True Tales: The Gallstone Necklace

Published

17 years ago

July 2, 2008

Here’s a bead stringing adventure I had about 15 years ago. A lady walked up to the counter with a zip lock baggie full of brownish-colored beads about a half inch in diameter. They were irregular in shape and had no holes for stringing. It seems that the lady had just been released from the hospital and before she left, the doctor handed her this bag full of the gall stones that he had removed from her gall bladder. You guessed it! I had to drill a hole in each one and string them onto a necklace for her to wear. They had the consistency of hard clay and were kind of fragile. The smell during the drilling process was less than desirable. My thought at the time was, “Who would want to wear something around their neck that would remind them of such a painful experience?”

DAVID B.,
PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA

Exceeding Every Expectation: How Wilkerson Helped d’Original Jewelers Achieve an Outstanding Retirement Sale

When David Rees decided to retire after 34 years of serving Bellevue, Washington’s Eastside, he and his wife knew their exit from d’Original Jewelers needed to honor their decades-long commitment to customers while meeting their financial goals. Since opening in 1990, David had built a reputation as one of the area’s most trusted names for diamonds, custom jewelry, and repairs. Understanding that a successful retirement sale requires more than just discounting merchandise, David chose Wilkerson to manage his transition. What impressed him most was their attention to detail, particularly in accounting and sales projections. The results far exceeded his expectations — the sale significantly outperformed projections, delivering exceptional financial results that surpassed his retirement goals. “They were always there for support. If we needed anything, they were able to accomplish that,” David shares. For jewelers contemplating retirement, David’s experience demonstrates Wilkerson’s proven ability to deliver outstanding results while providing comprehensive support throughout the entire process. His recommendation? “100% yes.”