And congratulations to our winner.
Gary Hurdle, sales manager at Casa de Oro in Corpus Christi, TX, is the winner of January’s Gem Quiz. Gary crushed it (excuse the pun — trapiche ruby was the answer) and will soon take proud ownership of a Jewelry Geek t-shirt. Well done, Gary, as well as all this month’s Honorable Mentions for providing the correct answer. Next month’s Gem Quiz will be appearing online soon. Please look out for it.
January Honorable Mentions
Derrick Allen
Graham Jewelers
Wayzata, MN
John Caruso
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Gemological Evaluation & Marketing Services
Danvers, MA
Kathleen Childress
H. Kathleen Childress Designs
Malvern, PA
Ora Cooper
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Ora Jewelry
Los Angeles, CA
Brendon Davis
Thomas A. Davis Jeweler
Holland, MI
Monica Denning
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Gems and Treasures of Grace
York, PA
Mary Dunker
Linn and Owen Jewelers
Lansing, MI
Katie Dye
J. David Jewelry
Broken Arrow, OK
Joe Faissal
The Gold Market Diamond Jewelers
Longmont, CO
Candace George
Bill’s Jewelers
Thibodaux, LA
Jonathan Hart
Karen’s Jewelers
Oak Ridge, TN
Kim Hatchell
Galloway & Moseley
Sumter, SC
Andrew Hetland
McKendree Jewelers
Grand Rapids, MI
Kathy Jenkins
Bravo Jewellers
Carlsbad, CA
Inez Kennedy
Garland Jewelers
Renton, WA
Karen Kuhn
Arabesque Jewelers, Inc.
High Ridge, MO
Miranda Kyger
Todd Reed
Boulder, CO
MaryAnne LaRussa
Futer Bros. Jewelers
York, PA
Heather Layman
Christopher & Co.
Champaign, IL
Robert Lurie
Robert Lurie Jewelry Evaluator
Cape Town, South Africa
Jennifer MacLeod
Perry’s Fine Jewelry
Charlotte, NC
Patrick McNeill
Garwood’s Jewelers
Fort Collins, CO
Doug Mitchell
UniQ Jewelry Gallery
Portage, MI
Babs Noelle
Alara Jewelry
Bozeman, MT
Phyllis Painter
Lesley Ann Jewels
Houston, TX
Scott Petit
Petit Jewelry Designs
Charleston, WV
Eric Phillips
Carats
Elk Rivet, MN
Dwayne Pierce
Gundersons
Omaha, NE
John Przeclawski
Monarch Jewelry
Winter Park, FL
Deb Rickman
Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers
Los Angeles, CA
Mark Ruby
SunSpirit Designs
Loveland, CO
Jordan Savage
Gunderson’s Jewelers
Omaha, NE
Noel Slack
G. Allan Jewelers
Minneapolis, MN
David Susong
Facets by Susong
Waterloo, IA
Robyn Tapley
Alexander and Lehnert Fine Jewelry
Asheville, NC
Barbra Voltaire
San Francisco Gem Lab
San Francisco, CA
George Ward
Ward’s Jewelers
Bonsall, CA
Janet Williams
Good Day Media
San Marcos, CA
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."
