Henne Jewelers — Local services in Pittsburgh

I came to Henne in April 2023 to repurpose my grandmother’s wedding band and engagement ring as a gift for my mother for my wedding in August 2023. The rings were too small for her fingers and so my grandmother gave me these years and years ago since they didn’t fit my mom. My mom had no idea of this surprise and her father (my grandfather) passed away a few months after I was born, so this was extremely special to her.

I had brought a bunch of old gold jewelry to scrap to cover the cost of the repurposing and a diamond to mount to the center of the two rings that had a gold band to scrap. The first meeting with Madison was to design the new ring. Ultimately, we were not changing much - just resizing and adding a diamond. She seemed to understand the ask.

We waited several weeks and they called to say we could come in and pick up the ring. Upon coming in, we met with a different person than Madison. He was assuming we were just paying out of pocket when I reminded him of the scrap value going towards the ring. He searched and had no idea what I was talking about. I insisted we wait until Madison was in to pay. Upon seeing the new ring, I tried it on, and realized they mounted the diamond to the wrong ring. These two rings are identical, however, they need to be stacked in a certain way to be flush. They didn’t check for this and put it on the wrong ring. They covered the cost to fix it but it took the same amount of time as the original (4-6 weeks). Luckily, we approached them months before our actual wedding date with all these delays.

Once finished with the fixes, Madison later called to tell us to come in on a specific day when she was working. We came in and got the gold appraisal as well. She pulled out all the old jewelry that I had provided but the gold band to the mounted diamond was not in the pile, which I also wanted to scrap. She went to look and couldn’t find or access it. We had to come back again another day because the appraiser (maybe) had it locked up in his office.

Finally, we came back to pick up the ring and obtain our scrap cash. Of course this was with a third person that I haven’t met with before. But, I tried it on, all good and well - we left.

Come day of the wedding, my mom cried, she loved it, etc. However, after wearing it the day of the wedding, two small diamonds got lost. Of course she was devastated, and didn’t want me to take on the cost of this after paying for the original repurposing. Note that we did not have a crazy wedding nor is she the type of person to flair her hands around.

She went upon herself to take it to a different jeweler who questioned the integrity of Henne given that they didn’t put this “industry standard” coating on the rings to 1. Make them shinier 2. Lock in or seal the diamonds in. She had to pay another couple of hundred dollars out of pocket because of Henne’s lack of professionalism and quality.

I personally will never go back to Henne for any repurposing needs. They did not make this process easy or fun in any way (which was supposed to be a nice surprise for my mother).

Pic 1: First pick up Pic 2: Second pick up after fix Pic 3: After my mom got it fixed by...

I brought Marla a family heirloom diamond ring that my soon-to-be husband had used to propose. It was a rather dated cocktail ring that I had gotten resized by a jeweler in Baltimore in order to wear. It had a beautiful Marquise-cut diamond in the center surrounded by a spray of tapered baguette-cut diamonds in a ballerina setting. It was a little high-profile and not quite my style BUT I still wanted to make it work.

However, within hours of wearing it for the first time on Christmas Eve, one of two prongs that held the center diamond caught on my sweater and the stone was on the bathroom floor. Thank goodness it didn’t go down the toilet. Needless to say, picking up my diamond off the ground was not my idea of a good Christmas present.

At that point, I knew the ring needed a full rehaul. Yes, I could have simply put it back exactly the way it was, held on by two small metal prongs, and risk losing it again. But the second it fell off, I felt I had an opportunity for a truly unique custom piece. I wanted something elegant, wearable, that used the stones from the original ring, but was utterly my own. Thus began my journey with Marla at Henne Jewelers.

I went to Henne one winter’s day with my friend and brought the ring in pieces (after running around my house in a panic looking for it; it had been sitting in a box somewhere since who-knows-when, since you can’t exactly wear a ring with no diamond in it) and asked for help. I can’t state enough how lucky we were that Marla was the one to see us.

We sat down with Marla and I explained my conundrum. She couldn’t believe that the spot in Baltimore (I won’t name names, they are a sweet and long-running establishment) let me walk away with such a flimsy setting and we said again how lucky it was that I could recover the stone. I said I really didn’t wear much jewelry, I am not a girly girl and all that. I explained that my hobbies included cooking, gardening, and other outdoor activities so I needed something immensely wearable and secure.

I also mentioned that I went to the previous jewelers with my dad and fiancée. They wanted to support me but it wasn’t exactly an in-depth design session; it was much more functional, since we were just getting it resized. In contrast, we sat with Marla for over an hour, just talking about ways to repurpose the stones, especially looking at reusing the many small tapered baguettes into a row. She suggested lining them up head to toe, which is what we ended up doing. The other jeweler (no hate, but I can’t help but contrast my experience) was very worried about taking the ring apart because they didn’t want to damage it. Versus my experience at Henne, where they said the...

An Exceptional Experience at Henne Jewelers - 5 Stars!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Henne Jewelers, and I am delighted to share my outstanding experience with everyone. From the moment I walked into the store, I was greeted with warm smiles and genuine enthusiasm. It was instantly clear that Henne Jewelers prides itself on providing exceptional customer service.

I was assisted personally by John Henne. John took the time to understand my needs and preferences for a special occasion ring. His expertise and passion for his craft were evident as he guided me through the wide selection of stunning pieces available in the store.

One thing that truly impressed me was how John paid attention to even the smallest details about the occasion and the person I was purchasing the ring for. He incorporated these insights seamlessly into his recommendations, ensuring that the ring I chose would truly be a meaningful and unique symbol of my affection.

The level of personalized attention I received was second to none. John patiently answered all my questions and provided valuable insights and advice, allowing me to make an informed decision. His professionalism and dedication to ensuring my complete satisfaction were truly exceptional.

Beyond the exceptional service, the quality of the jewelry at Henne Jewelers is remarkable. They offer a wide range of exquisite designs, and each piece exudes elegance and craftsmanship. The attention to detail and the use of high-quality materials make Henne Jewelers a haven for those seeking only the finest jewelry.

Furthermore, the ambiance of the store added to the overall experience. It was a luxurious space that felt inviting and comfortable, allowing me to browse with ease and fully appreciate the beauty of the jewelry. The friendly staff members were always ready to assist, creating a welcoming atmosphere that made me feel valued as a customer.

In conclusion, my visit to Henne Jewelers was nothing short of exceptional. I cannot express enough gratitude to John Henne for his expertise, guidance, and personalized service throughout the entire process. The ring I purchased exceeded all my expectations and was met with pure joy when I presented it. If you're in search of the perfect piece of jewelry for any occasion, I wholeheartedly recommend Henne Jewelers. Their exquisite collection, exceptional customer service, and impeccable attention to detail make them truly deserving of a five-star rating.

Thank you, Henne Jewelers, for an unforgettable...