Snowed - but open!

Boy did we get snowed this week! As soon as we had gotten ourselves out from under the first blast, Tuesday comes and hits us again. We even had to close on Wednesday and last Saturday! The Baltimore Business Journal was not above noticing the adverse effect this may have on businesses, including ourselves:

Ron Samuelson, owner of Samuelson’s Diamonds in Baltimore, said shoppers are maxed out after Christmas shopping already, and doesn’t expect to gain a lot of Valentine’s Day business. Samuelson recalled the weekend in December before Christmas Day, when snow hurt retailers looking to gain from the last-minute shopper.

“Now it’s a double whammy, and downtown is pretty bad,” Samuelson said. His West Baltimore Street store was closed Wednesday.

Last Saturday was the first day Samuelson had ever closed the store, he said.

Undaunted, though, we’re back! And our Fans on Facebook may have heard:

we’re open for business. the main roads are fine so come on down and say hi, free beer and MAJOR discounts if you do!

We’re just sayin’ – if you’re in the ‘hood, don’t be shy. And if you’re not in the neighborhood, there’s really not much else to do once you’re done digging out.

All of this is to let you know that our own Ron Samuelson will be speaking at the Monday Pre-Show Conference in an exciting session called “Social Media – Myth or Miracle?“.  Smart Jewelry Show is scheduled for four days from the 23rd of April to the 26th, and Ron will be speaking the morning of the 26th.

More details to come!

Ron Samuelson may be the most unromantic jeweler in America.

“We don’t sell strictly on romance,” he says. “[Samuelson's Diamonds] gives you good values. We’re real guys and we talk and educate people about diamonds.”

For Samuelson, buying a rock is a sensible decision. “Diamonds are a commodity, and that’s what [consumers] should be taught. Getting engaged is a special time in someone’s life, but diamonds are also a product and have value in the marketplace, and that’s what we should be telling people. Consumers are getting over fancy-schmancy brands; people are over the blue box and want to get a good deal. I think that most guys who are buying a diamond engagement ring are not as concerned with romance as they are with getting an honest deal.”

Check out these unromantic videos if you want some ideas…

Even the French don’t buy into that romance stuff!

If you have done these things with your wife or girlfriend, give us a call – you’ll need to get her some diamonds to get you out of the doghouse!

I think we can all take a lesson from the one of Baltimore’s most storied and gifted athletes. Not that he needs the money, but with a huge opportunity in front of him, he has chosen to “ride the wave” of his fame where it makes the most sense. With the US sending so much of its business to China in the last 10 years, the Peoples Republic has seen economic growth beyond imagination. They have the resources to continue consuming at an increased rate. Mazda knows that and so does Michael. So, for those of us trying to either make ends meet or capitalize on business opportunities, be like Mike. Look outside your narrow world and find places where spending is still growing, or at least not drying up. For us, that means capitalizing on the availability of diamonds and fine jewelry from suppliers that are eager to move inventory, and then passing those great deals on to our customers. And remember, Michael Phelps didn’t win 8 Gold Medals by himself. It took teamwork. So use the networks and friends you have to find help and support in your business endeavors. Get on Facebook (if you aren’t already), send emails, whatever it takes to stay in touch and stay relevant. I wish you all the best of luck in these challenging times!

I’m Ron Samuelson, third generation here at Samuelson’s Diamonds. This is my first post on our company blog. Please check out my personal blog, RambleOnRon, for well, more personal stuff. Anyway, I want to talk about what I look for in a diamond when I’m buying in order to help you when it’s your turn to look at some stones. I was reading a great article about Francois Curiel, head of Christie’s international jewelry division. He talks about how the financial crisis impacts diamonds, large diamonds in particular. What really struck me the most is what he says here:

Question: What makes a stone great?

Answer: “Its ideal proportions, its life and whether it talks to you or not. We had a group of young gemological students come to our New York viewing in October. We sat them behind the showcases, like real professionals, so that they could examine the diamonds. What struck me was that the first thing they did when they picked up a stone was to loupe it. I smiled because this is what I did when I started in the business and this is what all gemological schools teach you to do. When one gets a bit older, the loupe comes second and one first looks at the diamond in one’s hand. Do I like it? Even though the proportions might not be perfect by GIA [Gemological Institute of America] standards, do I want to own this stone? Ten people look at a gem, 11 opinions. So, what makes a stone great? Your eye and appreciation of it.”

This really hits home to me because we have so many customers who are very concerned about what the stone looks like on paper- the depth, table, girdle, culet, since they read so much about these factors online. Well, guess what? They don’t mean anything. You’re buying a diamond, not a piece of laminated paper. Look at the beauty of the stone, how it reflects light, what it says to you. Here at Samuelson’s, we buy diamonds, not paper.

Take a look at this video of Francois Curiel auctioning a massive 100-carat diamond at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong that sold for a whopping $6 million.

Christie’s Auction 101 Carat Diamond from Samuelson’s Diamonds on Vimeo.