After enough years in the jewelry business, one thing becomes very clear… gemstones have an image problem. Most people assume every stone falls into one of two categories: priceless natural treasure or suspiciously fake. Reality, as usual, lives somewhere in the middle, with a lot more nuance and far fewer villains. Gemstones today generally fall...
One of the most common moments at a jewelry and collectibles counter goes something like this: someone slides a small pile of silver coins across the glass and says, “I know it’s not much… it’s only a few dollars.” That’s usually where the conversation gets interesting. Silver coins have a habit of being underestimated. After...
Antique silverware has a reputation problem. Some people picture dusty drawers, formal dinners, and that one relative who insists on polishing everything before anyone is allowed to touch it. Others assume antique flatware is only valuable if it comes with a royal crest and a castle. The truth sits somewhere far more practical … and...
Most people fall in love with jewelry because of how it looks. The sparkle. The color. The design. The way it catches the light and somehow makes a hand gesture feel more important than it was five seconds ago. But the part that quietly determines whether that piece becomes a lifelong favorite or a future...
After years of helping people choose anniversary gifts, one pattern keeps repeating itself… the longer the relationship, the less interested people become in doing the “expected” thing. Diamonds still matter. They always will. But anniversaries have a way of changing how people think about value, meaning, and what actually lasts. An anniversary isn’t just a...
Luxury watches have a funny way of making people nervous. The moment valuation comes up, things get quiet, eyebrows raise, and suddenly everyone remembers a story about a watch that was “worth a fortune” according to someone’s cousin on the internet. After years of working with fine timepieces, one thing is clear… valuing a luxury...
Choosing a gemstone for one of life’s big moments sounds simple until it is not. At first, everything looks beautiful. Then questions start piling up. Which stone lasts? Which one fits daily wear? Which one will still look good decades from now? After years at the bench and across the counter at KenWorks in Metairie, one thing...
Jewelry pieces might look tough enough to survive daily life, but they experience far more stress than most people imagine. Rings get knocked around on doorknobs, bracelets drag across desks, necklaces pull against clothing, and earrings take the occasional hit from a hairbrush with something to prove. After years at the bench repairing every kind...
After decades of working on precious jewelry in Metairie, one truth has stood firm: jewelry may sparkle, but it is not indestructible. Gold bends, gemstones crack, pearls panic at the sight of chemicals, and silver tarnishes faster than a Louisiana sidewalk after a rainstorm. Half the repairs that come into the shop start with the...
by Ken Bowers, Owner — KenWorks, Metairie, Louisiana Jewelry has a funny way of becoming part of life’s story. Some pieces mark big moments. Others are inherited from relatives whose personalities still shine through every scratch and dent. And then there are those mystery pieces hiding in drawers—gifts from years past or impulse purchases that...