Category #4
A Jeweler's Tidbit
 of Knowledge

      I have my store, Hunt Country Jewelers in Hillsboro, Va. Not the crossroads of Loudoun
County, perhaps, but this is also where my wife, family and I live. Not being content with just
buying and selling as most "jewelers" do, we choose to design and make our own gemstones and jewelry and that takes lots of time.
    Consumers have a difficult time these days finding jewelers who actually design and manufacture their own work. I too, have looked for such crafts people to hire so that I can expand my business, but to no avail. The crafts people I've found whom I consider very good are not from this region, very few in number, and, in general, not for hire.
    Other jewelers wouldn't agree with me, of course. If one believes the promotions and Yellow Pages ads, there is an original goldsmith in practically every store (or at least close by).
    I feel this is disingenuous at best. Virtually all jewelry sold today is manufactured by
independent companies who sell to as many jewelers as they can. And the trades people that
jewelers have "on the premises" do little more than everyday repairs. On good days they may
assemble pre-made components to set customers' stones into or make a basic box mounting for a non-standard size. They call this "custom" or "original" work.
    Our approach to original jewelry is quite different and we invite you to visit Hillsboro
and judge for yourself.  It is a lovely drive and considering where else one would have to travel to find these rare skills now-a-days, we are actually rather convenient.