let me tell you a story...

Let me tell you a story...it is quite extraordinary.

A while ago, to celebrate the notion that Brunnel & I had been married for an extraordinarily 

long time, a length of time that easily beat the bookmakers odds, Brunnel, 

very rashly for him, bought me an extraordinarily beautiful ring.

And, even more extraordinary, because, clearly, I am extraordinarily fussy & difficult 

to please, I loved it.

And wore it every day.

A 22ct gold one-of-a-kind handmade piece, like a tiny, wonky princess crown, set all the way around with 14 tanzanite gems. Extraordinarily special.

I wasn't happy when I lost the first stone, let alone the second, but when I looked down two weeks ago to see that I was now missing three, I felt sick. 

Although it had not been purchased directly from the jeweller who had made it, I knew she was the only one who would be able to fix it. I was however, quite worried about the cost, 

and whether or not, insurance would cover it. 

You know how they get about wear and tear and the small print!

Anyway, I went to see Dorthe Kristensen, the jeweller, at her gallery here in Wellington, Vilders.

Of course she remembered my ring straight away. She had only ever made one like it.

And she was as upset as me when I showed her the missing stones.

When she studied it closely, she could see that at least two more were also cracked, 

and about to break loose also.

I was worried it was my fault. Perhaps this wasn't a ring to wear every day.

So here is the extraordinary part.

Without even a moments hesitation Dorthe said that she makes jewellery for life. 

She thought it would be best if she replaced ALL fourteen of the stones, so that I would no longer have to worry about how and when I wore the ring, or about losing any more stones.

And, what's more, if it was all right with me, she would like to replace them with sapphires, which are a much harder, & therefore hardier gem, and that it would be at NO COST. 

I couldn't believe it! 

I went back to Vilders last weekend (just one week later) to collect my ring, 

which is unbelievably, even more beautiful than it was.

So, that is my story, about a goldsmith artist, who has such pride and passion in her work, and makes jewellery for life, and who has won me for life as well with her extraordinary service.

And believe me, coming from the retail world, that is a level of service to aspire to.

Amanda xx

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