Recently, we found out a wonderful bit of news: for the second year in a row, we were voted by our clients (you!) to be the best fine jewelers in Northern Virginia Magazine's annual Best Of contest! The feature will come out in September, but in the meantime, I have been ruminating on what it is that truly sets us apart. I mean, yes - we are the best! But why?To some, we're just another jeweler. To others, our shop might be confusing - why don't we have rows and rows of jewelry for sale, if we're fine jewelers? So, I decided to come up with five tenets that define our business and make us special. Interested in learning more? Just make an appointment to see us in person. We're happy to walk you through our process!  

1) We Are Client-Focused

To me, being client-focused in the jewelry industry means regarding each and every client as an individual, rather than as another number to a trend. We consider every design project or buying experience we work on to be unique and tailor it to that client. Our consultations are so much more than just getting specifications to paper. We take the opportunity to get to know our client, listen to their story, learn about their lifestyle, and then we develop design or gift ideas accordingly. We sit down for each and every consultation - whether it's for a repair or a full custom project discussion - completely focused on our client and their needs. 

2) We Want You to Feel Comfortable

This might sound odd, but if you have visited other high-end jewelers and have had a less-than inviting experience, you know what I mean. There is an awful lot of snobbery (and sexism and bigotry and racism) in the fine jewelry world and that's just not our thing. We do not subscribe to the theory that a fine jewelry atelier can only feel special if it feels exclusive. When our clients visit, we want them to feel at home, unintimidated by bright lights and glittering carat weights, and we want them to feel recognized as people first, buyers second. 

3) We Are Craftspeople at Heart

This means that, at our core, we do not want to sell you something we can't repair - and we don't want to have to repair it again and again. We design and curate our collection based on years of experience in restoring fine jewelry, working with it, and getting to know the many quirks and limitations of different materials. When we work with a client, we take the time to explain the structure and materiality of a piece just as much as we do the brilliant and beauty of it. We have a multi-layered approach to this, starting with your design consultation, moving through to Tim for the physical design, and winding down to our goldsmith Ricardo and workshop manager, Ana, who work together to finalize your piece to perfection.  

4) We Are Owner-Operated

Speaking of Tim, as you all know my husband and I run and operate this business with our heart and soul (yes, they are basically conjoined now with all the time we spend together). This means we take an ethical, hands-on approach to our operations. We treat our employees fairly, we don't scam our clients, and we take a responsible approach to our production process by seeking greener alternatives for our rather polluting industry. Frankly, we don't want to run a business that we can't be proud of, and we're proud of this one. 

5) We Give Back to Our Community

Tim and I are very aware that we run a completely inessential business that - especially right now - many people cannot afford to partake in. We're lucky that we have been able to continue to operate, design, and create gorgeous works of art - and that only comes from the continued support of our clients who know and love us. So, we're taking 2020 as an opportunity to increase our charitable donations and remain engaged in community needs as they develop. We have pledged 10 percent of all retail sales (online and from our showroom) to benefit the ACT for Alexandria COVID-19 Relief Fund and we recently launched a virtual food drive to raise money for the Capital Area Food Bank (we're matching client donations up to $100). While the pressures on running a small business are as acute as ever, we're finding every means possible to give back when we can!