- What is your name? Garry Zimmerman
- How long have you been in business? My family has been in the diamond jewelry industry since my Grandfather started the business. My grandfather began working in the jewelry industry in 1929. In 1952 He and my father opened the company we still operate today. I joined my Grandfather and Father after I graduated college, in 1974, and have two brothers that also joined shortly after that, so I’ve been doing this and loving this for a long time!
- Why did you get into the jewelry business? Since I was a young child I always wanted to join my father and grandfather in the diamond and jewelry business. As a child I began to learn our business in the summers as I was growing up.
- Can you design and make custom pieces of jewelry? This is the most fun that I have. Helping someone to design a piece of jewelry that they will cherish their whole life is exciting to me. I’m able to use my knowledge and creativity, and share in a very special time with other people. This is why I’m in the jewelry business.
- What’s your favorite thing to make? Designing a diamond engagement rings is always fun, and using some creativity to help others to end up with the ring they desire is immensely satisfying.
- When you aren’t working at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø where would we find you? I’m often seen enjoying my grandchildren and family, and when I’m not with them, I have a penchant for exercise. I’ve been practicing yoga for 35 years, I walk nearly 5 miles everyday, I go dancing every week with my wife and I love to go to Brooklyn Boulders to go rock climbing!
¡PREGUNTAS DE CLIENTES RESPONDIDAS!
How do I know I’m paying a fair price for my diamond? When you work with ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø, you will always get a fair price. We cannot guarantee that we are always the cheapest price around, but we will guarantee that we are always competitive in price. Also, we use our expertise to research the finest diamonds within a given quality characteristic to assure our friends and clients of receiving the best possible value that we can offer.
What is a diamond’s grading report? A Diamond Grading Report will tell you the specifics of a diamond. Most often the grading report will come from the GIA (Gemological Institute of American) which is one of the most respected Diamond Organizations. The report will tell you about the Shape, Cutting Style, Carat Weight, Color, Clarity, Cut, Finish, Polish and Symmetry.
Can I easily resize my ring? Most rings are easily resized, but, it depends upon how much of a change in size that is required to determine this definitively. If there are diamonds or other colored gems in the ring, then we must be very careful with how much we alter the sizing.
What’s more important in a diamond: cut, color, clarity or size? Everything is important because they all relate to each other. It really depends on what is important to you. I usually recommend going with what you can see when attempting to determine which is more important. Each person has their own priority when purchasing a diamond, and that is truly what will determine which characteristic is more important to them. I suggest that when purchasing a diamond you talk to us at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø, we will help guide you through the process and help you to determine what is the most important aspects to you.
What is rhodium plating? Rhodium is a precious metal and part of the platinum family. Rhodium will provide a surface that resists scratches and tarnish, and give a white, reflective appearance. Rhodium plating is most often used on White Gold as a thin coat to help increase the durability.
Should I get my ring appraised? Absolutely. If you are going to insure it you need an appraisal. You should always insure it if you would claim if lost, stolen or damaged. You should get your jewelry appraised every 4-5 years because market values can change and you want to make sure your coverage is up to date.
I got my engagement ring from you and about year later white gold started to change color. Why? This is an easy answer… Gold is naturally a yellow metal, we make it white by mixing it with other white metals (known as alloying), but this only makes your ring “white-ish” as it is partially gold and partially white. To make a ring appear bright white, we Rhodium plate the ring, often mistakenly referred to as dipping your jewelry. Rhodium is a bright white metal, this is done through an electro-plating process and it adheres beautifully to the gold, but …. over time the rhodium will wear off leaving your ring appearing more yellow than it did originally when you received it. The easy fix, simply have your ring re-polished and we will rhodium plate it at the same time, leaving your ring looking like new again!
What’s the best jewelry cleaner to buy? The best and safest way to clean your jewelry is to ask your jeweler, but if you prefer to clean at home, I would suggest Haggerty’s jewelry cleaner for diamond jewelry.
How often should I get my prongs checked? At least once a year, every six months is better. We will even clean your ring for you when you come in to check it!
Any suggestions of how to hold up sagging earrings? Sagging earrings are usually caused by earrings that are too heavy on your ears, causing them to sag or flop forward.There are 2 relatively easy ways to fix this, One is to place a small plastic disc, designed for earrings,behind the ear prior to putting on the earring back. This will add support to the ear and help hold the earring up. ]The second option is to simply add an oversized earring back, designed to hold up the earring. This too will give more support to the ear and there is less pieces to fiddle with when putting on your earrings, not to mention that the loose plastic discs are often lost in a jewelry box.We have both options available in our store at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø. Thanks for asking.
Where can I resell jewelry and not lose all of the value? You keep a better value if you repurpose the jewelry into something else that you will enjoy wearing. Check out our recent blog on changing old pieces into new! Designing a new piece can be really fun! 
Is fluorescence in a diamond really a bad thing? Some dealers may discourage people from purchasing a diamond with fluorescence, but according to the GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, after doing an extensive study, they have come to the conclusion that most people will choose a diamond that exhibits some fluorescence because it helps diamonds to appear whiter to the eye under natural daylight. There is a very small percentage of diamonds, less than 2/10 of 1 percent, that exhibit extremely strong fluorescence, that the phenomenon does affect the beauty of a diamond, but at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø, we will never present this type of diamond to our friends or clients. After all, when people come to us for our expertise, we always give our best advice. One thing to keep in mind, the only time that you will really see the fluorescence in a diamond is if you are near to a black light, otherwise, in most instances this is very difficult to see.
**Have more questions! Please email them to director@windycitydiamonds.com. We would be happy to answer any further questions!!**
