30 May 07:13
  It's Launched!

Yesterday was a big day for us, as we move towards building this site for the community out there. Yesterday we launched our membership signup and shopping cart! Now you can join the Wexford Jewelers crowd and have your own account.

What will this allow you to do? Right now it will allow you to purchase our jewelry. But in the very near future here are a few things that are being launched:

  • Comment on and rate the Jewelry
  • Comment on our Blog; soon to be integrated on the front page
  • Join contest
  • Help design and mold this site to your t ... a button to read the full article text
Published by Michael Christenson II Fri, 30 May 2008 14:13:00 GMT no comments permalink

Whether it was the advent of spring, the task of cleaning my outdated wardrobe, or just a lifelong fixation with the color green, I had to build this ring this past month.

Having recently acquired a couple of cat’s eye chrysoberyls, I was anxious to use them in some stunning piece. I think we pulled it off, don’t you?

I began with a simple bezel of extruded blue wax. This is a softer wax, perfect for forming. Bending the wax to within a millimeter tolerance of the stone, I secured it on the bottom with a more rigid piece of Ruby Red wax, extendin ... a button to read the full article text

Published by Sarah Christenson Tue, 27 May 2008 23:58:00 GMT no comments permalink

Little Emily

I’ll always remember my first time at the wheel. I was a short, scrawny, 9 year old girl with straggly, brown hair. I did not know what I was doing.

Zzz… zzz…zzz, went the hard, abrasive wheel, as I gouged deep, rough valleys into the thin, silver, practice ring, that was just cast and cleaned. Trying to take down the casting sprue. Then the ring slipped off the wheel and my finger received the same treatment. Zzz… into my soft, not yet calloused finger tip. I received a little instruction from my teacher, my dad. He showed me how to firmly but gently, roll the ring into the wheel to keep the nice ... a button to read the full article text

Published by Emily Nichols Wed, 21 May 2008 02:02:00 GMT 1 comment permalink
20 May 17:59
  HUZZAH!

I am now becoming more involved in our casting process. And by more involved, I mean that I am doing a casting once a week. My whole casting setup had been in my basement, and even though it was handy, the cons outweighed the pros. So I decided to do what I love to do. Build a workshop. I am proud to say that Wexford Jewelers now has its own fully functional casting and molding workshop! This is what I have always dreamed of. Working in a self sufficient jewelry shop. You see, before, everything had been here and there.. wax carving in the dining room, casting the basement, molding on the kitchen counter, finishing at our jewelry store, and selling them in 5 locations at times! And me being the organization guru I am, th ... a button to read the full article text

Published by Jason Nichols Wed, 21 May 2008 00:59:00 GMT 1 comment permalink
18 May 19:37
  Never Get Involved

Never get involved. That’s our mantra in the jewelry store. We may see a couple destined for divorce court before they are even married, but we smile and tolerate their bickering and sell them a wedding set.

Who are we to predict their demise? They could fight happily for the next forty years, for all we care. We’re just here to sell the rings, and the necklace for the anniversary, and the diamond earrings when he has to concede the argument…

We may see an older woman gleefully spending her retirement money on tourmaline jewelry, but she is happily in her dotage and could never need another penny of that money, what do we care? So she’ll have a little bit less to pass on to those gre ... a button to read the full article text

Published by Sarah Christenson Mon, 19 May 2008 02:37:00 GMT 15 comments permalink
18 May 18:54
  These Hands

I was at my sister’s house today and noticed a lovely shade of nail polish on her counter. I did my typical girlie oohing and ahhing and complimenting her choice, but she merely shrugged,

“I don’t even bother painting my nails anymore unless it’s a special occasion, no point in it.” “Well, if you get a really strong topcoat-” I began, but then, seeing her shake her head, I shut up.

A jeweler is not known for pretty nails, even less so for pretty hands. Emily basically gave up her right to nice hands when she first sat down at the jeweler’s bench so many years ago. The bite of ... a button to read the full article text

Published by Sarah Christenson Mon, 19 May 2008 01:54:00 GMT 2 comments permalink
07 May 20:06
  Not All That Glitters...

We usually know them the moment they walk in the door.

Their shoulders stoop ever so slightly, their gait is unnatural, often ashamed.

Some have forced cheery smiles on their faces, others have a defiant stance, ready to spar. But they all seem to have the same air about them- they’ve fallen on harder times, and they are in need of money.

They come to sell us their gold.

Every day we see them now, with the downturn in the economy and the steep rise in the price of gold. Every single one has a need, every one has a story;

“Need to pay my property taxes…”

“Getting divorced, need lawyer money, ring isn’t worth anything anyhow…”

... a button to read the full article text
Published by Sarah Christenson Thu, 08 May 2008 03:06:00 GMT no comments permalink


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