Some of our most favorite creations at Mark Loren Designs are the pieces that clients bring us that are infused with sentimental value. These pieces may not even be classified as jewelry but, when we finish with them, they are true works of art. Often we take a client’s wedding band from a deceased spouse or wedding bands from someone’s parents or grandparents and without significantly changing the shape of the ring, we are able to turn the bands into an awesome, pendant or brooch. We derive tremendous satisfaction when we are able to take something that has been sitting in someone’s drawer or jewelry box and give it a new chance to be worn everyday. The photo below shows a pair of wedding bands that a client brought to us that belonged to her and her late husband. They were matching bands and she wanted us to create something that would utilize the two rings without changing them significantly. We hand-fabricated the bands into two hearts and you can still see the outside finish that was on their bands when they were married 24 years ago! The rubies that are visible were part of a ring that was his first jewelry gift to her before they were married and a great treasure for her. I learned early in my jewelry making career that what is not valuable to one person is a priceless treasure to another…So we assist clients in showcasing the priceless sentimental value of their pieces by recreating them with a new look and purpose. Another example: my wife Sheri’s late grandmother was a very talented seamstress and she used to make extra money for the family by designing and sewing wedding gowns for young girls in her small town in upstate New York. She even had custom-made labels with her name embroidered on them that she could sew into the dresses that she had created. When Sheri was clearing her grandmother’s things out she found a few of these 40 year old labels in a tiny sewing box. For a present for Sheri and my sister-in-law, I created tiny glass and sterling pendant frames for the labels so they could both wear their grandmother’s signature proudly as jewelry! Do you have any precious memories sitting in the dark in a drawer or box somewhere? Who do you know that would love and appreciate having them as a special gift in a piece of jewelry? It doesn’t have to be diamonds, sapphires or rubies to be precious…

A very few of you have met my dad, Lyle. He has been an incredible influence/mentor in my life and I wanted to take a moment and give him the acknowledgment he deserves. My brothers, sister and I talk together about what a “white bread”, “middle America” upbringing we share. We never saw our parents fight, drunk or strike each other (ok, I do remember seeing my Dad drunk one time and peeing in the clothes hamper in the bathroom). Our parents always put our needs before theirs and always seemed to be incredibly concerned about the mental and physical health of our family. When I was graduating high school I wasn’t sure which direction I should pursue…Pre-med and become an eye surgeon (I loved science) or try and do something connected to jewelry. There were no other family members involved in the jewelry business so there really was a lack of industry knowledge. My dad suggested and helped me research technical and trade schools to see what was available. The fact that he didn’t push me to follow a traditional educational path was a huge relief. Surprisingly, he was an accomplished metallurgical engineer and wasn’t sure how he got there. For him to lay back and not pressure me to go to a four-year college was out of character. My mom always supported my artistic talent and that may be where it derives from…
Luckily, we found a technical school that taught jewelry making, diamond setting, watch repair and jewelry design. My Dad said that I should give it a try and after a year, if a wasn’t happy, go to college somewhere. Well here I am and I feel that I made the right choice. My Dad is currently living in a care facility outside of Chicago for patients with Demensia and Alzhiemers. He recognizes me and the rest of our family and friends but his memory is fraying. Now, the most important thing he asks us is not, “what’s going on?” but “Are we happy?” and how much he loves us. Funny, those were always the most important things to him since we were kids….

My last post shared with you our coolest, newest, two-finger ring design. Then I was on the stair-climber in the gym when I saw the latest issue of a magazine and this little blurb about the “Hot Trend” of two-finger rings…well, I’m usually much further ahead with unique designs that become trendy, 3-5 years later. I’m having to revisit my creative wellspring to see if I really am losing my grip on being innovative, unique and original or if someone is watching our website too closely…

I trust my clients, friends and staff to let me know if I’m getting to mainstream or lazy with our designs.

Still, it’s nice to know that when I won a National Spectrum Award 10 years ago for Innovative use of Platinum, it was with a two-finger ring showcasing an amazing Tanzanite and matched Emeralds…

I wanted to share this design with you all and get some feedback about this cool, new design in engagement/wedding rings.
I designed this platinum two finger ring with the idea that the wedding set doesn’t always have to go on the same finger. I also included in the design the symbol for “infinity” so that the commitment is evident in the design of the ring as well as what the rings represent. On one whole edge of the ring is pave diamonds with orange and pink sapphires wrapping around the entire outside of the set. The sapphires graduate in intensity as well, going from lighter shades of color to very intense pink and orange on the top of the wedding band ring. The two sides are sized differently so as to accommodate the two fingers’ different sizes. I used a blue sapphire round brilliant as the engagement stone and set it raised in four prongs..I know, a new paradigm for a wedding set! What do you guys think? Let me know…I value your opinion…

Two Finger Wedding ring set with "Infinity" design and Fancy Sapphires

Cameron just showed me an email he viewed on CNN about a Craigslist post gone horribly wrong. It seems that a Washington State couple posted a diamond ring for sale on Craigslist and actually invited people to their house to view the ring!!! Here is the link so you can read the article for yourself: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/07/craigslist.diamond.killing/index.html
Folks, it would seem to be common sense that you do not invite strangers into your home for any reason…Unfortunately, this incident ended with the husband shot, the wife brutally beaten and her two sons witnessing the entire ordeal. We always recommend that your keep your valuables, cash and even prescriptions locked in a well hidden safe or similar lock-box. The keywords being “well hidden”!
If they don’t know where it is they can’t get into it…don’t use your bedroom closet or bathroom…that is where they look first. Try the laundry-room cabinet or food-pantry. There are great, small digital safes available that are similar to hotel room safes and they are easy to install with a power drill and some screws. Don’t tell your kids, maid, babysitter, pest control guy or other family members where it is…the security is in it being unknown and hidden. We also keep a can of police-quality pepper-spray right next to our front door, within easy reach…”cause you never know when you’ll need it. Being in the jewelry business for so many years we are accustomed to being aware, vigilant and always using our alarm system while trying not to be paranoid. It is a shame that we have to prepare our homes for possible invasion or robbery…but these are desperate times and a lack of morals can substitute for reason and humanity.
Beware and please be aware…

Coffee cans and tins of gems

I have been working the past two days, while the gallery has been closed for Memorial Day weekend. Actually I have been working on this particular endeavor for over a year! I agreed to appraise a gem/mineral/rock collection that belongs to Dr. & Mrs. Gil Collings. The late Dr. Collings, was a resident of Fort Myers and along with his wife and family, collected gems, minerals and assorted rocks for over 40 years. He had a classroom business in New Jersey where he loved teaching gem-cutting, faceting and jewelry making. Mrs. Collings approached me over a year ago to see if I knew of someone who could assist her in appraising the collection so she could donate it to Stetson University. It seems that they wanted the collection but did not want to pay the approximate $20-30,000  appraisal fee that would be required. This type of collection is incredibly difficult to value as there are high-end faceted gems, unique mineral specimens, lapidary material in the rough and cabbed as well as assorted gem cutting and jewelry making equipment. Most appraisers do not have this depth of knowledge across so many areas. Many of the items are still in their packaging when purchased over 20 years ago!

Multiple trays of Various gems

I suggested to Anne (Mrs. Collings) that if she were to, instead, donate the collection to FGCU, I would be willing to do the appraisal for only a $2000 fee. I knew that the students at FGCU would be able to put the entire collection to use and it could be the foundation for an entirely new Gemology and Lapidary Department! Most universities would catalog the collection and store it in drawers down in a sub-basement. At FGCU, I could visualize students walking past showcases highlighting these amazing mineral specimens, while hopefully inspiring many to pursue the Indiana Jones adventures of mineral collecting, gem cutting or jewelry making. It has taken me far more time than I had first thought and in ways I hadn’t even imagined to complete this appraisal.  I have spent 1/3 of my time on the internet researching possible prices for material that hasn’t been mined in 20 years. I have researched specimens that I have never heard of and would call friends of mine that are agate lickers (passionate rock collectors) and email pictures of material back and forth. My staff thinks I’m a little crazy because I continually run into the darkened bathroom with a UV light to test rocks for fluorescence.

Even more trays of jewels to identify and price

The FGCU Foundation President and Anne Collings have been VERY patient with me as the process has taken five times longer than I anticipated. I have attached photos to illustrate how much there is and the variation of the material. Boxes, bins, coffee cans (I’m sure some of these are collectible), cigar boxes and cookie tins are part of the storage scheme. Luckily, Dr. Collings was an early user of computer databases and the entire collection is cataloged in a DOS system. The material has numbers on most pieces so it has been a process of identifying, weighing and pricing everything…A once in a lifetime opportunity and research experience. I have developed such an admiration for their collecting and cataloging abilities. My hope is that many future generations will be able to touch, examine, and explore this collection of a lifetime.

I’m driving down US41 and there’s a girl standing on the back of an open pickup bed, shaking her jean shorts clad tushy, waving a sign offering to pay cash for gold. Same on most other streets in our county except sometimes they are guys waving the sign. My question is “who would sell their gold to these places”? They have temporary rents, usually month by month and have pretty unsavory folks at the counter. I like the one I passed where the guy inside at the counter had his hat on backwards and wore sunglasses indoors. I’m thinking, someone must be selling their gold to these places because they are springing up faster than fleas on my dog. In the state of Florida, to purchase gold from the public, a business or person must be registered as a secondary precious metals buyer with the state. If you are selling your gold to someone at a home party and they don’t have the license, they are committing a third class felony. Unfortunately, the state has left enforcement of this law up to local law enforcement. We know how busy and under-funded they are already…so who is checking up on these characters? We also buy gold (only from existing clients) and take it in on credit or exchange but we use the metal and re-alloy it to create much of our new inventory. We can offer a high dollar per ounce because we use it in our goldsmithing operation. I can’t say what these places are doing with it but I’m sure law enforcement is interested in where it is coming from. That’s why we have to fill out required paperwork for every purchase from a client. Why anyone would risk stepping into one of these places is puzzling to me….and potentially dangerous.

The News-Press just published an article in the business section of today’s paper in regards to our 25th anniversary celebration. I was pleased that they mentioned the fun events that we created with the community and the impact that we have been making with the philanthropic work we do. I can’t believe that our 25th has come and gone! The next opportunity awaits…the questions are already being asked: How can we make an even bigger difference in our community with the work that we do? What new events can we create to showcase our creative talent and reach new clients? How high can we set the design bar for new work? What difference can we make in our lives and our clients lives in the next 5 years?

All good places to start…any thoughts for us?

Then

Now!

Whoa, I had no idea that when I invited 100 clients and our staff to see the premier of Iron Man II that there would be jewelry references! Okay the real deal about Palladium:
It is in the platinum family and is priced on the daily price index with silver, gold and platinum.
In the last two years we have been using Palladium more and more in our custom designs when clients want the look of platinum but the price of white gold! Yes, the price of Palladium is actually less than gold and when we create rings using the precious metal, we are thrilled by the white polish and tension of the material. The metal is hypo-allergenic and does not contain any nickel as does 14k and 18k white gold. Many folks are sensitive to white gold because of the nickel in the alloy. While we don’t use Palladium to create mini-nuclear fusion reactors, we are recommending it to more clients as an  alternative more reasonably priced, white precious metal. The price for our custom designs will be at or less than 14k white gold when we use Palladium. Because it is in the Platinum family, it requires additional labor to finish the piece. Now, if you have designs for a mini-reactor, give us a call and we will be glad to prototype it for you!

Just got back from the In-store Magazine Smart Show in Chicago at Navy Pier. This was the second year for the show and it was all they had promised. I was especially thrilled as I was interviewed Saturday morning by Terry Chandler, who is the  national executive director of the Diamond Promotion Service. Terry asked questions as to why and how we are a cool store and what best practices I could elaborate on. This followed a similar format from last year with a greater amount of retailers attending the interview. After a quick 45 minutes (where does the time go when elaborating on oneself?) many jewelers stayed after to ask particular questions. I clearly remember a day when it was me hungering for any tips that could enlighten the mysteries of the retail business. The rest of the day was spent haunting the show and checking out new designers (so much stuff looks alike and not exciting) and perusing a few rocks, pearls and other seminars. Climbed exhausted onto the bus for the hotel ride and my quiet room. Too quiet, so down to the gym and the exercise bike. I keep forgetting that the downtime is critical for me to let my mind wander and let creative thoughts flow. I was surprised by the calm and eerie silence in the gym (unlike my house after work) and how my mind reviewed the day at the show and the highlights of the seminars with the best tips rattling around in my head…definitely need to do more of  this. On Sunday I presented my seminar on the opportunity of philanthropic giving to boost your bottom line. A large seminar ended upstairs and tons of jewelers flooded my area and took up seats…I was ready with my first ever powerpoint presentation that Sara had assisted me with and I really wound up using it as an outline for my session. I was pleased to see how incredibly receptive everyone was and how easily the info flowed along with the prompting slides. I was besieged with questions and people understood that what I was talking about was not a strategy on how to manipulate charities but an organized plan for mutual success for both parties. The difference between the two is critical and the key in obtaining the results that we have experienced. Check out the video where some of us coolstore owners wrap up the day in a general, recap conversation. I have also included a clip of the showfloor to illustrate how the show is laid out.

The organizers did a brilliant job of creating seminar spaces on the showfloor where jewelers could wander into an ongoing seminar, listen for awhile or longer and then stroll back out onto the floor and continue hunting. There were areas for interviews, seminars, Peer-to-Peer experiences and marketing seminar areas…. Folks did not have to wander out of the show and into the back catacombs of Navy Pier to find the seminar rooms. Really well done. Thanks to Cindy Chandler, head of show education for inviting me to share some things that work for us and that might work for others. I also want to thank many of the jewelers I met who were kind enough to share their thoughts with me about what they are doing to improve their store at home. Thanks to Lucette and Seth Belenky of Belenky Brothers in Soho, NY for a great lunch and many awesome ideas. I look forward to seeing you both on my next trip to Manhattan!  I can safely say that I returned from the Chicago show distinctly smarter and a little poorer.