9 Weird Engraving Requests That Will Make You Go 'Hmm'

'You’re worth it' is a nice sentiment ... but on a $79 ring?

Published

3 years ago

July 12, 2020

Eileen McClelland

DESPITE THE RETAIL sector having faced unprecedented obstacles in the first half of 2020, or perhaps because of that, we decided it’s time for a laugh or an eye roll.

INSTORE has a tradition of collecting and sharing the funny and far-fetched experiences of its readers, who have always been generous with their tales.

We asked our Brain Squad and other sources for unusual engraving requests. Jewelry business owners and managers shared these unique situations.

1. INVALUABLE ATTRACTION. Had a $79 ring brought in today to be engraved, “You’re worth it.”

2. IT CAME WITH INSTRUCTIONS. I wouldn’t say it was weird, but it was certainly hilarious. We engraved on the inside of gents wedding band, “Put this back on,” per his fiancée’s request.

3. AH, ROMANCE! The couple getting married met in the washroom of a department store, so they wanted the logo of the store in their wedding band to remind them of their “encounter.”

4. OCCUPIED. Engraving on the urn for a human, and they were still in it. We had to remove the contents, as the engraving machine has an arm to fit inside the cylinder.

5. THE F WORD(S). A number of years ago, we had an order for a set of two sterling silver dog tags. Our customer wanted one word engraved quite large on each tag, in an ornate script font. The first word was F*CK and the other was FOREVER. I figured hey, no biggie, I’d rather make those for you than have you purchase them elsewhere.

6. THE F WORD PART 2. We did “I F***ING LOVE YOU!” on the inside of a bracelet.

7. BIKER CHIC. Engraved “Ride me now” in a Harley Davidson Zippo lighter.

8. JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. Vintage stainless steel bedpan engraved for a doctor’s retirement party.

9. VEGETABLE OR MINERAL? Inside a wedding band: “Always Turnip.”

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”