Bejeweled

Monday, June 17, 2024

After my first day in Jewelry, Wow! There were, and still are, many elements to learn about working in a fine jewelry department. A primary responsibility is keeping an ongoing accurate count of items for sale and unarguable accounting for everything on record. One carries keys and opens display cases holding jewelry, one at a time, and relocks a case immediately after showing an object. Then, there are safes with absolute procedures for what goes in and out and when.

That’s not all. There are iPads and internet searches, training materials, record-keeping, lists of customers for each salesperson, and, at the end of each day, protecting jewelry by hefting a series of awkward Kevlar coverings onto display cases.

With much more ahead to learn and remember, oy vey.

In retrospect, while not as romantic as becoming surrounded by jewelry, my former role of rehanging dresses and putting away bras was way less stressful.

During a pause, Marie (my trainer in Jewelry) spoke of her history as a jewel creator, adding that she used to operate her own shop in town. Listening as she explained her background and stone sourcing, it struck me suddenly that Marie and I had met many years ago.

I was a newcomer to town; I spotted a sign for her shop and stopped in. My curiosity turned into interest as she described her stones, their sources, and those she chose to design and craft into jewelry. Captured by her story and sensing its reality, I purchased a ring of her design and creation.

The ring highlights an emerald (my birthstone). Marie explained finding that stone in Brazil and considering it special. She had lived in Brazil as a fully Certified Gemologist and there had discovered unique gemstones. She could visualize a raw stone as being cut, could do the cutting herself, and craft cut pieces into fine jewels. She sold her creations worldwide.

I’ve not been much of “a jewelry person” and rarely have worn the lovely emerald. Today I’ll take “Marie’s ring” to work for her to see and recall.

Dear Friends: It’s said, “What goes around comes around,” and often that’s so. Diana