So this guy calls the car shop and says to the mechanic “my car is making a ka-chunk chug, ka-chunk chug noice, what do you think that is?”
The mechanic replies “well a lady called the other day saying her car made a clump clump clump sound and I gave her an estimate of $5000, but fixed it for 50 bucks.” Turns out she just had a flat tire, but who knew based on her stellar sound effects.
Moral of the story….Without seeing ‘under the hood’ job estimates are not only baseless, they often cause unnecessary angst for the customer, and more often than not a misdiagnosis by the estimator.
Same is true for a jeweler.Having fielded several repair inquiry phone calls recently has prompted this entry. While I can appreciate the attempt by phone to get information (traffic around here can be helacious).
But it is unfair to both partiesto access with any accuracy how much something costs to fix without seeing it.
Different metals cost different prices. Items with gems stones generally cost more to repair than those without because gems often come loose when being worked on. Wider bands too will cost more to size up than thinner ones because more metal is being used.
But please bring your pieces in. Our goldsmiths are generally here Monday thru Friday 10am -6pm, but seldom can do jobs on the spot. Our staff with take in your item(s) and if an estimate is not given on the spot the client will be notified of charges before any work is done.
While-u-wait service is available by appointment only. Most jobs are turned around within 2 weeks. Clients are called by a staff memberwhen work is completed.
To schedule an appointment with a goldsmith please phone 703-821-8103.
Or email Steve Clarke at jamesclarkeinc@comcast.net
With the outgoing year it’s time to reflect on the past season. All in all it wasn’t too bad. Like many businesses and industries we had some contraction, but some exciting expansion as well. Faberge is out. Kwiat and Favero are waning, though we still have an open account with them both.
New additions to the Boutiques lineup include Miseno, a fun, hip, limited production line by Antonio Camurado, formerly our Bulgari sales rep. And Odelia, pave diamond design specialists from New York.
We had continued growth in the colored diamond category, particularly Fancy Yellows. I still get a kick presenting one to a lady who until then had never considered something other than a white diamond. Or she didn’t realize there was such a thing as ‘Fancy color’ diamonds.
For the holiday season the big winners were Mikimoto and color gemstones. A near complete sellout of Akoya pearl strands, with a nice run on Tahitian fashion designs. Sapphire,emerald,ruby, and aqua marinesales were surprisingly strong against the tried and truestuds and tennis bracelets which typically dominate at holiday time.
For more information on related topics please visit..
www.ncdia.com
www.mikimotoamerica.com
www.sparkcreations.com
So the DC weathermen finally got this one right, and what a doosey it’s been. And on the busiest shopping day of the year for us at L&B. Well our virtual doors are open in spite of Old Man Winters latest top 10 entry. If you can’t make it in and prefer to shop online, we can still help you. We are always open.. online. While not all of our inventory can be viewed on our site, you can let me know what you’re looking for. Also, shop through our designers web sites to see theirlatest offerings, as we try to carry the latest lines. Our courier service, ExpressBlue, will deliver your purchase as scheduled to your home or office. So relax. Consider it done, as they say.
Just send your quiry to matt@liljenquist.com and I’ll do my best to fill your need.
Happy Shopping
‘Tis the season when folks go to store to store (or click to click) and comparison shop. I’ll admit that a 50″ LCD with 1080p from brand A will give me pretty much the same viewing experience as the 50″ LCD with 1080p from brand B. So what will set one apart from the other?
I generally like reviews, or feedback from other people who have purchased the same item. But, like snowflakes, every diamond is different. So what makes one pair of 1 carat studs $1000, and another $4000?
Diamonds have to be seen to be appreciated, and grading must be understood to make an informed decision. Because not every G (color), VS (clarity) looks the same, nor is it priced the same. The finish of the diamond and mount are also very important. Is the girdle thick or thin, wavy, polished, or even bearded. Yes, Virginia, a diamond can be bearded. Not a good thing in this case. The setting can also be a tell-tale sign of quality. Are the prongs holding the diamond properly, with nicely rounded tips? Is the metal used (14K,18K, Platinum) commensurate with the diamond quality?
These are some of the questions one should be looking to answer upon viewing these awesome gems of mother nature. And remembering that experience if you are not ’sold’ immediately and choose to shop around. So come on in.
*Note, most studs do not come with grading reports from GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) or AGS (American Gemological Society). L&B diamonds are evaluated by our own GIA graduate.
To learn more on diamond grading please go to: http://www.agslab.com/in_the_news_diamond_buying101.php to see more on Diamond Buying 101.
As this is my first entry to the blogosphere I wonder where to start, where to take this, and what forms it will take on. I will attempt to make bi-weekly entries covering topics that are pertinent to retail, this store in particular, observations from the store level, and any questions that come from our clients. I will also keep you up to speed on what’s hot, new arrivals, trends, sales, and hopefully give you a better perspective of what we are all about.
Currently the hot item is gold. Gold is always in, but now the trend is to scrap it! As the price of the precious metal has crept back to the $1000 an ounce mark, many people are open to the idea. This is a service we now provide via our goldsmith, Steve Clarke. Most of our clients are putting those dollars toward new purchases. Some are scraping the gold and using the leftover gemstones to create a new updated piece. This is my favorite part, to create something completely new from something dated, but still has the sentimental meaning with a new personal look.
Please email us with any topics or questions you’d like me touch upon and I will answer through this blog or a personal email to you.