When Sentiment Meets Practicality:

A Special Afternoon Visit

It was a quiet afternoon at Gillian’s Jewellery when a lovely couple stepped into our shop. Gently unfolding a small piece of paper, they eagerly showed San, our jeweller and owner, a carefully sketched ring design. Their excitement was clear, but there was more to their story—they wanted to incorporate their existing gold wedding band into the new ring design, highlighting the deep sentimental value it held for them.

Understanding the Craftsmanship

San carefully examined their design and discussed the intricate details. She openly shared that the beautifully complex pattern, combined with the mix of yellow and white gold, would normally require extensive handmade craftsmanship, potentially leading to high costs. She walked them through exactly why custom handmade jewellery could be expensive—time, meticulous labour, and the artisan skill required to ensure perfection.

Recognising True Value

The couple nodded thoughtfully, appreciative of San’s honesty and transparency. They then revealed they had previously visited another jewellery store, which had provided a quote and assured them they could reuse their wedding band at a significantly lower cost. But after San explained the detailed process involved, the couple quickly realised that the other jeweller was unlikely to genuinely incorporate their gold in the way they’d hoped.

Our Thoughtful Solution

Convinced by San’s sincerity and depth of knowledge, the couple eagerly requested a quote from us instead. A few days later, San called them personally, sharing a carefully prepared quote designed specifically to honour their request, respect their sentimental gold, and manage their budget.

San’s solution was both creative and thoughtful. She recommended using advanced CAD software for the intricate middle design, allowing the piece to be cast efficiently and cost-effectively. For the side bands, San suggested precisely using their own beloved wedding band gold, reshaped into simple, elegant side accents. This combined approach—partly handmade and partly using CAD—beautifully balanced the couple’s design vision, sentimental value, and budget.

Delight and Satisfaction

The couple was overjoyed, immediately accepting the quote and returning to Gillian’s Jewellery to place a deposit. Their relief and happiness were evident—they genuinely appreciated being able to reuse their cherished gold and loved the practical approach that helped them keep costs down.

The Power of Reviews

As San was completing the paperwork, she asked casually about how they discovered Gillian’s Jewellery. Unsurprisingly, the couple smiled and answered, “Google Reviews!” They spoke warmly about the authenticity and detailed gratitude in our customer reviews, which resonated strongly with them.

Then San, with a smile, mentioned a negative one-star Google review the store had recently received. Laughing gently, the couple said they’d actually read that very review. The husband mentioned specifically how much he admired San’s calm and professional response to what was clearly an unfair, even abusive, review. It was this professional and genuine approach in responding to criticism, he said, that truly convinced him Gillian’s Jewellery was trustworthy.

Our Commitment

Their experience reinforced what Gillian’s Jewellery always aims to deliver—not just expertly crafted jewellery, but genuine honesty, heartfelt connection, and thoughtful solutions that respect both sentimentality and practicality.