Hannah Allene Designs Inc. (First Place)
Vitalis Aurora Drop earrings in 18K satin-finished rose gold with removable 20 mm by 16 mm cultured baroque freshwater pink pearls and Malaya garnets (0.45 TCW), $12,750
Robin Callahan Designs LLC (Second Place)
Nova ring in 14K white gold with a 13.9 mm cultured Australian white pearl with pink sapphires, amethyst, Rhodolite garnet, London blue topaz and Tsavorite garnets (5.06 TCW for all gems), $26,300
Heath London Jewelry (Third Place)
Pink Palace earrings in 18K yellow gold are 80 mm in length with 13.5 – 14.0 mm pink cultured freshwater pearls, pink spinel (107.13 TCW), rubellite tourmaline (12.43 TCW) and diamonds (0.80 TCW), $22,000
Roger’s Jewelry Co. (Retailer’s Choice)
Pearl Whirl pendant necklace in 18K white and yellow gold features a 9mm Tahitian pearl and burnish-set diamonds (0.47 TCW) while gravitationally spinning independently inside a filigree half sphere with a counterweight so it spins while worn, showing four different designs and orientations, $11,000
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.
