Artisan Jewelers Gemstone & Mineral Gallery (Formerly Gem Factory) — Local services in Franklin

Poor communication and extremely long production time. I brought in a couple rubies and asked to have a pair of faceted earrings made on October 1st. I specifically said I didn't want them cut into cabochons. They said they would see what they could do and would call if they ran into any issues. They also said their production time was around 6 weeks. She didn't give any cost estimate until I asked and she said about $15 to cut the stone and $15 for each of the sterling silver settings. In early November, I decided to switch the metal to gold instead of silver. I called to ask what the cost would be and if I'd caught them in time to make the change. I was told that it would be about $80 for gold and that I'd receive a call back once she'd checked with the jeweler if there was time to switch. Several days later, I called back to see what the deal was, and the jeweler told me he couldn't find them, but he'd call back after speaking with his assistant who was on lunch. Two days later I called back, starting to get worried because Thanksgiving had come and gone and they still weren't done. I was told that they'd been under some papers and they'd ordered the gold settings. Settings would be in within a few business days and they should be set and complete shortly after that. A week after the setting had been in without a word, I dropped in. I was told that they'd been set but not polished. The gal at the front pulled them for me to see and my heart dropped. They'd been cut into cabochons. After waiting 10.5 weeks and Christmas 10 days away, I found out they were wrong. The woman asked if I could come back later that day to get them after they were polished, and I said I'd just grab them the next morning. The next morning, I come in and asked why they hadn't been cut faceted like I'd asked and was told the stone hadn't lended itself to that cut. Wish I'd known that because I would have stuck with the sterling setting. Oh. And they hadn't been polished. I was asked to come back in about an hour. Two and a half hours later, I came back and the jeweler said, "I just finished them." Great. So, he rung me up and the total was $185. That was twice what I'd expected/been told, but I just wanted it over with and paid. I should also mention that he planned to sell them to me in a plastic bag and I had to ASK for a box. So, nearly 11 weeks and $200 later, I have a beautiful piece of jewelry that I didn't order to give my mom...

I started going to see Chris at Artisan in the spring of this year. He was recommended by several local mines. The one thing that struck me right off the bat is that Chris did not want to cut anything that would have poor value. The first time I went to see Chris with a bag full of minerals---there was absolutely nothing that he would even attempt because the value would be less than the cost of the cut. What makes that unique is that several places will offer to cut a stone for you, regardless of what it will be worth or look like. Other places may substitute an already cut stone. This is not how Chris operates! He is so honest that he turns down more stones to cut than he accepts.

I have had several stones cut at Artisan but the real telling story is that I have had hundreds of stones that he has refused to cut for quality reasons. The stones that I did have cut returned good value and look fantastic! What's more, he gets to know his customers and knew exactly what I liked and wanted. Example: He knows that I am not fond of smokey quartz, and skips over even the best quality smokey quartz in my daughter's bag, saying, "I know how your father feels about smokey quartz." He remembers even after a limited number of visits.

The highest praise I can give to a business is to take my own, close, personal friends there to do business. My friends are important to me, so when I bring them to a business--you know I trust the business. I trust Chris with my friends' minerals, my family's minerals and my minerals. He has yet to disappoint me.

Absolutely the best lapidary in...

For a few years now I have driven almost 4 hours round trip to have Chris cut stones for me. I do this for a few reasons. He is honest, focused on customer satisfaction, and a work ethic that shines through every stone. He always walks me through the process and while I am sure he could take full advantage of me and cut anything and everything I bring him to make more $$$...he doesn't. He guides me through and evaluates every stone. There have been times I walk out and have nothing cut at all despite the fact I walked in with several stones and willing to pay to have them cut. I trust Chris and recommend him highly to anyone reading this review. I am to the point now I just ask him to do what he thinks is best for the stone and I have never been let down. I just picked up some small items he cut and set for my daughter who is turning 1soon. He did an amazing job and created an heirloom for us to share with her. While I know I am not the most frequent customer or one that spends the most money Chris has never made me feel anything less than that. My only regret is there are only 5 stars and not more...