dolma jewelry

Two years ago, when I graduated from college and decided to start my own business, America’s healthy financial appetite was more than gracious. Women were lining up to host pearl parties- and their friends were grabbing jewelry by the handfuls-for gifts or for themselves. The sheer joy on our customers’ eyes when they found that perfect, most wonderful piece made my for-profit endeavor appear almost charitable.

The buzz words were: “what a deal”.

You see, I sell the same pearls that all the other guys sell, but I go to China myself, bargain in Chinese, and hand pick every single pearl. I design the jewelry, oversee the making, and return to the United States with arms full of precious gems ready for adoption. And I price our product so that everyman can have them.

Now, the otherman, who was richer two years ago, is looking for that everyman deal. As wallets are thinner, Americans are recognizing the difference between value and price- and turning to dolma.

But we’ve been inexpensive since the beginning- before it was fashionable to discount. We’ve always believed that price was a poor reflection of value.

And even though we are “a deal” we do at times see reluctance in our buyers.

When my dolma-esteem is low, I call my voicemail. Saved in my mailbox is a message from a client in Miami: an elderly woman that commissioned us to restring a few pieces, and add an arthritic-friendly magnetic clasp to each strand. She called me after receiving a package from us, and I can hear her grinning from ear to ear on the message. She said: “Thank you. You have made me so happy. All of the things you have done for me and fixed for me. I am so grateful.”

That message, after a long, discouraging day, reminds me why I began my business. It’s not the price- it’s the passion, the joy, the excitement that simple luxuries evoke.  I can see her, smiling in the grocery store, wearing her pearls. I can see myself, in 60 years, having the same restringing commissioned.

And now that we are fashionable in our pricing, I am still able to see the joy of simple luxuries. Buyers are choosing us over the other, pricier competition, but I just thought that you should know: dolma has always wanted everyone to have pearls. We’ve always been inexpensive. We’ve always put value before price.