Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Les Olson Jewelers: a hands-on operation
    Les Olson Jewelers: a hands-on operation
    Merger With a Mission
    From hard knocks to soft landing in new store
    Saban Onyx helps independent retail jewelers get fancy
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Noble announces expansion of showcase and store design division
    JCK Industry Fund announces over $250,000 allocated to 2021 grant recipients
    Submission open for 2024 JCK Industry Fund grants
    ISG launches hands-on classroom learning starting in October
    New York City Jewelry & Watch Show announces list of 90+ exhibitors
  • Podcast
    Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    Episode 42 -Doug Meadows, Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    An-Inspiring-Tale-Behind-50-Years-of-Jewelry-Design-and-More
    Episode 41 -John Atencio, An Inspiring Tale Behind 50 Years of Jewelry Design and More
    Episode 39 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    Episode 40 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 39 -Frederick Mannella, The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Technology Meets Our Values
    Episode 37 – Kyle Bullock, Technology Meets Our Values
    A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
    Episode 36 – Brooke and Chase Brinson, A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
    Jewelers Helping Jewelers
    Episode 35 – Aleah Arundale, Jewelers Helping Jewelers: Connection, Support, and Success
    Must-Know Facts About RDI’s Rare & Forever Natural Diamonds
    Episode 34 – Christy Davidson, Must-Know Facts About RDI’s Rare & Forever Natural Diamonds
  • Columnists
    Applied Marketing 101: The Next Big Thing
    Applied Marketing 101: The Asteroid Approaches
    The Story Behind the Stone: Oops there it is!
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    Cool New Things from the Atlanta Jewelry Show
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    The Retailer’s Perspective: It’s Springtime in September
    Barbiecore Bling! Are you in?
    Joel McFadden Fine Jewelry
    Successful Custom: The Customers View
    Holiday Sales Success: A multifaceted marketing approach
    Holiday Sales Success: A multifaceted marketing approach
    International School of Gemology’s The Sindhi and the Suitcase
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
  • Digital Magazine
    • Southern Jewelry News
    • Mid-America Jewelry News
    • Archive
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Les Olson Jewelers: a hands-on operation
    Les Olson Jewelers: a hands-on operation
    Merger With a Mission
    From hard knocks to soft landing in new store
    Saban Onyx helps independent retail jewelers get fancy
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Noble announces expansion of showcase and store design division
    JCK Industry Fund announces over $250,000 allocated to 2021 grant recipients
    Submission open for 2024 JCK Industry Fund grants
    ISG launches hands-on classroom learning starting in October
    New York City Jewelry & Watch Show announces list of 90+ exhibitors
  • Podcast
    Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    Episode 42 -Doug Meadows, Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    An-Inspiring-Tale-Behind-50-Years-of-Jewelry-Design-and-More
    Episode 41 -John Atencio, An Inspiring Tale Behind 50 Years of Jewelry Design and More
    Episode 39 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    Episode 40 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 39 -Frederick Mannella, The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Technology Meets Our Values
    Episode 37 – Kyle Bullock, Technology Meets Our Values
    A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
    Episode 36 – Brooke and Chase Brinson, A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
    Jewelers Helping Jewelers
    Episode 35 – Aleah Arundale, Jewelers Helping Jewelers: Connection, Support, and Success
    Must-Know Facts About RDI’s Rare & Forever Natural Diamonds
    Episode 34 – Christy Davidson, Must-Know Facts About RDI’s Rare & Forever Natural Diamonds
  • Columnists
    Applied Marketing 101: The Next Big Thing
    Applied Marketing 101: The Asteroid Approaches
    The Story Behind the Stone: Oops there it is!
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    Cool New Things from the Atlanta Jewelry Show
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    The Retailer’s Perspective: It’s Springtime in September
    Barbiecore Bling! Are you in?
    Joel McFadden Fine Jewelry
    Successful Custom: The Customers View
    Holiday Sales Success: A multifaceted marketing approach
    Holiday Sales Success: A multifaceted marketing approach
    International School of Gemology’s The Sindhi and the Suitcase
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
  • Digital Magazine
    • Southern Jewelry News
    • Mid-America Jewelry News
    • Archive
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
No Result
View All Result
Home Columnists

24 Karat Corner: Getting rough with the customers

Howard Kelrick by Howard Kelrick
October 6, 2014
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Frankie is one of the most resourceful jewelers I’ve ever met. Her showcases are filled with unique items and things I never see anywhere else. No diamond stud earrings or straight row diamond bracelets in her displays, only one of a kind items that make her, and her store, special.  The last time I was in her place, she proudly showed me a platinum diamond and meteorite necklace.

So, when I dropped by her store last week for a visit, I couldn’t wait to see what new item she would dazzle me with. I was barely through the front door when she saw me and belted out, “Hey, when was the last time you handled some rough, uncut, loose diamonds?” Not surprisingly, we weren’t wasting time with the standard pleasantries.

“Funny you should ask, but I just came back from the Antwerp Diamond Bourse where I was up to my ears in rough,” I lied.

With that, she handed me a parcel paper with six colorless, dice-sized, octahedrals. “Is it even legal for you to have these?” I asked.  “And, what are you going to do with them?”

“You know the type of customers I have,” she began with what I knew would be a fascinating story. “A couple walked in to select a diamond for their engagement. And, they said they wanted to be involved every step of the way. ‘Great,’ I told them. ‘First we’ll pick out the center stone and then we’ll custom design a mounting for it.’ I picked out a loose stone from my box and started to describe it, and they interrupted me.

“‘But, this stone is already cut!’

“‘Of course it is! Rough diamonds aren’t much to look at, and we only mount finished stones.’ Then came one of the strangest requests I’ve ever gotten.

“‘We want to pick the rough diamond from which our stone will be cut!’

“Frankie,” I said, half-jokingly, “You’re a full service jeweler, why didn’t you offer to fly them to a mine and have them dig out the stone themselves?”

“Don’t think we didn’t discuss it!” Frankie answered. “But that didn’t seem to be the best use of their budget.

“You know how the menus at the cool places in town now tell you the farm where your pork chop was raised? So, now the kids today want to know every detail about where their diamonds come from. Anyway, I made a few calls and reached a cutter willing to send me these six stones on memo.  The kids are coming back later today to make their selection.  Want to sit in?”

I passed on the offer, and Frankie and I finally got around to exchanging pleasantries. She had just gotten back from a working vacation from two places I had never heard of. I can’t even begin to imagine what she brought back with her.

Frankie is a unique person with contacts and connections to the farthest reaches of the jewelry world. She’s the sort of super-hero jeweler for little girls who some day want to grow up to be jewelers themselves. 

I have no idea how one becomes a jeweler like Frankie. The things she knows, and knows how to find, can’t be taught in a classroom. Frankie developed these skills over a lifetime. The successful jewelers of tomorrow will need a broad, diversified foundation of knowledge in all aspects of the industry. Training and education take time, and the sooner you start, the more ground you can cover. To help you get started, The 24 Karat Club offers a broad array of scholarships for just about any kind of jewelry training and development. To find out more about our scholarship offers, and how you can be nominated for one, contact your favorite 24 Karat Club member. 

I called Frankie from the car a few minutes after leaving her store. I told her after her customer selects their stone, I’d swing by and pick one out for myself.  Don’t ask me why.

Howard Kelrick is President of Finger Mate and a  board member of The 24 Karat Club, SEUS.  Finger Mate manufactures and installs expandable ring shanks and sells to retail jewelers throughout North America. Contact Howard at 954-458-2700 or e-mail Howard@FingerMate.com.

Howard Kelrick

Howard Kelrick

Howard Kelrick is President of Finger Mate and a  board member of The 24 Karat Club, SEUS.  Finger Mate manufactures and installs expandable ring shanks and sells to retail jewelers throughout North America. Contact Howard at 954-458-2700 or e-mail Howard@FingerMate.com.

Related Posts

Applied Marketing 101: The Next Big Thing

Applied Marketing 101: The Asteroid Approaches

September 18, 2023

The Story Behind the Stone: Oops there it is!

September 18, 2023
Image of Chuck Koehler

Cool New Things from the Atlanta Jewelry Show

September 18, 2023
Image of Chuck Koehler

The Retailer’s Perspective: It’s Springtime in September

September 13, 2023

Latest News

Columnists

Applied Marketing 101: The Asteroid Approaches

September 18, 2023
On The Move

Noble announces expansion of showcase and store design division

September 18, 2023
Other News

Submission open for 2024 JCK Industry Fund grants

September 18, 2023

Other News

ISG launches hands-on classroom learning starting in October

The Story Behind the Stone: Oops there it is!

Episode 42 -Doug Meadows, Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds

Cool New Things from the Atlanta Jewelry Show

New York City Jewelry & Watch Show announces list of 90+ exhibitors

GCAL 8X® launches in Mexico

Southern Jewelry News

© 2023 Southern Jewelry News.

Additional Information

  • About
  • 2023 Jewelry Trade Shows & Events
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter Signup

Get Social with Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured Articles
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Sponsored Content
  • Latest News
    • What’s New
    • Industry Events
    • Tradeshow News
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Furry Friends
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
  • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Southern Jewelry News
    • Mid-America Jewelry News
    • Archives

© 2023 Southern Jewelry News.