Hold Divorce Workshops
MAKE MADE Jewelry in Greenville, SC (America’s Coolest Stores, March 2021), has hosted wedding band workshops for years in addition a variety of jewelry making workshops. The store recently introduced divorce workshops to remake gold and diamond wedding rings while experiencing the “healing power of hammering, torching, melting and redesigning old jewelry into a beautiful new design,” says co-owner Danielle Miller-Gilliam.
Connect Your Divorced Customers
Karen Hollis, owner of K. Hollis Jewelers in suburban Chicago, sells more than jewelry — she builds communities. “I like to fix people up to hang out,” she says. “When we opened, my goal was to make three new friends a day — and I do!” A self-proclaimed networking machine, Hollis keeps a notebook labeled Fun People, packed with names to invite to events. Many of her custom clients are divorced or widowed women. “I’ve got a single ladies page and a widowed ladies page,” she laugh. In Hollis’s mind, she runs not just a jewelry store – but a social club.
Turn It Into Something(s) New
Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski, whose toi-et-moi engagement ring helped kick off the style’s resurgence, last year turned that iconic sparkler into not one, but two Divorce Rings. Designed by Alison Lou — the same NYC jeweler behind the original — the reimagined pieces give breakup bling a whole new vibe.
The original ring paired a pear-shaped diamond with a princess cut, totaling around 5 carats. Now, the pear sits tilted atop a yellow gold pinky ring (because nothing says “I’m single” like a power pinky), while the princess cut is flanked by trapezoid side stones on a separate gold band.
In an interview with Vogue, Ratajkowski said, “I don’t think a woman should be stripped of her diamonds just because she’s losing a man,” adding that the new rings represent her “personal evolution.” Turns out, the best way to move on is with a little re-cut and a lot of sparkle.
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.
