This month’s When She Said Yes Collection:
Featuring Joint Venture Jewelry Owners Donna and Lee Hankin. Check out how Lee popped the big question:
Ours was not a typical proposal. Times were tough and money was tight, but I had found the women I wanted to marry. At first I thought it was a long shot of us actually getting together but after realizing we had so much in common, including we were born at the same hospital, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
During the summer of 1983, while on vacation with my family, we stayed at a family-oriented resort. It was on that trip that I realized I wanted a family of my own and Donna was the key to obtaining it.
I came across an antique store that sold jewelry. I spotted a black and white, 10k white gold pearl ring. The cost was $65 and back then it was even hard to spend that amount of money. I decided this would be my pre-engagement ring. If she accepted this ring, we would be engaged and I would start saving for a diamond.
As soon as I got home from the trip, I just couldn’t wait to make Donna my wife. I drove straight to her apartment and presented her with the ring. Her only reaction was, “I knew it,” then proceeded to put the ring on her finger.
It wasn’t until the fall of that year that I finally gave her a marquise diamond ring. Since then, Donna has been through four upgrades in 27 short years. It’s a good thing we own Joint Venture J
ewelry. My only hope now is that she doesn’t decide to upgrade me to a newer model!
–Lee Hankin
Did you have a pre-engagement ring too? Or have a similar story? Leave us a comment and share your thoughts.
Are you already engaged or married with your special, one-of-a-kind Joint Venture ring? Was your proposal funny? Romantic? Exciting? Or just perfect? Please share your story with us– we would love to add it to the collection. Please email stories to jenhankin@jointventurejewelry.com.
Not quite sure how to pop the big question? Need some tips and ideas? Then look no further. When She Said Yes is a collection of Joint Venture Jewelry‘s favorite newlywed’s engagement stories.
A book of these stories is on display in-store at Joint Venture, yet in addition each month we will post a blog with one of those stories to share with you all– so stay tuned! Your story may be next!
Are you already engaged or married with your special, one-of-a-kind Joint Venture ring? Was your proposal funny? Romantic? Exciting? Or just perfect? Please share your story with us– we would love to add it to the collection.
Please email stories to jenhankin@jointventurejewelry.com.
Want to splurge on a fine piece of jewelry but don’t have the funds to do so right now? Need a more affordable way to enjoy jewelry? This is a request we hear often, especially in our store where everything is unique and once something is sold—it’s gone for good. I can’t tell you how many times customers come into the store telling us,
“Oh I saw this gorgeous vintage euro cut diamond ring a few months ago at the store, and I’m still thinking about it. Where is it?”
It breaks my heart to tell them it has already sold. Should have put it on layaway, I think to myself. Since we don’t have back stock of the pieces, Layaway is the perfect solution for those of us who fall in love with jewels before we have the disposable income to buy it outright. Especially since such one-of-a-kind jewelry is on display here at Joint Venture Estate Jewelers. Because of that, we offer a hassle free Layaway process on all merchandise in store.
Layaway is not a new idea, in fact, it was introduced to society around the 19th century as a popular way for retailers to sell products to customers who do not have the cash on hand to purchase it outright. With a small down payment, followed by a series of payments, the customer could get their product over a period of time. Layaway peaked in popularity during the Great Depression when unemployment rates were high and disposable income was severely low.
Vintage Layaway Ad
The Layaway customer does not receive the item until it is completely paid for. There is sometimes a fee associated, since the seller must “lay” the item “away” in storage until the payments are completed. When all payments have been made, the consumer is entitled to take the product home and enjoy.
Joint Venture’s policy on Layaway is very simple. Just a 20% down payment and monthly payments varying in any amount, the customer has six months to pay off the piece. There are no hidden fees or interest accumulated ever. And the best part is that it doesn’t matter how expensive the jewelry you wish to place on Layaway is, it could be a $60 ring or an $8,000 necklace. The choice is yours.
For more detailed information about our Layaway process, please leave us a comment or call us at (919) 678-0092 and we’d be happy to go over it with you. Happy Stress-Free Shopping.
If you’re familiar with Joint Venture Jewelry, you know that we release a collection of New Arrivals every couple of weeks. What you may not be aware of, however, is the process in which each consignment piece goes through before it makes it into our showcases and eventually into our magnificent clients’ homes. As seen in the video below, Proprietor Lee Hankin demonstrates the cleaning process as he readies each and every consignment piece for its close-up.
The process starts once a client schedules an appointment to discuss the consignment process. Ideally, the pieces are left with Joint Venture Jewelry to sell, and the cleaning process begins. Most pieces are buffed, polished, cleaned thoroughly in the Ultra Sonic and steamed with a high-pressure steamer. Others require a bit more work, such as beloved vintage pieces needing restoration. The pieces then go to our jeweler where they are carefully worked on, resulting in unbelievably expert work.
Once each piece is squeaky clean and sparkling to its fullest potential, it goes into further inspection where it is graded (carat, color and clarity), and any other information that can be obtained from the inspection is recorded (karat gold, time period, country of origin). From there the pieces are ready to be cataloged, priced and photographed. Each beautiful piece finds a place in our showcase where one lucky shopper will get the opportunity to take it home and enjoy it for many years to come.
As the weather heats up, women are always tempted to throw up those luscious locks on top of their head. Yet there are ways to make that sloppy ‘do sparkle — with hair jewelry. This season’s biggest trend — hair accessories — is perfect for women of all ages and comes in various shapes, sizes and prices.
There are several influences that have attracted these jeweled hair pieces. We first saw a spark in hair accents this season with the royal wedding of Price William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011. British head ornaments called fascinators and over-the-top hats were the talk heard round the world for style hounds.
Pictured: Victoria Beckham, Zara Phillips, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, each donned headpieces created by Philip Treacy at the Royal Wedding.
The hair accessories didn’t end there. Up next on the social calendar was the Kentucky Derby, which always is an American display of extravagant and elaborate hats. But these styles are not just for those red carpet appearances anymore. The adornments are trickling down into everyday attire, showing up in barrettes, bobby pins, and clips — ripe for bejeweling your hair.
Whether you just need to clip back your bangs, fancy up a pony, or add bling to a bun, hair jewelry is the forefront of fashion. Take a look at Joint Venture Jewelry’s style guide for how to dress up your ‘do with some of our favorite pins in store. Hint: Almost all brooches and pins can be converted into hair accessories.
Hair Jewelry Style Guide:
Use a yellow gold hair clip to pin back your bangs for that effortless look. ($300)
A sterling silver barrette is perfect for spicing up a normal pony and doesn’t break the bank. ($130)
Add a bit of sparkle with this yellow gold diamond star barrette. ($200)
For a night out on the town, pin part of your hair up with this antique sterling silver and yellow gold brooch with old mine cut diamonds fit for a princess. This piece actually used to be part of a tiara. ($15,000)
For a bit of summer fun, add this white gold carved crystal with old mine cut diamond flower pin to any hairstyle. ($1,050)
A great way to dress up a summer braid: add a whimsical feather pin to keep those fly-a-ways down. ($350)
For a sloppy bun, this white gold vintage filigree diamond bar pin is a great way to brighten up your ‘do. ($500) Shown with a purple feather hair extension–another fashion trend for the summer.
Would you wear these jewels in your hair? Or have a hair accessory style tip of your own? We’d love you to share! Leave us a comment or even post a picture.
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