You may be asking, “Is making an appointment really necessary? Can’t I just drop by like the old days?”

Yes, it is, and… well, sort of, if you give us a heads up first.

In speaking with several of our customers recently, we have come to realize that different people have different levels of comfort with going shopping during a pandemic. Some are breezy and relaxed, while others are quite nervous. Our goal is to offer everyone who visits us the same warm welcome and personal service we always have, but in a manner that protects the health of customers and staff alike.

By now we are all aware that the health guidelines include maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet or more from other people, to wear face coverings when that is not feasible, and to practice good hand hygeine.

And, as we know, ours is a high-touch business. You handle our jewelry. We handle yours. We sometimes even make physical contact to assist in trying things on. All of those once routine interactions now have a protective layer of caution around them.

According to the rules of reopening, and given the size of our space, we must limit our capacity in the gallery to 4.32 people, including staff. In practical terms, that means one of us can attend to 3 people together, or two of us can attend two separate parties totalling 3 people. (And, yes, in this case I am rounding up.)

In order for us to provide the level of personal service we are known for, it is necessary for us to know who is coming and what type of visit it will be. Will we need to use the back conference table, and for how long? Will we need to prepare measuring or display tools, such as ring sizers and gem trays? Will we need to have space to browse the gallery freely and try pieces on without bumping into another shopper? And will we have enough time to clean and sanitize everything before the next visitor comes in? These are just some questions we must anticipate for each person to have a comfortable, personalized, and safe experience.

We take your (and our) health very seriously. Jewelry is an intimate thing. That’s what makes it so meaningful! But as such, extra time and attention is required to present and receive jewelry safely in a retail setting. We ask for your patience as we implement new protocols for protecting everyone’s health!