October 27, 2010 | Story by: Lindsey Chester | Categories: Business, Featured, Go Local, Shop & Dine
Donna & Lee Hankin, owners of Joint Venture in Cary's Arboretum
Cary, NC- Everyone talks about living green and recycling. Did you know you could encourage recycling with your jewelry?
Joint Venture Estate Jewelers in Cary’s Arboretum helps buyers do just that. More than 50% of their stock comes from consignors. The business has attracted a loyal following of both young people looking for something unique and older folks seeking investment pieces that they could not otherwise afford.
They have a great e-commerce site where you can view the items on hand and make purchases. Take a look at the selection for Affordable Jewelry.
An added bonus is that “antiques” pre-date the controversy surrounding so-called “blood diamonds” that have been mined amid recent conflicts.
Why Cary?
For a couple raising a family, Cary was safe and great for the kids. For starting a business, Cary had an affluent demographic, and the area “had so much to offer”.
In 1998 the couple moved from the Philadelphia area and began plans for their jewelry business. Lee had been in the pawn trade for years and found that the jewelry aspect was the most interesting. He decided to make estate jewelry his niche.
Some of the unique rings found at Joint Venture
The Treasure Hunt
I asked Donna how they select pieces that go in the store. She stated three things: that they are very picky – what they take in has to be of the highest quality. Second, they want to find a buyer for every piece. Third, that jewelry they sell be priced right.
Clients make an appointment for a consultation. Donna asks what the client hopes to recover in the way of monetary value. Donna or Lee discusses what a dealer would charge if you were buying it today. They then discuss what that would mean for the wholesale value. In addition they discuss marketability: if something is too unusual, maybe not many people will buy. But if a piece is in a hot (the legal kind of “hot”) category – we’re told engagement rings are one of those – they can get a premium.
Why Consigning Makes Sense
Many folks inherit jewelry that’s “not their style”. Or they may need some cash for jewelry they simply don’t wear. Experts like Lee and Donna are right here in Cary and can price it right and connect you with buyers.
Bride Avoids the Blues
Do you have a necklace you can’t wear because the clasp is broken? A ring with a scratch in the central gemstone? A brooch that got mangled? These can be fixed by one of the many crafts people that Donna and Lee work with.
Donna told me the story of a bride who lived here in Cary that had a family heirloom sapphire ring that she wished to wear as her “something blue” for her wedding. She had taken the piece to several jewelers only to be told it was beyond repair. She let Joint Venture take a look at it and they were able to complete the repairs, and she was able to wear the ring on her wedding day.
Stories like this about happy clients is one of the reasons I like to Shop Local in Cary.
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Leslie
October 27, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Donna is great! I have some very special things that she and my husband picked out together.
Caren
October 28, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Joint Venture is a terrific concept jewelry store. Every time I am in Cary, I insist on going to the store at the Arboretum to take a look. One of the best attributes is that you never know what you might find, since the inventory is so unique. It is certainly not the same style of jewelry one might find elsewhere. So if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind, or a traditional piece, Donna and Lee’s items should be on the top of your list!