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Stories of custom designs, high-value sales, exceptional estates, and appraisals.
More Than the 4 C's
Diamond prices have risen dramatically over the past year. I even recently received a generous five-figure offer for a diamond ring just this past week. What this means for you is that now is a great time to sell your diamonds.
Emeralds: Romance & Rebirth
As Spring finally approaches, I notice all the seasonal colors like green, light blue, pink, and peach. My eye is always drawn to emerald, due to the intense color and because it is my birthstone.
Did you know emeralds are symbolic of rebirth, renewal, and vitality?
The Ruby Ring She Always Wanted
A great client of mine loves rubies. In fact, she wanted her engagement ring to be all rubies (but her husband wanted to buy her a diamond engagement ring instead). Recently, there was a special occasion in the family that she saw as the perfect opportunity to get the emerald-cut ruby ring she always imagined.
Always Learning
As Michelangelo once said at age 87, "I am still learning."
During these past few years of the COVID Pandemic, I've had to adapt and readjust the way I run my business. For instance, I have spent less time in front of my clients as well as the partners I work with to create unique pieces of jewelry.
Measuring for the Perfect Fit
What happens when you inherit a piece of jewelry you know you will never wear?
This happened to my client who received a pair of rectangular, diamond gold cufflinks from her father. She was never going to wear them herself. Instead, she wanted to make a pair of unique earrings that would fit her style.
Giving Your Diamonds a Second Life
Do you have a piece of jewelry in your collection that reminds you of a time you'd much rather forget? In this case, yes. I had a client who had several pieces of diamond jewelry, including a diamond tennis bracelet, earrings, and a few smaller pieces.
From Just "Okay" to "Wow!"
A good client of mine who I've worked with a few times before had a ring that she wasn't really wearing anymore. She loves bright, vibrant colors and owned a blue topaz and gold ring. She loved the stone but never really liked the setting.It had heart-shaped cutouts and was a little wider than she cared for.
What is Your Jewelry Collection Worth?
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one, you understand there is so much to take care of. I work with several professionals who specialize in helping with decluttering a home, relocation, and moving family members into assisted living. Additionally, I help families to prepare their estate items for distribution and sale.
Finding Treasures in Your Jewelry Box
I worked with a dynamic Manhattan attorney who is a busy mother, who loves her jewelry, but doesn't have time to update her collection. She invited me to look at her jewelry box full of necklaces and earrings that she was no longer enjoying.
Worth More Than Its Weight in Gold
Several years ago, I had a client who needed to sell several pieces of her family's jewelry and asked me to negotiate the best price for her. I hadn't heard from her in a while, but recently I received a call from someone in her network who needed to speak to a trusted professional in the fine jewelry industry.
Oh Baby, What A Ring!
One of the pleasures of my job is creating custom jewelry for my clients and their extended families. A very good client asked me to work with one of her family members. He had inherited his father's gold and diamond ring, but disliked the style.
Money Found in the Most Unlikely Places
The executrix of an estate came to me to sell jewelry after a loved one passed away. To her surprise, she and her family found a diamond ring hiding somewhere they never expected to look.
New to JB Jewels: Items from Estates for Sale
I'm selective with my clients' jewelry, and occasionally do not accept offers that are presented to us. With that in mind, I have decided to add a feature to my business where I will be posting items from estates for sale.
Turning a Family Heirloom into Four Contemporary Styles
Earlier this year, a former neighbor contacted me and told me her grandmother suddenly passed away. She was left with an antique diamond circle pin and requested guidance on how to maintain the integrity of the pin while turning it into several new pieces of jewelry that match her current style and taste.
Create a Hug You Can Wear
Many of my friends know that I create unique pieces of jewelry and some have a need for my unique services. This was the case for a good friend who commissioned me to create a custom ring for his wife. As a collector of stuffed bears, as well as I am, he had an idea of creating a ‘bear hug’ ring for his wife.
Finding Wealth in Your Jewelry Collection
It's always a pleasure when I work with someone who has an interesting collection of jewelry. Most of my clients have changing tastes and lifestyles, which leads them into selling their jewelry. These clients had several pieces. Over the course of a few months, we have successfully sold most of them.
Blue Topaz Earrings Reimagined
When meeting with a client, we always seem to discover old pieces in their jewelry box. These pieces naturally come up in conversation and clients tell me they are not fully enjoying their entire collection.
Just recently I went to deliver earrings to a client. During our conversation, she mentioned how pleased she was with the finished product and wanted me to do more work for her.
How to Effectively Maximize the Proceeds from Your Estate
Some clients with inherited jewelry come directly to me from an estate manager; some come to me from a referral. My job regardless is to help them sell their estate for the most money.
I recently worked with one client to create a custom ring for her. During our discussions, she mentioned to me she had jewelry listed with a consigner that wasn't selling.
From Antique to Contemporary
You never know what ideas you’ll come up with during a consultation. Recently, a professional came to me for two simple fixes: resizing a wedding band and turning a tie bar into a necklace. While we met and discussed the mechanics of her repair, she noticed the earrings I was wearing and placed a special request…
Organizing Your Collection
Over the past decade or so, I've worked with clients to appraise, sell and redesign their jewelry. When I work with them, they walk me through their pieces and collections. I've noticed lots of tiny boxes with jewelry inside of them, and have some advice on how to better organize your collection.