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

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

Published

5 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.”

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.