What To Expect (And Achieve) From An Alx&Co. Appointment
Do you know why we moved to being appointment-only? Here's a hint: it's not because we're snobs...
In fact, we at Alx&Co. pride ourselves on being more approachable than many fine jewelry boutiques. We're happy to work with client gemstones, we're creative in working with different budgets, and we truly enjoy the meaning behind a special piece of jewelry rather than how expensive it is. No, our appointment-only system is here so that we can ensure that you are able to meet with the best resource for your project need and so that you can browse our collection without the added stress of other people. We have different appointment types for different needs, so we thought we would run a quick breakdown of what each appointment entails - and what you can achieve at each type:
1) General Restoration Appointment: In this appointment, you will meet with Laurie, Tim, or myself to talk through a repair project for an existing piece of jewelry. This might be anything from resizing a ring to repairing a broken clasp. Appointments tend to last up to thirty minutes, and when you request the appointment, we ask that you please give us a good description of what work you anticipate us doing so that we can set you up with the right consultant. At the appointment, unless your item requires a higher level of professional review, you can expect to leave with a plan in place for your repair and a breakdown of the costs involved. Please note that we have a $200 minimum for repair work unless you are an existing Alx&Co. client, in which case that minimum is waived.
2) Custom Design Appointment: In this appointment, you will meet with Tim, Antra, or myself, and we will talk through a novel design idea. This might entail working with an heirloom piece, or it might mean that we are starting completely from scratch. When you request the appointment, we will ask you to give us an idea of whether you will be using existing jewelry materials for your design (i.e., redesigning an heirloom ring), we will ask if you have a projected timeline in mind, and we will want to know if you have a general idea of what type of design you want. This information allows us to set you with the right consultant so that you can have as many questions answered as possible in the appointment. You will leave with a ballpark estimate of the design cost, a general plan of work, and a clear expectation of the timeline involved in your design. If you need a follow-up appointment to pick out a gemstone, we will probably schedule this as well. Design appointments typically run between one-and-a-half to two hours, but if your design is more simplistic, it might not take that long.
3) Engagement Ring or Wedding Band Appointment: This appointment type is pretty self-explanatory. You will meet with Tim, Antra, or myself, and because we have a small collection of House rings to show, we try not to have two different clients overlap their engagement ring or wedding band appointments so that you can view the entire collection uninterrupted. At the appointment, we will talk through your timeline, budget, design goals, and lifestyle to develop a plan that meets your unique needs. These appointments typically last between one-and-a-half to two hours, and you will leave with a ballpark estimate of the design cost, a plan of work, and a clear expectation of the timeline involved with your design. If you need a follow-up appointment to pick out a gemstone, we will probably schedule this.
4) Gemstone Consultation: A good thing to remember about our shop is that we do not keep an inventory of diamonds or other gemstones on hand; rather, we custom-order stones for our clients once we have an understanding of their particular goals and budget considerations. The reason why we do this is because we always want to stay flexible to what our clients truly want, rather than trying to press upon them a particular gemstone that might not be their best fit simply because it's part of our existing inventory and we, therefore, want to sell it ASAP. We typically will not order in diamonds or gemstones for a client until we have met or at least spoken about your project on the phone, so you will almost always need to schedule a Design Appointment or Engagement Ring Consultation before getting to this stage.
5) Showroom Appointment: If you're simply hoping to browse our showroom and do a little shopping of our existing pieces, then a Showroom Appointment is best for you. Just remember: we are small, so we don't have a huge selection of jewelry to navigate! This is why we always ask if you have a particular style or budget in mind so that we can tell you if we have that in stock or whether it's something we would need to custom order. We love helping our clients find the perfect special item, so the more information we have upfront, the better we can serve you.
Bonus: After Hours Events
Our After Hours Events are a great way for prospective clients to see our shop and get to know us, even if you don't have a specific project in mind. We always make them fun and not specifically jewelry-related, but Tim and I are available throughout the event to answer any questions you may have about our process. Our next After Hours Event is coming up on October 14, and we're planning more as we enter the holiday season, so make sure you subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on those!
If you're curious to know more or to make an appointment, simply reach out! We are looking forward to meeting you.
