Stories From The Jewelry Box

So, after 27 years of marriage, Scott and I finally left our store, Scott's Custom Jewelers , and went away, for a whole week (!) by ourselves. We've left on quick getaways for custom jewelry shows, but this was a big trip. Our 50th birthday gift to ourselves. And it was awesome! This greeted us when we arrived. When our customers go on an exotic vacation, we always tell them to buy that jewelry souvenir, but don't spend a lot of money on it. Just in case... Well, we need to start following our own advise! While walking the streets of playa del Carmen, trying NOT to get assaulted by the street vendors, we wandered into a cute little jewelry store. It was filled with leather wallets, "handcrafted" pottery (stamped Made in China!), and, of course, lots of jewelry. Leather beer bottle holders - funny how the Mexican word for beer sounds like our last name:)  We decided that we wanted to get matching sterling silver bracelets to remember our trip. (I kn...

Usually, award show jewelry tends to be, well, a little dramatic. I mean, not many people can pull off wearing studded dog collars to work. (Although at Scott's Custom Jewelers , we can be a little more daring!) But at last weeks Grammy Awards, there were plenty of jewelry hits that just about everyone can wear.   Jennifer Hudson looks stunning in a diamond choker. Take the choker. It's back and the delicate jewelry style looks amazing, especially with asymmetrical necklines. Remember those thin, seed pearl necklaces from the 80s? (the ones in the bottom of your jewelry box). Restringing them into a simple choker is a great way to recycle your jewelry, and be in style this spring.  Speaking of recycling, the Grammy Awards featured a lot of fabulous vintage style jewelry . Try wearing Grandma's rings, sized to fit the index or middle finger.   A large citrine and diamond ring looks balanced with a thin sparkle bracelet.  Big rings and thin ...

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to Charlotte  Scott's Custom Jewelers  will go! Scott and I are getting ready for a weekend away. We'll (hopefully) see the sun, eat great food, and peruse booths filled with beautiful, custom JEWELRY! I know, rough life. But, as many of you already know, business trips aren't as glamorous as they sound. Sure, the location is wonderful. Heck, just seeing grass instead of snow and ice is a plus in January! But when  Scott and I go to jewelry trade shows, we Work. Which brings up the age-old dilemma: What kinds of jewelry should you pack (and how to pack it), for a business trip? Scott's Custom Jewelers has you covered. The right accessories can help you create more outfits with fewer clothes. And let's face it, woman live in mix-and-match black. So your jewelry choices can help you personalize your look and take up next to no space in your luggage. Here's some of my fail-safe tips on jewelry choices for business travel. ...

  Scott and I have six kids, ranging in age from 15-24. So far, no weddings (thank goodness - not ready for that yet!) But we do have a "bonus" daughter - Sarah.   Sarah started working for us in our jewelry store, Scott's Custom Jewelers , right out of high school. She was toying with the idea of being a jeweler, and wanted to test the waters.   We loved having her with us, and as we grew and moved our custom jewelry store out of downtown and into Fairlawn, OH, Sarah followed us. She studied Jewelry Craft at Kent State University, and while she went to school, she continued to work for us part time.   Working with Sarah was a treat. She is a feisty little Italian/Irish beauty who not only knew how to make jewelry, but was a great sales associate as well. She is engaging, sweet and really knew how to make our customer's happy. Most people assumed she was one of ours (and we may have let them believe it, because we felt like she was!)...

Nothing evokes more terror in a guy than those two little words. Diamond shopping. We see it all the time at Scott's Custom Jewelers . That look of bewilderment. It's not the "I do's" that scare them. It's trying to understand all of those letters and numbers that are supposed to make diamond engagement ring buying sooo easy. SI1, J-K, cushion cut, 1.50ct? It's traumatic. In reality, if you put five women in a line, all with the same color hair, same height, same weight and same measurements, you would still be able to tell them apart. Those numbers are simply diamond criteria to help guide you when you select your diamond. Heck, you can tell the Rockette's apart and they're supposed to match!   So, let's begin with a rundown of the 4C's of diamond buying, in lay terms.   Color:   Diamonds are graded by their color against a white background UPSIDEDOWN. That's right, diamond graders turn the stones so the po...

Diamond flowers float in this beautiful 14k yellow gold custom designed pendant Just when we think we've done every possible custom jewelry design around, inspiration will strike. Thank goodness, too! Because that's what makes this job so exciting. Not only do we do custom jewelry for our customers in Akron, Ohio and Dublin, Ohio, but now, with the web, we have customers all over the globe! Tamara contacted us from out of state about restyling some jewelry for her. She had some loose diamonds and old gold that were not her style anymore. She wanted something simple, yet kind of funky. And she wanted to wear it with everything. Enter our floating diamond circle pendant ! We've done these custom diamond pendants before - in fact, I have one myself. We use watch crystals and then trap the diamonds between the glass for a great modern look. (I want to place a tiny hammer next to mine so in case of a "diamond emergency" I can just break the glass!) Le...

A custom diamond key pendant created at Scott's Custom Jewelers. Back in the day, a woman's diamond engagement ring usually started out on the small side. The eighties were known for simple diamond solitaire rings in yellow gold. A gold wedding band, with some small, channel set diamonds followed. Then maybe a diamond guard for a one year anniversary gift. Usually, around year 10 or 20, there was a complete diamond upgrade. New center stone (hopefully much bigger!) and even more diamond bling. Not everyone traded in their first diamond wedding set. It was generally pushed to the back of the jewelry box, with the mood rings and tangled herringbone chains. Sue had that jewelry box. Here's the thing. We women are sentimental fools. We don't throw anything away. Heck, I've got six kids worth of baby teeth in my jewelry box! (It's pretty gruesome, actually - Law and Order would think I'm a perp!) And if there was a way to wear that first diamond agai...