Archive for the ‘Jeweler’ Category

The Perfect Fit: Almost Any Ring Can Be Altered to Fit Any Budget

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

You see it and think it’s just the kind of a ring you’d like. It has the style, sophistication, and personality you’ve been looking for.  In short, it’s perfect.  Finally, after all the searching, you’ve found the wedding ring you’ve been looking for.  Uh oh…there’s a problem.

The problem is located on a tiny white tag attached to a string wrapped around the band.  It’s out of your budget. Your perfect ring is another piece in a list of false starts.  Ugh.  Your search for a wedding band will have to continue.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you never had to go through that process? We think so.  In fact, one of the key factors that helped us to determine to manufacture all of our own jewelry was our desire to make sure that our customers and not corporate planners in a skyscraper three or four states away, would be in control of the process.
We’re a third generation jeweler. We’re a family jeweler. We’re a small business.  We’re…well, we’re Levi Family Jewelers, and that gives us some freedoms and our customers some  advantages. In fact, we’re pretty sure we’re the best place to shop for wedding bands in San Diego.

When we see a happy couple looking for the perfect way to commemorate their commitment and their upcoming marriage, we’re excited. We find it an honor and a very special thing to be involved in a small way with the new beginning in their lives.

Without a limited inventory and brand name cookie cutter offerings, we can help someone choose a wedding band that fits within their current economic limitations.
Almost every ring can be altered to fit within any budget.

My grandfather, Daniel, had very specific ideas about the jewelry business. To him, a wedding band was so much more than precious metal and a gemstone. To him, the wedding band symbolized the perfection of love, the permanence of the commitment, and the coming together of two individual people to become a single unit. Two generations later, we’re still focused on his vision, and his vision included making it possible for ANYONE to be happy about a wedding band.

Gone are the days when only the very rich could afford something special, and I’m happy to say we play a small part in that change. We help our customers pick their stones, pick their metal, and pick their designs. From start to finish, they remain in control of their budgets while learning all that’s necessary to get a wonderful band.

Since we buy our diamonds directly without middlemen, we’re able to offer beautiful jewelry at a dramatically reduced cost, so we’re happy to point out that spending less with us doesn’t mean getting less!  In fact, we’ve helped customers time and time again who end up with a nicer stone and better design than one they had to refuse, because of another store’s pricing.

Your wedding should be as perfect as you can make it, but don’t ever be disappointed because you think you have to settle for a set of wedding bands you don’t like.  Don’t ever think you just have to pay too extravagant of a price, either.

Make your wedding bands all about you and not about budgeting to pay off debts or work extra hours in the first months of your marriage!

At Levi Family Jewelers, we’re serious about the word family in our name.

Let us help you start yours off right.

Bert Levi

Posted in Jeweler | No Comments »

What Jewelry Means

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

We’re a third generation jeweler, and as such we have a bit of a different perspective on jewelry than you might think.  Chain jewelry stores have their place, and they can offer a great deal of mass manufactured jewelry in a pinch—excellent for last minute gifts, for example—and we’re glad they’re around.  We don’t have a corporate office with an unlimited budget and countless locations to support the locations that lose money.  That’s okay by us.  Grandfather, father, son—three generations have resulted in Bert Levi Family Jewelers, and we’re not really interested in a streamlined business operation that serves a purpose other than ours.

See, the first generation, my grandfather Daniel, believed jewelry meant something.  Sure, we understand the value from a financial perspective.  In fact, many of our customers who want to sell gold in San Diego make us their first stop.  It would be silly to pretend that jewelry isn’t composed of precious metals and precious stones, commodities that have an intrinsic worth even when not crafted into a piece of fine jewelry.  We believe it’s so much more than that, though.  If it were simply currency, why would anyone bother to wear it?  If it were only dollar signs, why would anyone hold onto a piece instead of liquidating it?

People often talk about the importance of events in a person’s life and if you think about it, most or at least many of those events have a tangible record, a commemoration if you will.  Wedding rings, for example, are a great deal more than diamond studded bands of gold or platinum.  They’re really ongoing reminders of the marriage, reminders of the commitment and the commemoration of the joining of two individuals, two becoming one.  We’ve become one of the leading wedding band sources in San Diego, and we’re pretty sure we have my grandfather’s philosophy to thank for that.  See, we’re not just forging precious metal and creating a setting, we’re looking for ways to commemorate a real and important commitment in a way that will be as eternal as the love it represents.

We certainly think there’s a place for jewelers that don’t think like us, but we believe with all of our strength that there’s a better way for the most important events in our lives.  Jewelry means something, and to Bert Levi Family Jewelers, it means something that’s important to you.

We’re a third generation jeweler, and as such we have a bit of a different perspective on jewelry than you might think.  Chain jewelry stores have their place, and they can offer a great deal of mass manufactured jewelry in a pinch—excellent for last minute gifts, for example—and we’re glad they’re around.  We don’t have a corporate office with an unlimited budget and countless locations to support the locations that lose money.  That’s okay by us.  Grandfather, father, son—three generations have resulted in Bert Levi Family Jewelers, and we’re not really interested in a streamlined business operation that serves a purpose other than ours.

See, the first generation, my grandfather Daniel, believed jewelry meant something.  Sure, we understand the value from a financial perspective.  In fact, many of our customers who want to sell gold in San Diego make us their first stop.  It would be silly to pretend that jewelry isn’t composed of precious metals and precious stones, commodities that have an intrinsic worth even when not crafted into a piece of fine jewelry.  We believe it’s so much more than that, though.  If it were simply currency, why would anyone bother to wear it?  If it were only dollar signs, why would anyone hold onto a piece instead of liquidating it?

People often talk about the importance of events in a person’s life and if you think about it, most or at least many of those events have a tangible record, a commemoration if you will.  Wedding rings, for example, are a great deal more than diamond studded bands of gold or platinum.  They’re really ongoing reminders of the marriage, reminders of the commitment and the commemoration of the joining of two individuals, two becoming one.  We’ve become one of the leading wedding band sources in San Diego, and we’re pretty sure we have my grandfather’s philosophy to thank for that.  See, we’re not just forging precious metal and creating a setting, we’re looking for ways to commemorate a real and important commitment in a way that will be as eternal as the love it represents.

We certainly think there’s a place for jewelers that don’t think like us, but we believe with all of our strength that there’s a better way for the most important events in our lives.  Jewelry means something, and to Bert Levi Family Jewelers, it means something that’s important to you.

Posted in Jeweler | No Comments »

Jewelry Repair

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

When a piece of jewelry that is special to you is in disarray, it can be very disheartening.  In some cases, an engagement ring or a wedding band needs attention, while in others the necklace you remember your grandmother wearing and loving has a broken chain.  A good jeweler can repair your cherished possessions with the care and attention they deserve, so there’s no need for unhappiness.

In simplest terms, jewelry repair is the process of fixing a broken piece of jewelry.  There are a number of different ways earrings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets, and rings can become broken.  In some cases, the clasp or lock breaks.  Sometimes, a ring snaps in two.  Sometimes a stone’s setting breaks.  When a jeweler undertakes to repair a piece of jewelry, you’ll want to make sure the skill necessary to do it right is present.

First and foremost, you want to find a reputable jeweler with plenty of feedback from customers and the community.  With the various sites available online that review the services of nearly every kind of business, it shouldn’t be difficult to see about the reputation of any particular store.  Keep in mind that you’re looking for a jeweler who will treat your jewelry with the same care and concern that you would, if you had the skills necessary to do the repairs yourself.

You also want a Jeweler with a great deal of experience in all sorts of jewelry.  Smaller, less established jewelers may cut corners in a number of ways.  They may use materials that aren’t correct for the sake of a quick repair.  They may use settings and hardware they have on hand even if it’s not a perfect match for the piece being repaired.  You want a jeweler with a long history and an established business.  That will ensure that they either have the appropriate materials on hand or the suppliers set up to get them.

A good jeweler will repair a piece in such a way that you can’t even tell it was repaired.  So, look at some of the Jeweler’s custom work.  Notice the attention to detail, and the quality of the final result.  Your jewelry represents a great deal of emotional, family, and economic investment.  When it comes time to fix something that has broken, trust your keepsakes only to the most trustworthy!  If you do, when the time comes to receive back your favorite bracelet or ring, you’ll be happy with the result.

Posted in Jeweler | No Comments »

5 Things to Ask Your Jeweler

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Purchasing jewelry, especially diamonds, should be a very thorough process to make sure you know exactly what you are getting, the quality of the jewelry, and the history of it. There is a story behind every item at your local jewelry store, but is it something positive that you would actually approve of? Without a doubt, you never want to complete a purchase without first being educated on the piece of art and whether or not people were exploited in the process of creating it. Next time you walk into a jewelry store, be prepared to ask the following five questions to ensure you know exactly what you are purchasing.

1.      How do I know it is not a conflict diamond? Your main concern when purchasing a diamond will probably be the source of the diamond. No one wants to purchase a conflict diamond that was mined using slave labor. Many African nations exploit their laborers and operate an extremely poor work environment with little or no pay, especially compared to the value of the gems they are mining. When you visit a jeweler, ask if they can prove where a diamond came from, if the mining is environmentally friendly, what the labor conditions were, and if they are positive that the diamond is absolutely conflict free. Many gemstones are certified “fair trade” which guarantees the source and process of acquiring the gems. The jeweler may not have all of the answers up front, especially if the gem came from a third party, but they should be willing to find the answers for you and provide some sort of proof.

2. How does the diamond grade in the four C’s?

a.      Diamond color: Unless you want a specific diamond color, the ultimate goal is for a diamond to have no color at all. The closer it is to clear, the more brilliant it will look under light.

b.      Diamond cut: The quality and shape of the diamond cut affects the gem’s brightness and how much it sparkles under light. You will likely be wearing the diamond for a long time so getting the cut you want is very important.

c.      Diamond clarity: Every diamond has its unique imperfections, most of which can’t be seen with a naked eye. But, there is always a rating of the clarity that examines the imperfections at 10x magnification. The better the rating, the more brilliance and sparkle it will have.

d.      Diamond carat weight: The main determinant of a diamond’s price and often the first matter of concern is the carat weight of the diamond. A jeweler will usually have anywhere between .03 to 2.5 carat diamonds on display and the price exponentially increases with the increase in carat weight.

3.      Who made this jewelry? Understanding the story behind your jewelry means you should know the source and the designer. Designing a fine piece of jewelry is a form of art and the artist should be proud of his or her work. If the jewelry doesn’t have an artist name affiliated with it, you might be skeptical of the quality and legitimacy of the source. A quality jeweler will always be able to tell you exactly who made the item you are looking to purchase.

4.      How can I protect my investment? This is an extremely important question that is often asked too late. You should find out about the return policy and warranties that come with the jewelry. This is especially important with engagement rings that need to be returned or possibly exchanged. A good warranty is good to have in case something goes wrong like a jewel falls out or the jewelry doesn’t meet the quality that was promised. Purchasing jewelry is an important process that should have several forms of assurance to give you piece of mind long after you leave the store.

5.      What type of service is offered for the jewelry? It doesn’t matter what type of jewelry you are looking for; all types will need consistent servicing. Shining, polishing, repairing, and resizing are a few of the common services that you should check to see if they are included in the total price, and for how long. A reputable jeweler will provide free service for many years or even the lifetime of the jewelry. Over time, you save a lot of money by purchasing from a jeweler that provides free servicing.

Posted in Buying Jewelry, Jeweler | No Comments »