5 /5 Traveler Hawk: Update, November 2023.
Another wonderful visit, and another beautiful vintage ring. It was lovely to visit, and I am already looking forward to the next time.
As always, thank you!
I love vintage jewelry, especially engagement rings. I love how they reflect the architecture of the age, and each one has a story even if we never learn what it is.
I also have a favorite antique jewelry store in the French Quarter, Naghis. I got to visit this store and picked up a 1920’s ring the day before going on a cruise. Sunday morning, as I was packing up, I noticed I had lost the diamond out of the setting.
I had an hour before the taxi was due, so I jogged down to the shop. Efi, the owner, was shocked. He was protesting that he had never seen that happen, and that he personally inspected all items before they go in the case. I was half talking over him that I have never had a problem with anything I’ve purchased there, and he sells great quality jewelry. Efi offered to replace the ring. I think he saw the look on my face – I wanted That one. Efi then offered to replace the diamond, but warned me that he might not have another old mine cut.
No problem! I chose the ring, not the rock. I told Efi that if he had any odd, strange colored diamonds, that would work, too. I like the odd ones.
Twenty minutes later I headed back to the shop to see a couple of stones. Efi had a purplish blue-gray and another one that couldn’t decide if it was brown, yellow, or green. I chose the warm colors to go with the setting and headed for the boat.
Fast-forward a few hours. I’m in my state room unpacking, and in the bottom of my backpack, there’s a glint. It was the lost diamond.
I immediately called Efi. “You’re not going to believe this!”
Though I had found the original stone, I requested a trade, and he agreed.
A week later, I was back in the shop, and gave him back his clear diamond, happily taking possession of my little gremlin rock. Efi had completely rebuilt the progs to assure this would not happen again.
My friends and I visited again before our vacation was over, and we each chose a ring to take home, to remember the trip, to honor each other, and to satisfy that magpie instinct that loves something shiny.
