Gem Quiz

Here’s the Answer to January’s Gem Quiz

And congratulations to the winner.

Published

1 year ago

February 1, 2024

INSTORE Staff

ANOTHER MONTH, ANOTHER garnet. The variety, features — and Gem Quiz potential — of garnets never cease to amaze. Last month it was hydrogrossular garnet, which to a casual observer can look strikingly like jadeite. But Thomas Wiggins of Werkheiser Jewelers in Bethlehem, PA wasn’t to be fooled. He correctly identified our mystery stone and wins this month’s Gem Geek t-shirt. Well done, Tom. And all our other readers who answered correctly. Keep an eye on this space. A new Gem Quiz will be posted soon.

Honorary Mentions

Autumn Abbott
Arizona Watch & Jewelry Service
Tucson, AZ

Stuart Adelman
Artelle Designs Fine Jewelry & Custom Design
Plymouth, MN

Ashley Biser
Billy Mitchell Jewelry
Moulton, AL

Tom Borowski
Gold Creations
Brookfield, WI

Denis Boulle
deBoulle
Dallas, TX

Heather Burleson
Burleson Valuations
Lexington, KY

Lisa-Marie Delgado
Gary J Long Jewelers
Stockton, CA

Laurel DiFelice
Westgate Jewelers
Bethlehem, PA

Katie Dye
J. David Jewelry
Tulsa, OK

Esolena Ericson
The Gem Shop
Santa Barbara, CA

Kristen Evangelista
North Star Fine Jewelry & Gift Boutique
Sarasota, FL

Junesse Farley
McNulty Jewelers in Black Forest
Black Forest, CO

Dena Forte
HSN/QVC
St Petersburgh, FL

Jean Grant Bayne
J.C. Grant Co.
Milledgeville, GA

Steve Glazer
Bob Richards Jewelers
Germantown, TN

Jonathan Hart
Karen’s Jewelers
Oak Ridge, TN

Marcy Higashi
Louis Anthony Jewelers
Pittsburgh, PA

Rachel Ingle
Vierk’s Fine Jewelry
Lafayette, IN

Michael Jakubowski
Gem Fanatic
Port Charlotte, FL

Kathy Jones
Diadem Jewelers
Greensboro, NC

Wesley King
Star Jewelers
Broken Arrow, OK

Amanda Kline
Scott & Co. Fine Jewelers
New Oxford, PA

Nanci Knott
Nanci Knott & Co
Mountainside, NJ

Karen Kuhn
Arabesque Jewelers
High Ridge, MO

Samantha Kwiatkowski
Straith’s Studio
Centralia, IL

Thomas LaGravinese
Tom LaGravinese Jewelers
Scottsdale, AZ

Cindy Lanoux
Pattons Fine Jewelry
Baton Rouge, LA

Troy Lob
Liberty Diamonds
Irvine, CA

Robert Lurie
Robert Lurie Jewellery Evaluator
Milnerton, Cape Town. Western Province, South Africa

Robert Mitchell
Nord Jewelers
Kalamazoo, MI

Tony Mohr
Tony Mohr
Wheat Ridge, CO

Mandy Mott
Greenleaf & Crosby
Palm Beach, FL

Steffanie O’Sullivan
Viir Fine Jewelry and Art
Tucson, AZ

Chris Patrick
Hannon Jewelers
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Katie Peck
Allure Designs
Bucyrus, OH

Connie Raby
Innsbruck Jewelers
Forest Lake, MN

Mark Rozanski
Goldart
Ottawa, Canada

Jennifer Sabrio
Pattons Fine Jewelry
Baton Rouge, LA

Julia Scott
Johannes Hunter Jewelers
Colorado Springs, CO

Kate Shay
Scott & Co Fine Jewelers
New Oxford, PA

Hailey Stockton
Lehua Jewelers
Kamuela, HI

Jennifer Sullivan
Goodman’s Jewelers
Madison, WI

Joshua Summers
Orin Jewelers
Northville, MI

Katrina Sustachek
Rasmussen Diamonds
Racine, WI

Leigh Taft
The Karat Patch Jewelers
Mobile, AL

Kandy Watters
Panowicz Jewelers
Olympia, WA

Brian Wilson
Royal Diadem Jewelers
Greensboro, NC

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.