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….