamonds to achieve that big diamond look. Some people confuse lab diamonds with cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia does not possess any of the characteristics of a natural diamond and will scratch over time. Cubic zirconia is extremely inexpensive. We carry a silver line that utilizes cubic zirconia, and it looks great. It’s the perfect choice for cruise ship or travel jewelry. Ladies don’t want to risk losing their fine jewelry while traveling but still want to accessorize. The cubic jewelry is the perfect choice for that. Lab diamond prices have come down a great deal as they improve the technology and mass produce them. The hard thing to explain is that they have no resale value due to the falling prices. We offer them in our store because our customers want bling without the big price tag natural diamonds demand in the large sizes. Come in for yourself and look! We were skeptical of the lab diamonds until we saw them in person. They really look great and open up a whole new look to people that were priced out of the natural diamond market. My feelings are, if you’re giving them as a gift and are honest about them being labs and the receiver is okay with it, then why not go for it? However, I will never be on board with someone deceiving someone. 

Would you be okay with a lab diamond engagement ring?

The answer to this for me was an unequivocal no for a long time. I’m the jeweler’s daughter! But I have softened to the idea of it. I mentioned this to my lovely boyfriend, and his ears perked up. He was crushed by the following statement, though. If going lab, that’s fine. BUT I want three of them. A pink lab diamond ring, a blue lab diamond ring and a yellow lab diamond ring. That way, I’ll have a ring to match any outfit I’m wearing! He wasn’t exactly on board with this idea. I thought it was quite creative. What I love about lab diamonds is the inclusivity. The more people can afford their dream looks at a more affordable price point, the better. When you’re wearing it and showing it off as a symbol of your love, does it really matter where it originates from? Anyone asking if it is real is asking a rude question. 

Will this silver jewelry tarnish?

Yes, all silver jewelry tarnishes. Whether you bought it in Mexico, on Rodeo Drive, or 5th Ave in New York City your silver jewelry will always oxidize and turn dark. The salt air, Gulf water of Southwest Florida, swimming pools and spas will speed up this process. A little bottle of silver dip will remedy this in one second or bring it in for us to clean. If you love the look of silver or white metals and white gold is out of the question budget-wise, I suggest looking at our Lafonn line. They offer a platinum bonding finish that reduces the tarnishing effects on their silver jewelry. When worn in earrings and pendants, this finish will last a very long time. Hand jewelry such as rings and bracelets will wear more quickly, of course.

This is my favorite question that I received four times over the past Valentine’s Day holiday.

I have $100 in cash, what can I get?

Believe it or not, I was able to find something beautiful for each one of these gentlemen. We offer many lovely items at all different price points. The $100 budget tends to put you firmly in the silver category, but we believe that everyone should be able to afford a little token of affection for a loved one. Oftentimes the wife will pop in and show off her lovely little bauble and thank us for helping her husband pick out something beautiful regardless of budget. Helping pick out gifts for loved ones is the best part of this retail business. Allow me to help make you look good to your loved one! Women will always love receiving jewelry as a gift. This will never change regardless of the price of gold.