I heard another unfortunate jewelry story the other
day. A client needed to replace one diamond earring
from a pair. As I looked at the remaining earring, and
had a chance to see the documentation from the
original purchase, it was clear that all was not in
order.
The earrings, purchased at a jewelry mart in a larger
city, came with an "appraisal" describing them as a
certain color and clarity grade. It also presented two
values: one "Insurance replacement" price of $9,900,
and another "retail price" of $19,000. The actual price
paid was about $5,000. Such fantastical claims of
a "great value" really insult the intelligence of the client.
As I examined the remaining earring, it was also clear
that the grading had been inflated by several grades.
At the time of purchase, the client probably paid a fair
price. However, the seller, by misrepresenting the
grades and "replacement" prices, severely violated the
trust of that client. As a jewelry client, you deserve to
be treated with respect and to be presented with
enough information to make your own informed
decision.
The jewelry marts found in most larger cities can be
problematic. There are many honest dealers to be
found in them, dealers who care about ethics and
service. However, there are also some who are there
to make today's sale, using whatever techniques
necessary, without any regard for their customers.
Gleim's, as a member of the American Gem Society,
has enough respect for you, as clients, and for our
industry, to give you honest information as well as fair
deals.
| Top 50 Women-Owned Businesses in Silicon Valley |
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Gleim the Jeweler was recently honored as one
of the
top 50 Women-owned Businesses in Silicon Valley.
As a matter of fact, we were #14! It is a real honor to
be included in such an elite group of businesses in
our area. The awards were presented at a luncheon
at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, and it was a very
festive affair. Thanks to you, our customers, and our
sterling staff members who have helped us achieve
this goal.
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| Kailis Tea |
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Gleim the Jeweler is honored to be one of three
retailers in the United States to be launching the Kailis
Pearls collection of Australian South Sea Pearl
jewelry.
The collection was introduced at a tea held at the
Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto. This was very
definitely not your grandmother's tea! The room was
brightened by themes of orange and pink, with
fabulous floral arrangements, and the guests were
able to try on any and all of the jewelry pieces. Raffle
ticket sales benefited the Jr. League of Palo Alto and
the Mid Peninsula, and a fine time was had by all.
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| Doggie & Cat Charms |
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Is a dog a member of your family, as it is in ours?
Now we have a collection of what are the most
faithfully modeled dog charms I have seen.
The Meche charm collection includes every AKC-
recognized breed, as well as a few which are not
recognized. (Labradoodle, anyone?) They can be
custom-colored to match a photograph of your own
dog, as well as adorned with a diamond collar and
gemstone eyes.
Cats are not left out; you can find a Siamese, a Maine
Coon, a Tabby, a Persian, and other feline breeds.
The collection was introduced at a trunk show over a
weekend in June, and many clients created very
personal bracelets to honor their own best friends.
Come in to see a sampling of the collection at any of
our three stores.
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| July Birthstone: Ruby |
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There's no better way to demonstrate your love
than by
giving a ruby in celebration of a July birthday. Rubies
arouse the senses, stir the imagination, and are said
to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in
love.
Ruby is a variety of the gems species corundum. It is
harder than any natural gemstone except diamond,
which means a ruby is durable enough for everyday
wear. Fine-quality ruby is extremely rare, and the color
of the gem is most important to its value. The most
prized color is a medium or medium dark vivid red or
slightly purplish red. If the gem is too light or has too
much purple or orange, it will be called a fancy-color
sapphire.
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| Motorworks Event |
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Once again, Gleim the Jeweler will be showing
an exquisite collection of jewelry at the Motorworks
Event to be held at the Monterey Jet Center on August
13, just before the Concours d'Elegance at Pebble
Beach.
This is an extraordinary event, for which we
will be exhibiting a collection of jewelry both vintage
and contemporary. This is truly the party to end all
parties, and is a wonderful way to kick off the
Concours weekend.
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| Welcome Back Pamela |
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Gleim the Jeweler is pleased to welcome back
Pamela Smith as Manager of our downtown Los Altos
store. Pamela was an integral part of Gleim's from
1990 to 2003.
Now, after a few years of valuable experience
at some high-end retailers, she is returning to the kind
of personal connections she loves to make at an
independent store like Gleim's. We know those of our
clients who worked with her in the past will be
pleased to see her back, delivering the high quality of
service you remember.
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Your Jewelry Checkup |
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Most of us are pretty good about getting that annual
physical for ourselves. Or, if not for ourselves, then we
are diligent about making sure our children see their
doctors on a regular basis. (And, for those who do not
have children, you are probably equally as good about
ensuring that the family pet gets its annual checkup.)
How about your jewelry? I always recommend that
you get your jewelry, especially the pieces you wear
every day, checked at least once a year. We will check
the settings under magnification to make sure that the
gems are all snugly set and to see if there is any
routine maintenance needed for the settings.
Over time, prongs will wear away and need to be
reinforced in order to safely hold your gems.
Bracelets, too, receive a lot of daily wear, and a regular
inspection will help ensure the longest possible
lifespan. We will always check and clean your jewelry
for no charge. And that way, we can help you make
sure your jewelry is always in tip-top condition.
Planning to go on vacation this summer?
If you are traveling, you probably want to take a few
pieces of your favorite jewelry with you. Most likely, you
will not want to take too extensive a jewelry wardrobe
unless, of course, you are taking the kind of trip which
involves a number of black-tie occasions. No matter
what kind of trip you are taking, there are a few simple
precautions to keep in mind when traveling with
jewelry.
First, never ever pack your jewelry in anything but your
carryon luggage! Although this sounds fairly
elementary, you might be surprised at the number of
people who do not do so, much to their regret. You
can carry it in your handbag, in your backpack, or in a
neck wallet or fanny pack. Just make sure that it is
always in your control. A safe way to pack your jewelry
is in small travel wallet made specifically for this
purpose. We have two sizes of these wallets, starting
at $25, which are very convenient and slip easily into a
handbag or carryon case. Likewise, never leave
jewelry in your hotel room. The in-room safes you
often find are pretty reliable, and the safe deposit
boxes at the hotel desk should be fine, but if they are
not available, keep your jewelry on your person. Try to
take the time to visit one of our stores before you leave
so we can check the security of the settings and give
your rings a good cleaning so they will sparkle their
very best.
If you have any items needing repair, your vacation is a
perfect time to leave it with us so it will be fixed and
ready to go upon your return.
You may wish to make a jewelry purchase as a
souvenir of your trip. If so, do a bit of research
beforehand. We are always happy to help you learn
the best quality of gem to look for in a particular
country, and will give you some practical pointers to
help you avoid making a purchase you may later
regret. I often advise people never to spend more on
jewelry purchased in a foreign country than they are
willing to drop into a slot machine! Jewelry can
provide a wonderful memory of an unforgettable trip;
just make sure it is a good memory, not a painful one!
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