Prestige Promenade pearls and sweets
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1112536
20 www.thejewelrybook.com T H E E M O T I O N A L P O W E R O F J E W E L R Y P U B L I S H E R ' S L E T T E R The Emotional Power of Jewelry NICOLE BROMSTAD Greetings, friends! As many prepare for the upcoming jewelry trade shows in Las Vegas, it's a good time to remem- ber the powerful emotional force behind the products we sell. After all, it will be at these fairs that you choose your customers' future heirlooms. Even as a part-time personal shopper for jewelry-loving clients in the Sonoma Valley, where I reside, I too can forget the signifi cance of the roles we play in the lives of families. Fortunately, I was recently reminded of the powerful connections and memories that jewelry helps to create. On a sunny Sunday afternoon at a gathering that took place at my brother and sister-in-law's house, my family and some close friends came together for lunch and to celebrate a birthday. We were celebrating the 30th birthday of a dear friend of my sister-in-law, and many of the friend's family members—including her mom and grandmother—were present. As I walked into the dining room to see the birthday girl, I encountered quite a scene: ten tearful friends and relatives seated at a large round table, all crying tears of joy because of a one-of-a-kind gift the young woman had just received. Her family gave her her great-grandmother's large color- less diamond ring. The accompanying letter from her mother was the icing on the cake. Happy birthday dear Pilar! Your April gemstone is a diamond. This engagement ring belonged to your great grandma Irene, mother of your grandpa Bob. The ring is over 100 years old and is a platinum setting. Great grandma Irene wore it for many years. In fact, she recounted a story where she went to Judy's shop in Roseville, bought fl owers, and drove home horrifi ed to fi nd the ring missing from her fi nger. Judy found it on the cement fl oor and put it in the register for safe keeping. Great grandma Irene drove over dang quick to pick it up. Grandma passed the ring to me several years ago, where it has been stored unceremoniously in an amber prescription bottle. Perhaps I was never worthy! This is a fl awless diamond. Keep it safe. Your great grandma would be thrilled to know you are wearing it proudly. This touching moment reminded me how jewelry plays such a key role in creating loving memories for millions of people. And there are so many memories like this in our industry that we forget them or take them for granted. When we are all so worried about so many other insignifi cant things, these anecdotes are what we should be living for and talking about. Write them down, celebrate them, and repeat them to remind clients this is why jewelry matters. As many of us shudder at the thought of "Oh, no, not another Vegas trip where my feet will swell," pack these sorts of memories with you as inspiration to power through those long days on the show fl oors. Moments like the one I witnessed should be the end result of everything we do. I hope to see many of you in Las Vegas! A diamond ring has been treasured by four generations of family.