Valerie and Manoli Savvenas
After being in the jewelry business for 33 years I asked myself this question. What does jewelry mean to me? I am around jewelry all of the time and I love it and I understand the investment and intrinsic value but…..mostly…
I remember my MOM buying me my first diamond ring when I was 6…she did this for all of the girls. We were poor…I guess that is the right word for it, although I didn’t know we were poor. My parents were divorced and we lived with my wonderful Grandparents. But that ring was something special. I lost it many years later but the memory and meaning is still with me.
I remember buying my own real 14 karat opal earrings after I had my first real job at 18.
Manoli & I walked Bergenline Ave in Union City, New Jersey looking for wedding bands back in 1973. He was a pro. wrestler back then and not back into the jewelry business….yet. We purchased plain milgrain edged bands for our wedding. We still have them.
I remember him trying his best to hide my 2 carat diamond ring from me until we could get to Greece and give it to me on our tenth anniversary. He gave it to me on a balcony overlooking the Agean Sea in Rhodes, Greece. I still wear that diamond today…28 years later. I have remounted it a few times since then.
So I remember those early purchases and milestones and I think that is the most important part about jewelry…the memories.
What do you think? Think about it….and feel free to comment. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Manoli’s Jewelers 2700 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield, MO 65804
417.882.0394