Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you take trade-ins?

A: Yes, we will allow a trade-in value for most items, even if they were not originally purchased from us. The amount allowed will vary, of course, depending upon the item. We will determine whether it is something we can resell, whether it fits into our inventory, or whether we must consider it as a “break-up” item.

Q: What do I do with jewelry I have that I no longer wear?

A: Many people have jewelry in their jewelry boxes that they have not worn in years. It may be something you inherited from Great Aunt Matilda which never was your style. The sentiment may be important, but it doesn't fit your wardrobe. You may have an item given to you in your youth, which does not suit your personality of today. There are many reasons you may not wear items in your collections. So what do you do with them? There are several options. You may be able to remodel a piece to a style which is more in tune with today's fashions. Take the diamond out of the massive yellow gold setting your grandmother wore and put it into an elegant platinum ring with some accent diamonds. That way you keep the sentiment but make it wearable for today. You may have jewelry you would just prefer to have out of your life, for a variety of reasons. Consider trading it in on something you will wear, or even just for store credit to have for the future. Other options include consigning the piece for sale. We have taken jewelry on consignment from our clients for many many years. When you bring it in for consideration, we will let you know what you can realistically expect to receive when the item sells, and will then do our best to sell it for you. Bear in mind that the length of time it takes to sell an item is completely unpredictable; the best we can do is give you our best judgment about general salability of a piece of jewelry. What to do with those single earrings, scraps of old mountings, and other miscellaneous pieces of gold? Even those can have some trade-in value on a scrap metal basis. Knowing what the options are for disposing of a piece of jewelry is usually the best way to begin making a good decision.

Q: Do you do repairs?

A: We repair both jewelry and watches, and we will repair items which were not originally purchased from our store. We have a jeweler at each one of our locations and can do most repairs on the premises. We will let you know ahead of time if we think we need to send an item to an outside trade shop or back to the original manufacturer. (Diamond recutting or gem polishing, for instance, or pearl restringing.) We do some watch repairs on the premises, and send others out to one of several trade shops or authorized service centers with whom we have worked for years.

Q: How long will my jewelry repair take?

A: Our normal time frame is a week or two. If there is a particular date by which you need to have your jewelry completed, we will try to accommodate that, and there are times of the year during which we can complete most repairs within one week.

Q: When I leave my diamond ring for repair, how do I know I am getting my diamond back?

A: Although many clients are uncomfortable asking this question, it is often on someone’s mind when they begin a relationship with any jeweler. After all, when you leave your car to be repaired you know you will be able to tell whether it is yours. But your diamond? You just aren’t sure you will be able to tell one diamond from another, and all you want is reassurance that you will be able to recognize it. We are always happy to allow you to examine your diamond under magnification, using our gem microscope, when you leave it with us; we will even draw you a picture of the identifying inclusions found inside your stone. This way you have something to compare your diamond to when you pick it up. Beyond this practical solution, however, we can assure you that any ethical jewelry store values its reputation too highly to do anything that would endanger our clients’ confidence in our company. We have nearly 75 years of history in Palo Alto, and 25 years in Los Altos. That’s far too precious a legacy to jeopardize.

Q: Do you restring pearls?

A: Yes, we work with several different experts who can restring your pearls, or any other kinds of beads.

Q: Do you replace watch batteries?

A: Yes, we can replace the batteries of most watches. If it is a watch whose battery we do not carry, we can normally refer you to a service which can help you.

Q: Do you do engraving?

A: We normally will only engrave items purchased from us. We can refer you to engraving services for other items.

Q: Do you do appraisals?

A: Yes, we do jewelry appraisals; see our appraisal section for additional detail.

Q: Do you offer financing?

A: Yes, we have our own 90-day in –house accounts. For longer terms, we work with Wells Fargo; there are always several options available to you.

Q: Do you offer a public speaking service?

A: Yes, we have a number of experts on staff who can speak to groups, whether ten or several hundred.

Q: How often should I have my rings checked?

A: You should have your rings checked at least once a year. We will look at it under our gemscope to check the condition of the setting and prongs, and to make sure that no gemstones are loose. We will also clean your ring for you. We will always perform this inspection and cleaning for no charge, even if the ring did not come from our store originally.