Jewelry Buying 101: Erik Runyan’s Guide to the Perfect Item
Erik Runyan Jewelers has been in business for 101 years.
A full 101 years!
Such a cool number — 101. It’s a palindrome, so it looks the same backward and forward. And it represents several generations of Runyan commitment to quality jewelry and the industry’s absolute best customer service.
(Speaking of cool, guess who’s America’s Coolest Jewelry Store for 2019?)
But back to 101. What was happening in the world 101 years ago?
Mexico adopted its current constitution.
The average American worked 55 hours a week for 22 cents an hour.
The first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded.
The National Hockey League formed.
The Seattle Metropolitans became the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup (as part of the National Hockey Association).
John F. Kennedy, Thelonious Monk, and Dean Martin were born.
William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Scott Joplin, and Auguste Rodin died.
Only 1 in 7 Americans had homes with bathtubs and running water.
Oregon beat Penn in the third-ever Rose Bowl. (It would be 95 years before the Ducks would win another Rose Bowl game.)
So much has happened in the last 101 years — both in the world, in our community, and at Runyan.
In honor of our 101 years in business, we thought it would be helpful, fun, and informative for our customers to create a Jewelry Buying Guide.
We call it …
Jewelry Buying 101
Bracelets
The word bracelet is ultimately derived from the Latin word brāchiālis, meaning “belonging to the arm.”
When it comes to buying a bracelet, there is something for every occasion. So the first thing to know is when and where the bracelet will be worn. ERJ features a fine, robust selection of bracelets with (or without) a tremendous variety of diamond configurations. We have bracelets for sports fans; check out our exclusive golf bracelet and our exclusive “12th Woman Football Bracelet,” designed in-house.
Buying a bracelet means deciding on precious gems; the type of fashion statement the wearer wishes to make; chain metal and style; and whether the bracelet will be used to hang charms so that the wearer can customize and individualize the bracelet in a moment’s notice.
You should also consider whether you might purchase a vintage bracelet. If so, you’ll need to choose an era. We can help with that, too. (See our “Vintage Jewelry Guide”!)
Bangle, cuff, clasp … tennis, charm, chain … there’s so much to choose from when it comes to bracelets.
Let Erik Runyan Jewelers be your bracelet buying guide.
Custom Jewelry
Here’s where things get really interesting.
Bravo to you and anyone who chooses to score a piece of custom jewelry. Here you’ll need to know every facet and detail of your dream jewelry.
But don’t worry. We’ll walk you through it.
As we wrote in our guide to the custom jewelry design process, “Take one-part memory, two parts thoughts and intentions, add a dash of symbolism, and a heaping helping of imagination and beauty … and let the experts at Erik Runyan Jewelers bring your creation to life.”
Getting a piece of custom jewelry is about as exciting as it gets. No matter what you’re searching for — engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, you name it! — we can help you conceptualize your idea and then turn it into reality.
Naturally, with custom jewelry, it’s helpful to know at least a little something about the person for whom you’re buying it — even if that person is yourself!
What kind of gemstones, if any, does the person like? Would they prefer a bracelet, or an anklet, or both? Is it an engagement ring? What type of setting would you like?
Erik Runyan Jewelers can walk and talk you through each of these questions and any others that come up in the custom jewelry design process.
Many times, it’s helpful to bring in a photo of a piece of jewelry that you like; that way, we can hone in on something that matches your style and tastes.
Once we’ve gotten close to the item and style you like, the custom design process itself is threefold:
Initial custom design review and consultation
Creation of a computer-aided design (CAD) rendering
Casting of the custom design
Give Erik Runyan Jewelers a call today and let’s get started!
Diamonds
Diamonds are forever.
That’s more than just a saying. At low temperatures near the earth’s surface, diamonds “essentially stick around in the same form forever,” says Dr. George E. Harlow, a curator and professor at the American Museum of Natural History.
Of course, it’s also true in the metaphorical sense.
Selecting the perfect diamond for your beloved’s engagement ring represents a lifetime commitment to the timeless principles of love, honor, and sacrifice. That’s why it’s important to approach your diamond purchase with a little 101.
Diamonds are prized both for their otherworldly beauty and their very worldly backstory.
Geologically — and generally — speaking, diamonds are the solid form of carbon with a crystalline atomic structure.
Their origin story is among the most fascinating of all the earthly gemstones. Most of them are billions of years old, formed hundreds of miles below the earth’s surface and ejected to the surface in ancient volcanic eruptions.
Selecting a Diamond
So, how do you select the perfect cut diamond? It takes more than just the naked eye.
Buying a diamond starts with understanding the basics of a diamond grading report. This can include the famed Four Cs: color and clarity; cut and carat weight. Once you’ve zeroed in on each of the Four Cs that comprise your dream diamond, you’re well on your way.
One final thought about buying a diamond or a diamond engagement ring: There is no hard and fast rule about how much a diamond engagement ring should cost. That old canard about spending three months of your salary is nonsense. You should spend what you feel is appropriate for you and your loved one.
You buy diamonds with your heart, not your wallet.
Fortunately, Erik Runyan Jewelers makes choosing a diamond easy and fun. Our showroom is beautiful, and our staff is comprised of nothing but jewelry experts.
We’ll help you find the perfect diamond — whether it’s part of an engagement ring, antique or vintage rings, diamond earrings, or custom jewelry. We also have a wide selection of excellent timepieces.
We’re here to help — just as we have been since 1917.