Remembering Our Mothers….. 

If she’s around, tell her you love her. Or you could send her a card, Skype, email, text, call, visit, or just surprise her. And if she has passed, share a funny memory with those that should remember her forever. Happy Mother’s Day! 

What a gorgeous ring !!

Just finished this beautiful Swiss Blue Topaz custom designed ring, and had to show it to you.  Like other big designers, this is truly an outstanding jewelry creation.  What do you think ??

Come see our newly renovated store!  Many new designs, and you will be supporting small business – the backbone of the US economy.  See everyone Saturday.

Yesterday was amazing – wonderful stories came with each piece we took in.  Melissa from Silver Renaissance will be here today until 5 pm., so if you get a chance to bring in your silver pieces, she will be glad to evaluate them for you.  And pass this along to your FB friends and family.  Have a great weekend.

You will also love saving 20% on silverplating and polishing during this 2-day event!  So gather up your old silver today, and we’ll see you in our store Friday or Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm!

IT’S BACK!!!!!

Renaissance Silver Restoration is returning to Goodheart’s Jewelry.  For two days, their experts will be at our store to provide free recommendations and estimates on the repairing and refinishing of your sterling and silverplated heirlooms, letting you know if they can be (or should be) restored.

You will love entertaining again with your family silver or just having it restored to pass on to the next generation. You’ll also love saving 20% on silverplating and polishing during this special 2-day event! So gather up your old silver pieces today.

Mark your calendars for Friday, July 15th and Saturday, July 16th at our store located at 7040 West 105th St. in Overland Park, KS (in the courtyard behind Pier One Imports or Buffalo Wild Wings).  We will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm both days.

Please feel free to pass this information along to your friends or business associates. We look forward to seeing you July 15th and 16th.

Daylight Savings Time – Be sure to turn your clock’s forward this Sunday, March 13^th at 2 am. (Spring forward, fall back).  See you all soon. Alan & Bruce G.

 _____________________________________

6 Things You Should NEVER Buy Used

(Originally published By Kathryn Elizabeth Tuggle – 3/14/11 – Fox Business).

The weak economy has many cash-strapped consumers opting to purchase items secondhand, but buyers beware: Not all items are fit to be purchased used.

“When the economy first bottomed out, a lot of people shopped resale for the first time,” says Adele Meyer, executive director of National Association of Resale Professionals. “And once they get that first bargain, they’re hooked, there’s a real thrill to finding something that you get such a good buy on.”

Members of the NARTS, which include resale boutiques and secondhand stores nationwide, reported a 12.7% growth in net sales in 2010.

From shopping at the Goodwill to picking up a discarded item on a street corner, finding gently-used items can save a lot of money. However, some items are better purchased new no matter what the cost savings.

We asked experts for the top six items you should never buy used, because they might end up costing you more in the long run.

Mattresses

Buying used bedding and mattresses can be risky for health reasons.

“[You] have to be very careful that people haven’t discarded an item because of bedbugs—either knowingly or unknowingly,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of Public Affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

Bedbug extermination can cost between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars, according to Henriksen, and they aren’t the only critters you need to worry about. Dust mites, which can cause allergies or asthma attacks, can also be found in used mattresses, as can fleas. Fleas can lay dormant for up to a year without needing to feed, so they can be hiding in a mattress or boxspring with no activity for 12 months.

“It’s just too risky to take in a mattress that has been in anyone else’s home,” says Henriksen. “Even if there are no live bugs in the mattress, there can be dead ones, and dead bed bugs do emit an odor.”

Boats

Because boats typically don’t get serviced as often as cars, they are much more likely to have maintenance problems, according to John Thedford, CEO of LaFamilia Pawn and Jewelry in Miami.

And when it comes to maintenance, the hull of a boat is much more difficult to repair than a flat tire.

“Our practice is to test the item before we write a pawn loan,” says Thedford. “And it would be difficult, if not impossible, to test something such as a watercraft.”

Buying used is all about knowing what you’re getting, Thedford said, and when a test drive can’t be performed and a diagnostic test would be prohibitively expensive, you’re better off buying new.

“People have to take care of their cars because they drive them every day, but you can’t say the same for a boat,” he says.

Engagement Rings and Fine Jewelry

“It’s a bad idea to buy a used engagement ring directly from another individual,” according to Marcy Roth, owner of fine jewelry boutique AccessoryArtists.com. “Unless they have the paperwork that documents stone quality you are taking a gamble.”

Of course there are many professional jewelry resellers that specialize in the certification of estate pieces, but if you buy straight from another individual via eBay or consignment shops, you have no way of verifying quality, Roth says.

“How do you know that the stone is really a yellow sapphire? It could be a citrine or yellow quartz,” says Roth. “Gold is the same thing. They can say it’s 18 karats, but it could be 14 karats or even some type of plating.”

Roth advises that as a general rule, fine jewelry should only be purchased from a trusted source or a designer; pictures on a computer screen can be very deceiving.

Baby Car seats and Cribs

If there’s any chance that you’ll put your children at risk by buying a used item, it’s not worth it.

“Fairly recently, there have been recalls on cribs that have an adjustable side because they were disengaging and catching babies’ heads and hands,” says Marcia Turner, author of the blog Thrift Shopping Tips, (LINK OUT TO: thriftshoppingtips.wordpress.com)

Baby car seats are another potential safety hazard if you happen to purchase one used that is damaged, Turner adds. To the naked eye, it would be virtually impossible to determine if the underlying plastic is broken or chipped, or has been weakened through misuse, says Turner. If a car seat happened to be in an accident, the integrity of the seat could be compromised and your baby might not be as well protected as you think.

“Some car seats have built in fabric-covered seats and backs that cannot be removed and cleaned. Sure, you can scrub the plastic and hose the fabric down with disinfectant, but unless you can wash it in hot water, be aware that the seat may harbor germs that will come into contact with your baby’s skin. “

Video Cameras and Digital Cameras

You would think a used camera or camcorder could be a great idea for a kid or a senior like your parents or grandparents, but think about where they’ve been,” cautions Christine Frietchen, the editor-in-chief of Consumer Search . com, a product review Web site. “They could have fallen in a stream, or have a grain of sand from the beach in there that you might not notice.”

Many new digital cameras can cost $40 or less, according to Frietchen, and they often come with a year-long warranty that you’re not going to get if you purchase them used. Also, it’s possible that used imaging equipment will have battery issues, as many of them come with rechargeable batteries.

“If you buy a used camera for $30 and then you have to go out and buy a rechargeable battery pack for $40, then you could have just bought a new camera with a warranty,” says Frietchen.

It is possible to purchase refurbished cameras and video cameras from a manufacturer, and that’s a good option as long as they come with a warranty, Frietchen warns.

Vacuum Cleaners

“Think about why most people get rid of an old vacuum,” says Frietchen. “It probably doesn’t work that well, and you don’t want to spend the time taking it apart and cleaning all the hair out of the wheels.”

While some people may think that putting a new bag in a vacuum means it’s good to go, even that can be an issue: it can be hard find new bags for a discontinued vacuum model.

But bags can be the least of your problems when you consider wiring issues that can come with a faulty cord.

“Think about cords. Anyone with pets at home knows that dogs and cats like to chew on these things, and they short out,” says Frietchen.

 Before we even take in your jewelry, we do a complete visual inspection of the ring mounting, prongs, clasps or hinges, looking for any breaks, cracks, or chips in diamonds or colored stones. Yes – even diamonds can have chips on them. If we do not bring those things to your attention, when we return your item to you, and you see those problems are there, guess whose fault it is – OURS!

 We give you a receipt explaining all the work that will be completed. Then our job begins.

 Customers have worn their jewelry sometimes for many years. They think it is made of industrial steel, and is indestructible. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 We really recommend having us check your jewelry every 6 months, or at least once a year (someone should). Imagine how much dirt, hand cream, cookie dough, ground hamburger, body oil, dead skin, and soap scum accumulates under your ring, around your diamonds or other stones.  Take a magnifying glass at home and just look at your rings or jewelry up close – do it at your own risk!

 First thing we do is to soak and clean your jewelry in our ultrasonic machine. Then we even hand clean them further with a brush to get each item as clean as possible.

 Next is the repair itself, whether it is sizing a ring up or down, soldering a broken chain or bracelet, retipping prongs on a diamond engagement ring.  We take the time to make sure there are no gaps, or we add enough gold and solder to make the repairs successful.

 Many of you do not realize when gold or silver is heated, it changes color. The metals turn red, green or even a purplish color. We even place Jeweler’s flux and Boric acid on them to protect and minimize the color changes. So in order to restore them to their original state, we place them in an acid bath to remove the coloration of the metal. This in itself takes 4 to 5 hours to complete.

 We then remove them from the acid bath, and rinse them thoroughly.

 Now the real goldsmithing and craftsmanship begins. We begin using files to contour the rings sized, or the prongs that were retipped. This requires several gradations of fineness from rough to eventually very fine files and abrasives.

 After taking and giving each another cleaning in the ultrasonic, we go to the polishing process. This requires the same progressively finer polishes with a Jeweler’s rouge, another cleaning, and a final buffing with a fine paste to give your jewelry a high lustrous finish.

 One last cleaning and rinsing lasts the longest, with us again hand cleaning with a brush to make sure we have left no residue on the ring, necklace, or other jewelry item. Then to assure us it is perfect, we use a high-pressure steam machine to give it one last burst assuring us it will look nearly brand new when it is returned to you.

 All these steps take time and skill to do correctly. Next time you need to repair or restyle your jewelry, you will better understand why it just can’t be done in a day or two, and done to the standards we are used to providing our clients.

 Bring us your damaged or broken jewelry items, and let us show you how we can bring them back to their original luster.

Here are just a few ideas that will add that special feeling in your relationship. This is just a starting point. Let your imagination go and create your own list of ways your man can tell you how much he cares.

Make a note of interests of importance
Set something aside for her every day. It could be a newspaper article you read during your commute, a link to a website you saw, or a story you heard on the news or in a magazine. She will appreciate that you took a moment to think of her during the course of your day.

Tell her about your moods and feelings
If you are a little under the weather or feeling bad, let her know. Your woman will appreciate your honesty and will know not to take it personally when you come home in a bad mood.

How you look to her makes all the difference
Let her see you at your best. It’s ironic that we dress up to meet total strangers but let ourselves go around our nearest and dearest. Take the time that you would for a business associate to prepare to meet her after work. Most women love to see their men clean-shaven, in great clothes, and perhaps wearing a hint of her favorite scent

“Cheers!”
Toast each other when you are enjoying a wonderful dinner. It doesn’t need to be over bubbly or wine, but even a glass of water or iced tea. Tell her something you love about her, or how much she means to you, and then drink to it!

Touch is one of the most powerful senses
Use the power of touch to make a lasting impression throughout the day.  A kiss good-bye in the morning, or when you return from work is the fuel to grow your relationship more. And a warm hug or backrub at the end of a stressful day is always appreciated.

Create a record of your memories

Take pictures often; don’t save the camera for holidays and special occasions. Create a scrapbook of your everyday life together. Better yet, have someone take YOUR picture together. You will appreciate the warmth of the moment when you see these snapshots in an album down the road.

Be a thoughtful person
Do at least one thing thoughtful for her every day. Whether it’s making her a cup of coffee in the morning, sticking a surprise note in her bag, or leaving her a chocolate “kiss” on her pillow before bedtime. Everyone loves a romantic surprise.
Keep tabs of events of celebration
Make a list of the special days on the calendar that you celebrate together, such as the day you met, your anniversary, or even the anniversary of your first kiss. Make a point to spend some quality time together. Cook a special meal (or pick one up on the way home from work). Buy a card or flowers, write her a short letter, and let her know that you didn’t forget.

Talk about your day
Sit down together when you get home and relate your daily experiences. The best thing about spending time apart is that it makes you appreciate each other more.