1) Multiple instances of dads coming in with kids to help pick out gifts for moms. Input ranging from “that necklace is as pretty as mommy” from a 6 year old to “Mom would want a bigger one” from a 14 year old.
2) Re creating L’s mother’s wedding set from the only surviving part – the damaged head and diamond. Working with only her memories and a few remaining clues, we were able to rebuild the long lost rings for her.
3) Our favorite – an “in house” proposal! R and B had chosen a ring together, and were in to make their final lay away payment. When we asked B why she wasn’t putting the ring on, she answered “because he hasn’t actually proposed yet”. R got down on one knee and said “in front of these two lovely ladies… and this dog – You are the girl of my dreams, will you be my wife?”
Really, we love working here. Thanks to all our clients for another great year of letting us be part of your jewelry stories
R.P. and B.D. are avid surfers. After they came into Maloy’s and fell in love with the perfect ring, R had what seemed at the time, a brilliant and romantic plan. On their next surfing trip, he would attach the ring to the key clip on the shoulder of his wetsuit, then paddle out and propose in the waves. Let’s take a moment and think about that…
Fortunately, all those images you just imagined of the ring slipping out of his gloved hand and being tossed for a moment on a wave before sinking to the bottom of the sea? R had those visions too. He instead proposed somewhat spontaneously at a dinner gathering. B says it was perfect, and that no, she does not plan to wear her delicate Victorian diamond ring while surfing – she wants to always keep it out of Poseidon’s grasp.
T.C. Was so happy with her engagement ring from us that she brought her friend, S.B. In to do a little preliminary shopping for her own ring. We helped S. narrow down our selection to her favorite style, and we were happily exploring different rings in that genre.
Suddenly S. pointed to a ring in the case that was quite flashy, and nothing like the other rings she had been looking at. S. explained that she had recently unearthed the diary she kept at the age of 12. In it, she had described the “fantasy wedding” her future self would have. The ring she pointed to in our case was strikingly similar to the picture she had pasted into her diary all those years ago.
Other fantasy options from her 12 year old self that her adult self will probably pass on- the fashion ideas. Options at the top of the list back then were
1) The tight bodice with extremely giant tulle skirt
2) The winter wedding with fur muffs (aka the Russian princess wedding)
3) The bikini wedding.
We were flattered when R.B. came into the shop recently and told us that Maloy’s had made it into her dreams. After “visiting” several favorite rings, she had a nightmare in which she came into the store to find we had sold all of them. In fact, in dreamland, our stock had been reduced to nothing but rings made of wood and strips of sharp plastic (!) She was relieved to find that our selection of marvelous antique rings- made of precious, long lasting, and comfortable materials, was as healthy as ever.
- A PROPOSAL TALE
J.K. Had purchased an especially lovely ring from us, and was ready to pop the question. His intention was to do it quietly, during a weekend trip to San Francisco, at the posh Top of the Mark. Alas, when they arrived, it turned out to be “carnival week”, and the atmosphere was anything but private. J. then steered his girl to the clubby, cozy bar at their hotel, hoping for a more appropriate atmosphere. They sat near the end of the long bar, facing each other. J. was nervous. He gathered his courage, and was just beginning to speak to his beloved, S, when her jaw dropped to the floor, as did the jaws of most of the other patrons glancing toward him. While dozens of people stared aghast in his general direction, J. Panicked… Did he have something in his teeth? Were people reading his mind? Was this a dream? Finally, S. pointed directly over his shoulder, to the young woman seated just behind him. This inebriated young woman, in a misguided attempt to garner the attention of the attractive bartender, had hoisted her blouse, and was displaying her assets to him.
J. And S. fled the bar, and headed up to their room, where J. finally found the serenity and romance that had proved so elusive. He proposed. She said yes.
A.B. was browsing our website and spotted the ring of her dreams, the large yellow sapphire ring we have nicknamed “Bourbon, straight up”. She mentioned the ring to her sweetheart, J.C., several times with no results. She decided to up the ante, and actually changed the background photo on his computer to the “Bourbon” image on our site!
J. got the message, and came in to discover that Bourbon had already sold, but we were able to custom build a variation on the theme for her that was proportioned beautifully for her hand, as well as being proportioned well for his budget.
A client recently came in with a lovely vintage engagement ring in need of some repair. She shared her engagement story. It was Thanksgiving, many years ago, and her young and sweet husband to be was ready to propose. He had a plan! He was going to hide the diamond ring INSIDE the pumpkin pie. Fortunately, he chose to share his idea with his mom, who convinced him, at the last minute, to leave at least the diamond visible above the surface.
Thanks mom, for saving the moment, the ring and, quite possibly, a tooth!
