On August 15, 2019, after over 35 years of working for a major jewelry company, I decided to open DW Gem Services LLC as Cheshire’s only “personal jeweler”. To say this year has been a challenge, is an understatement.  I am proud to say that I have survived  a pandemic and a tropical storm and I am looking forward to many more years serving the people of Cheshire and the surrounding community. I would be remis if I did not thank my wife, Jenifer, and my family and friends who believed in me.  My old and new customers...

It has been a long 9 weeks since we were forced to change the way we did business.  I hope this finds you all healthy and safe. Many people have asked how I got into the jewelry business. Most people who have been involved in the business long as long as I have were brought up in a family business.  I was not one of those.  I began working at a small local jewelry store in New Haven, Jerold's Jewelers, when I was 14 years old. I was cleaning their cases and windows, vacuuming, and setting up their stock shelving...

        I hope all of you are doing well. This is an unprecedented time in our lives. The world has come to a halt to fight a deadly illness.  Schools are teaching online, businesses have closed, restaurants have taken on a new role of take-out food, government in many cities and towns have stopped meeting, there are no sports to be watched and retail business has come to a stop.  Considering the way this virus is working, all of this makes sense.  We need to stay home and flatten the curve so we can get back to...

To my customers, friends, family and fellow citizens: I have decided to make this blog about you and what we are all dealing with.  Business is a secondary thought at this time. We are all experiencing the effects of this horrific virus, whether we are a healthcare worker, patient, first responder, grocery store employee, parent, student or child.  We are all in this together and we will come out of it better people. Unfortunately, we must abide by the online schooling, the closed restaurants and bars, and the home quarantine.  It isn’t a fun time, but we all must keep...

Diamonds and the 4C’s As we approach Valentine’s Day, I am sure there are some of you who are in the market to buy a diamond.  Congratulations to both of you and I wish you luck as you maneuver through the process of purchasing a diamond engagement ring. DW Gems, LLC is here to help guide you and teach you how to buy the best diamond for your money.  In this blog, I will go through the 4C’s and what they all mean.  As always, if you have more questions, please feel free to contact me. I have access to...

When a couple decides to make the ultimate commitment, it is usually sealed with an engagement ring.. The engagement ring is believed to date back to ancient times.  Anthropologists believe this tradition originated from a Roman custom in which wives wore rings attached to small keys, indicating their husbands' ownership. In 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned the very first diamond engagement ring on record for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy. This sparked a trend for diamond rings among European aristocracy and nobility. The sentimental Victorians (Mid 1800’s) popularized ornate engagement ring designs that mixed diamonds with other gemstones, precious...

            I am writing this blog as a thank you and to wish everyone the happiest of holidays. This has been a very busy year for me and I could not have gotten through it without the love and support of my wife, Jenifer, my kids, Cara and Patrick, and all of my friends and family.  Opening a new business is a scary thing to do when you have 2 kids in college and wife unable to work. Thankfully, I have been able to make it work and I am excited about the future. I...

By definition, estate jewelry is any pre-owned piece of jewelry. It could be a ring was created over 100 years ago or it can be a necklace that was purchased last week.  If it isn’t being sold as a newly manufactured item, then it is considered estate. You can break estate jewelry down into categories. You will have the antique pieces, which are items that were made over 100 years ago. You have period pieces, like Art Deco or Retro period that were made in the 20’s through the 40’s. And you have pre-owned, contemporary jewelry. These are items that...

As we observe another “”Small Business Shopping Day”, I am asking you to consider doing this every day versus just one day a year. Cheshire has so many wonderful unique local businesses whether it is R.W. Hine Ace Hardware, The Red Owl, Cheshire Sports Center or DW Gem Services LLC, along with some fabulous restaurants. They need your support to survive. As a new business owner in Cheshire, I have realized that many of my customers are people I know who live in town and know that I am not going anywhere, provided they continue to support my business.  Keep...

Shopping for a diamond can be a very scary thing. There are so many places you can go to, but how do you know you are getting what you pay for? TRUST! Trust in my business is probably the most important factor that should come into play. If you don’t trust the person you are working with, then you should not do business with them. So, where do you find that trust? There are the big chain stores that show you beautiful diamonds in their commercials, but when you go to their store you are typically shown lower quality diamonds...