Going to the Ends of the Earth

Ashland, OR, June 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- How does the independent jeweler compete with the big chain stores? A local business has figured it out. Ashland Jewelers Richard & Ron Hansen of Gold & Gems Fine Jewelry have developed the necessary relationships to travel directly to the original sources for their fine jewelry, gems & diamonds.

"Once we managed to directly align ourselves with the main sources," Ron explains, “we were instantly able to compete with anyone. Combine this with personal & professional advice and you have reached an unmatched combination for your best fine jewelry value".

Recent travels have found the Father & son team buying from select sources in Antwerp, Belgium, Guangzhou, China, Hong Kong, and most recently in Bangkok, Thailand.

The “food chain” in the gem industry generally works like this;
The rough crystals are mined and transferred to the rightful owner, commonly referred to as the “siteholder”. The high value package of raw gems are portioned and sorted for size and quality. There are pre-arranged buyers waiting for the portions. These portions are taken to cutting factories for finishing into cut gems. The gems are then sold to businesses that sell to other businesses & so on, large to small.

Once the gems reach the US Jeweler’s display case they may have changed hands up to 10 times. Each change of hands sees the price escalate slightly for each business to achieve necessary profit. By the time a couple buy their wedding bands or a man buys a diamond necklace, the price has escalated considerabley.

The Hansens, being 30-year veterans in the diamond, gem and jewelry business, are now able to buy from the first source – the Siteholders.

The Hansens have owned Gold & Gems Fine Jewelry in Ashland, Oregon since 1982. Their online ecommerce extension at goldandgems.com has been touted as the most complete jewelry buying site of all independent jewelers.

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