Gem Quiz

From the Fringes of the Dark Side, I Glow With a Deep Luster

The time has come for me to step out of the shadows of onyx and black diamonds. Who am I?

Published

9 months ago

April 20, 2025

INSTORE Staff

From the Fringes of the Dark Side, I Glow With a Deep Luster

Think black gems, and two varieties have traditionally come to mind: black onyx and black diamond. But I, an unassuming stone that has been used as a gem almost as long, offer the best of both of those two: a friendly price and a deep, hard luster. Moreover, with many consumers worried about ethical sourcing and gemstone treatments, a natural beauty like me is perfectly positioned to step out of the shadows. Who am I?

Honoring a Legacy: How Smith & Son Jewelers Exceeded Every Goal With Wilkerson

When Andrew Smith decided to close the Springfield, Massachusetts location of Smith & Son Jewelers, the decision came down to family. His father was retiring after 72 years in the business, and Andrew wanted to spend more time with his children and soon-to-arrive grandchildren. For this fourth-generation jeweler whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1918, closing the 107-year-old Springfield location required the right partner. Smith chose Wilkerson, and the experience exceeded expectations from start to finish. "Everything they told me was 100% true," Smith says. "The ease and use of all their tools was wonderful." The consultants' knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. Smith and his father set their own financial goal, but Wilkerson proposed three more ambitious targets. "We thought we would never make it," Smith explains. "We were dead wrong. We hit our first goal, second goal and third goal. It was amazing." Smith's recommendation is emphatic: "I would never be able to do what they did by myself."