A Stone Diary

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

My short time working in jewelry sales has awakened my desire to learn more about the technical aspects of jewelry art. Understanding the properties of different metals, alloys, and gemstones requires knowing how various basic materials interact in a complex combination of chemistry and physics.

There’s much to know about jewel-making. The artists work with earth materials and have analytical minds. They have dived deeply into geology and have a scientific perspective. They can identify future jewels by knowing why a stone’s “growing environment” creates unique optical properties. They can assess a raw stone’s potential for cutting and shaping and estimate its future value.

A stone’s potential value involves another complex dive, into the “commercial world” of appeal. Consumers assess their wishes for apparel items against complicated innate desires, involving self-expression, status, cultural influence, passion, and investment worthiness.

While selling a jewelry piece, I am aware of how long a potential buyer views an object. I watch for body language clues and listen for verbal cues. To encourage a customer’s interest, I ask open-ended questions and do my best to teach by providing technical information.

Falling short in teaching drives a desire to learn. I want to understand the elements involved in identifying a raw stone’s potential and the ways artists transform found raw earth objects into desirable jewels.

Dear Friends: This is unlocking a door to endless possibilities. Diana

On Display

Saturday, June 22, 2024

I recently began selling jewelry in the department store where I work part-time. Yesterday, I discovered that coworkers had placed bets on how long it would be before I purchased a piece of jewelry. They were laughing while I was settling a deal for my shiny new ring.

I gain new intentions upon learning, and to me, quality becomes irresistible. Although I needed a ring like a hole in my head, I felt that my finger, flashing quality, could enhance my jewelry sales role (or some such rationale).

All logical rationale aside, jewelry simply attracts attention and admiration, especially pieces that host superior craftsmanship, intricate designs, precious metals, and gemstones. Attraction to high-quality jewelry varies among individuals. Some people become attracted by aesthetic appeal, others by investment potential, and for most, by fine jewelry’s emotional triggerings.

My jewelry choices reflect elements of personal style, taste, and creativity. For example, my new ring is conservative, high-quality, has good gemstones, and its design reflects my preferences. Eventually, I might wish for a more prominent ring. That could happen after I understand more about gemstones—their sparkle, shine, precious metals, and “sensing qualities” of feel and aesthetic appeal.

Dear Friends: The allure of high-quality jewelry extends beyond mere aesthetics. Diana

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

In The Rough

Friday, June 07, 2024

Assuming the outcome of my background check won’t be troubling, I will shift into a new role selling Fine Jewelry. While waiting for an outcome, I am reading books and going online to learn about geology in general and a gemologist’s role in the gemstone world.

I was toying with the idea of studying to become a certified gemologist. A little research teaches that studying and evaluating gemstones involves numerous highly technical tasks. An accredited gemologist has gained the specific skills to identify and grade stones.

A certified person distinguishes among natural, synthetic, and imitation candidates by identifying each stone’s quality, shape and potential, light absorption and reflection, and facet measurements. A gemologist assesses a stone’s unique characteristics to grade it, using factors like color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.

Other elements of a stone’s quality are its rarity and market demand, making valuable the element of selling experience

Gemologists do their work in many settings. They research gemstones, are educators teaching others, act as consultants to jewelry stores, and have personal clients they advise on gemstone selection and purchase.

Where might all this information guide me? Or seem too much and leave me? Am I intrigued and energetic? Above all, am I inspired?

Dear Friends: A sales role that invites some formal training will help to advise me. Diana