The Village Jeweler — Attraction in Gainesville

First, this jewelry store has complimentary beer and wine, which makes me feel WAY LESS AWKWARD when my wife is shopping here. I said that up front because 90% of the people who read this won't get any further - so the part you yokels care about is out there.

Second, this story is going to challenge whether I'm allowed to carry a man card anymore, but it deserves to be told - because the family and the young man creating masterpieces at this store deserve recognition.

My wife and I initially went here because she wanted to appraise the emerald in her engagement ring. Her ring has 4 pointy things instead of a bezel thingy, which makes it catch on things. While we were waiting on the appraisal, the sales woman gave me some coffee (I eyeballed the wine, but didn't know if it was for show or not), and we struck up a conversation about why I wear silicone rings or nothing. I'd expressed interest in a destructible ring to protect my finger in case of accident. I ended up impulse buying a (Seranite?) ring, robbing some money out of my wife's "I want a new ring" fund.

This is where the story gets interesting. As it turns out, the young man who works there - Harrison - and this is a family business - is an honest-to-goodness artisan. Not a "I work in a retail store selling jewelry" kind of person, but an actual "I-went-to-school-to-get-my-degree-in-gemology" and has some rarified talents, distilled into a series of difficult to obtain artisan certicates that he's an actual artist. Imagine a highly skilled machinist who is certified as a master lathe operator. Who went to school to learn about gemstones, how to work them...the whole nine yards.

My wife and I are both video gamers. My whole life, I've enjoyed Swords and Potions, Shopkeeper, Moonlighter, Stardew Valley - games that let you be a shopkeeper, or an artisan, or an alchemist, and MAKE things. I literally go home after hard day's work, and PRETEND TO BE THIS GUY because I don't have the talent to actually be like him.

My wife loves the Zelda franchise. Harrison designed a ring from scratch to use the emerald she was having appraised out of the setting she didn't like, and designed an incredible masterpiece of Zelda artwork, replete with shrine stones in a triforce. I was going to post a picture of it with this review and she is so possessive of it that she has forbidden me. :(

Anyway...before this gets too long...when people think of jewelry stores, we tend to think of the retail stores where fake people sell overpriced merchandise that someone else made because they depend on commission to supplement their minimum wage. They don't make anything, they have no imagination, they just know how to sell something that someone else made, and try to make it sound like you're not getting ripped off.

I have never even conceived of a place like this. Go in, have a drink, pet their dogs, and let an amazing artist with the creative ability to turn your ideas into a physical manifestation...

Over the last few years I've had some repairs done, watch bands replaced, etc. and always had a good experience. Everyone I've interacted with has been equally pleasant and helpful. Then I got engaged and needed the ring sized, so my fiance and I went back to do that and start looking at bands. I was hoping they wouldn't need to keep it for too many days because I was so excited to show my friends and family the ring, and when I asked how long it would take, they said they would size it for me right then. Took no more than 30 min, and it was a small gesture that meant the world to me. About a week later they had a grand opening event where there was a DJ, Swamp Head beer on tap, snacks, and 60% off (!) some of the pieces. I got a great deal on my wedding band and bridesmaid gifts that night. We look forward to going back for my fiance's band as well. Basically love this place and won't to go to any other...

My father left me a ring and I needed to get it polished. I took it here and the young man behind the counter (who was obviously knowledgeable) told me a little about the ring and proceeded to polish it.

The ring turned out BEAUTIFUL. He even helped tighten a diamond that was loose. I really wish I took before and after photos because this ring is gold and it already had a cool look to it but once it was polished it looked brand new. The diamonds are brighter now too he must have cleaned them.....AND they serve beer or wine while you shop.....

I recommend this place to anyone needing jewelry service. I wasnt in the market to buy anything new and the selection seemed limited for the size of the store but for what I came in for it was a PERFECT experience. I may actually come and get some more rings polished just to go to this...