Shelly Isacco of Joden Jewelers in Grove City, PA, wins this month’s “Jewelry Geek” T-shirt.
And congratulations to our winner.
For our August Gem Quiz, we described a gemstone that brings to mind a favorite summer fruit.
We noted that it comes in more colors than pink and green — indeed its gemological family is the king of hue — but is best known for this pairing.
And the answer is: Watermelon Tourmaline.
Congratulations to this month’s Gem Quiz winner, Shelly Isacco of Joden Jewelers in Grove City, PA, who will receive a “Jewelry Geek” T-shirt.
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“That would definitely be watermelon tourmaline,” Isacco said, adding: “One of my gemstone pet peeves is when people call bi-colored tourmaline watermelon just because it is green and pink. No sir (or ma’am)! The green must go ALL the way around the pink.”
And Honorable Mentions to the following for providing the correct answer:
- Allan Altman, Altman Appraisals, Dallas, GA
- Robb Arbour, Tapper’s Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, West Bloomfield, MI
- Doug Barthel, Auriginal Design, Metamora, MI
- Buddy Bear, Buddy Bear Jeweler, Merion Station, PA
- Kayla Bell, Riddle’s Jewelry, Brookings, SD
- Ilene Bornstein, Cooper Jewelers, Woburn, MA
- Mary Brockschink, Jared The Galleria of Jewelry, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Laurel Buck, A &A Jewellery, Estevan, SK, Canada
- John Buechner, John Buechner, Inc., Chicago, IL
- Chantell Bury, Alara Jewelry, Bozeman, MT
- Rachel Carver, Marks Jewelers, Lawrence, KS
- Bryan Cavitt, Images Jewelers, Elkhart, IN
- Dan Deans, Asurion, Sterling, VA
- Greg DeMark, Greg DeMark, Longmont, CO
- Robert Diamante, Todd Reed Inc., Boulder, CO
- Jayesh Doshi, Jayesh Doshi, NY
- Rachel Ennari, Westgate Jewelers, Bethlehem, PA
- W. Scott Falconer, Donald Haack Diamonds, Charlotte, NC
- Dolly Fotta, Dickinson Jewelers, Prince Frederick, MD
- Birgitta Frisk, Ädla Stenar Birgitta Frisk, Stockholm
- Laura Garabedian, William Crow Jewelry, Denver, CO
- Candace George, Bill’s Jewelers, Thibodaux, LA
- CJ Grad, Caffray Jewellers, Hinsdale, IL
- Peter Hannes IV, Koehn and Koehn, West Bend, WI
- Mary Hayford, Goulds Diamonds and Jewelry, Anoka, MN
- Selma Heikkinen, Fairbank and Perry Goldsmiths, Concord, MA
- Andrew Hetland, McKendree Jewelers, Grand Rapids, MI
- Lyndsay Hirsch, Parade Design, Monrovia, CA
- Erica Hollar, Sands Company Jewelers, Richmond Heights, OH
- Todd Huebner, Josephs Jewelers, Des Moines, IA
- Gary Hurdle, Casa de Oro Jewelers, Corpus Christi, TX
- Nimet Jetha, Bijouterie Elysee, Pointe Claire, Quebec
- Kathy Jenkins, Bravo Jewellers, Carlsbad, CA
- Karen Jirsa, Village Goldsmith, Inc., Estes Park, CO
- Emily Justice, Lamon Jewelers, Knoxville, TN
- Victoria Kelley, Tory’s Jewelry, Marblehead, MA
- Marcia Kertel, Letrek Jewelry, Las Vegas, NV
- Elizabeth Kittell, Pretty In Patina, Omaha NE
- Kelly Klose, Images Jewelers, Elkhart, IN
- Jamie Knight, Whidby Jewelers, Madison, GA
- Karen Kuhn, Arabesque Jewelers, Inc., High Ridge, MO
- Robin Laughlin, Wiford Jeweler Inc., Sidney, OH
- MaryAnne LaRussa, Veleska Jewelry, Lancaster, PA
- James Levinson, James Levinson, Inc., New York City, NY
- Stephanie Lucas, Pounder’s Jewelry, Spokane, WA
- Robert Lurie, Robert Lurie Jewelry Evaluator, Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa
- Chris Marshall, Marshall Jewelry, Gillette, WY
- Elizabeth Menard, Romm Diamonds, Brockton, MA
- Gary Mills, Pineforest Jewelry Inc., Houston, TX
- Yasuhiro Mori, Utsunomiya, Japan
- Jerrod Nutt, Thacker Jewelry, Lubbock, TX
- Allison Osborn, Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry, Los Angeles, CA
- Sara G. Pekel, W.R. Chance Diamond Jewelers, Annapolis, MD
- Penny Penn, Blue Marlin Jewelry, Islamorada, FL
- Eric Phillips, Carats by Eric, Elk River, MN
- Ely Pisco, Panowicz Jewelers, Olympia, WA
- Charles Pollak, Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair, Victor, NY
- Lisette Pringle, Reeds Jewelers, Myrtle Beach SC
- Teresa Pureber, Hyde Park Jewelers, Denver, CO
- Amelie Robitaille, Identity Diamonds, Austin TX
- Lisa Roman, Studio Jewelers, Madison, WI
- Mark Ruby, SunSpirit Designs, Loveland, CO
- Julie Rybacki, Bling It Around Again, Weston, WI
- Challie Samaras, Zachary’s Jewelers, Annapolis, MD
- Jim Saylor, Jim Saylor Jewelers, Kapaa, HI
- Janna Shaffer, Kay Jewelers, Effingham, IL
- Dottie Sheth, Lika Behar Collection, Carlstadt, NJ
- Mary-Jane Smith, Gary K. Jewelers, Madison, AL
- Roxane Sobie, Bauble Patch Jewelers, Comstock Park, MI
- Donna Soodalter-Toman, DIVA, Gloucester, MA
- Eric H Stall, Stall Jewelers, Round Rock, TX
- Jenni Stuart, Laura Preshong Ethical Fine Jewelry, Boston, MA
- Mary Van Buer, Expressions Jewelers, Davenport, IA
- Evelin Wharram, Wharram’s Jewellery, Leamington, Ontario
- Ken Whipple, Park City Jewelers, Park City UT
- Randy Wiese, 456 Designs by RC, Fort Wayne, IN
- Janet Williams, Good Day Media, San Marcos, CA
- Brittany LaCombe
Look out for the next Gem Quiz in our Sept. 1 daily bulletin.
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.
