Nelson's Jewelry

Nelson's Jewelry Founder Passes Away at 86

2012-01-26T15:10:00.000-06:00

ARTHUR KENNETH NELSON

Arthur Kenneth Nelson, 86, of Prentice (formerly of Crystal Lake), died on Monday, January 23, 2012, at the Memorial Health Care Center in Medford. He was born on the family farm east of Prentice on January 2, 1926. He was the son of Oscar and Alice Otillia (Lundberg) Nelson. He was baptized and confirmed in The First Lutheran Church in Prentice. He attended and graduated from Prentice High School in 1944. After graduation he entered military service as a member of the United States Marine Corps. and served his country during WW2 from June 22, 1944 to Dec. 19, 1945. On December 24, he shipped out on a liberty ship for engagement with the enemy in the South Pacific. After his unit joined the First Marine Division, he arrived in Okinawa and landed with the invasion forces. He was wounded by a mortar blast for which he received the Purple Heart.
After his discharge, he entered the Allied School of Mechanical Trades in Chicago, Ill., and received his Master Machinist degree. He then married Alice Devon Bergquist on May 15, 1948. He found working on his feet all day was bad for his wounds and so entered the Chicago School of Watchmaking where he also learned jewelry repair and design. He was employed by jewelry stores along the north shore of Chicago. In 1962., he and his wife Alice, opened Nelson’s Jewelry a retail jewelry store in Crystal Lake, Ill., He expanded his business and was joined by both of his sons in the family business in 1980.
While living in Illinois, Arthur was a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Carpentersville and Bethany Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake. He was also a member and past president of the Illinois Jewelers Association. He was very active in the Crystal Lake Lions Club. Upon their retirement, Arthur and Alice returned to Prentice where he was a member of First Lutheran Church and the Prentice Lions Club. In their retirement they traveled extensively throughout the United States, spent many winters in Arizona. Arthur enjoyed golfing, fishing and square dancing.
He is survived by his wife of over 62 years Alice, Prentice, and his four children: Cheryl (Terry) Anderson, Freeport, Ill., Robert (Susan) Nelson and Richard (Judi) Nelson, all of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Kendra (Gary) Petersen, Machesney Park, Ill., by 6 grandchildren: Emily (Eric) Hanson, Carbondale, Ill., Carrie (Dan) Newton, Blairstown, Iowa, Eric (Connie) Petersen, Bloomington, Ill., Gara (Joshua) Marsilio, Villa Park, Ill, Tiffany Nelson, San Francisco, Ca., and Krista Nelson, Denver, Colo., and 6 great grandchildren Andrew and Ella Hanson, Alison and Marcus Newton, Gabriel and Mia Petersen,, by one brother: Herbert (Marjorie) Nelson and by 2 sisters: Marjorie (Earl) Klep, Prentice and Beatrice Miller, Wis. Rapids, Wi., and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, by one bother Erwin Nelson and by one sister Dorothy Miller .
A memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the First Lutheran Church, Prentice with Pastor Richard Hall officiating. Interment will be in the Prentice Cemetery, Prentice, in the spring. Military Honors will be conducted by the Southern Price County VFW Post #8491 Prentice. Friends may call after 9:30 A.M. on Saturday at the church until the time of the service.

Give Back Locally this Holiday Season

2011-11-19T13:12:00.000-06:00

Nelson's Jewelry is partnering with Sarah’s Hope Jewelry—a socially responsible jewelry line that helps provide microloans and small business training to women in impoverished situations throughout the world and the United States—on two initiatives this holiday season that benefit the Crystal Lake Food Pantry.

In addition, Jeweler's Mutual will also support Jewelers for Children by purchasing sets of JFC holiday cards to give to Sarah's Hope Customers this season. Also, if Jewelers Mutual hits a milestone of 12,000 likes on their Facebook page by Dec. 15, one random fan will win jewelry, plus a donation to a charity.

"Everyone loves the beauty of jewelry and the fun of the holidays, but the holidays are also an important time to reflect on all that we are thankful for and not take all our good fortune for granted," said Patrick Drummond, Jewelers Mutual's vice president of sales and marketing, in a statement.

In January, Sarah’s Hope Jewelry will look at how much money each participating jeweler donated, and the jeweler who donated the most will receive an additional $1,000 from Jewelers Mutual.

"Everything about these two programs is about giving," said Drummond. "Jewelers Mutual will be donating nearly $4,000 to various charities when all is said and done, and that's something we're very proud to do."

Nelson's Jewelry is making a donation to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry for every item sold during the Holiday season starting November 21st. To learn more about this program, visit there website blog at www.nelsonsjewelry.com or call Justin at 815-459-2411

Hard Hat Event Ends October 8th

2011-09-30T11:45:00.000-05:00

The renovation of the Crystal Lake Plaza continues and our event is finally in its last week. Our store-wide sale includes all of our designer brands, engagement and wedding rings, watches, diamond jewelry, pearls, colored gemstone and sterling silver jewelry. Everything is 30-70% off!

We look forward to helping you take advantage of this rare opportunity before October 8th. If you have had your eye on a special piece of jewelry, now is the time to buy.

*Event pricing applies to an in-stock item, as-is, and is a final sale. Regular charges apply for sizing adjustments and no layaways. Ask about a Nelson’s Jewelry credit card and take six months to pay with interest deferred.

Hard Hat Construction Event Starts Today!

2011-08-23T09:57:00.000-05:00

Nelson’s Jewelry has exciting news! The much-anticipated renovation of the Crystal Lake Plaza has begun. Despite the appearance, our storefront is well protected with access to the store at all times.

Soon we will invite the public to an event unlike anything we have done in our 49-year history. STORE-WIDE 30-70% OFF!

This includes all of our designer brands, engagement and wedding rings, watches, diamond jewelry, pearls, colored gemstone and sterling silver jewelry.

As a loyal customer of Nelson’s Jewelry, you are eligible to begin your bargain hunting now. We look forward to helping you take advantage of this rare opportunity.

*Event pricing applies to an in-stock item, as-is, and is a final sale. Regular charges apply for sizing adjustments and no layaways. Ask about a Nelson’s Jewelry credit card and take six months to pay with interest deferred.

Nelson's Jewelry offers Largest Jewelry Selection Online … Sold In-Store

2011-06-10T12:57:00.000-05:00

Nelson's Jewelry, a second generation owned and operated local jeweler has achieved the largest selection of jewelry available online.

A title formerly owned by internet e-tail giants, Nelson's Jewelry has the luxury of a brick and mortar location. Providing customers with the ability to view and interact with jewelry digitally and then visit the store to see their favorites first hand.

Owner, Bob Nelson, believes this marriage of high tech with a professional in-store experience solidifies the store's foundation of personalized service, while at the same time utilizing technology to reach a digitally connected audience.

“The better our digital inventory is online the more jewelry we sell in the store," Nelson stated.

"We realize we cannot stock every item available from every designer and manufacturer, but highlighting it digitally allows our customers to tell us what we should always have in stock. Our customers love looking at one site for all their jewelry needs. Our E-Catalog gives us the ability to offer our customers the diversity they are looking for," Bob concluded.

Nelson's Jewelry is partnered with The Safire Network to offer their customers a massive representation of their brands and collections. Through their E-Catalog customers are able to browse through a vast diversity of offerings in seconds searching by Brand, Type, Gemstone, Keyword or a combination of all four.

Visit Nelson's Jewelry online at www.nelsonsjewelry.com or stop in their store at the Crystal Lake Plaza Shopping Center.

Silver Restoration Clinic

2011-06-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, June 8 from 10AM to 5PM, silver restoration expert Eva Susie will be at Nelson's Jewelry to provide free recommendations and estimates on the repairing and refinishing of your sterling and silver-plated heirlooms and brass decorative pieces. Eva will let you know what items can be (or should be) restored. She is also able to help replace missing parts and let you know what it would take to solder broken pieces back to your special items.

All silver-plating comes with a 25-year warranty. The company is also able to polish aluminum, brass and copper, but do not offer re-plating services for those materials. A typical refinishing project takes 6-8 weeks and prices vary depending on the job.

Enjoy entertaining again with your heirloom silver or just have it restored to pass along to the next generation. During this 1-day event you will also be able to save 20% on silver-plating and polishing, so gather up your old silver today!
No appointment necessary.

Sue Nelson visits globalgiving Project in Africa

2011-04-12T12:48:00.000-05:00

Sue Nelson, an owner of Nelson’s Jewelry in Crystal Lake, recently traveled to Botswana and South Africa on a diamond buying and philanthropy trip. Accompanied by one of the store’s longtime customers, Sue had a rare opportunity to meet the individuals who mine rough and cut diamonds for many of the world’s jewelry stores. Botswana is the largest diamond producer in the world and what happens in this area has a huge impact on the jewelry industry. Nelson believes traveling to Botswana is necessary to insure that her customers are informed of the all the technological advances happening in the industry every day.

“Today people want to know more about their diamonds. It is not longer just about the cut, color, clarity of a diamond. Customers want to know more about the background of the diamond and what makes each diamond unique beyond its grading” Nelson said.

The highlight of her trip was a visit to a globalgiving project in South Africa. A portion of every diamond sale made at Nelson’s Jewelry is donated to support globalgiving projects and recently the store was recognized as having made the most number of donations to the Refilwe Godparent Project. Refilwe is the sight of an orphanage near Johannesburg. Sue met the project manager and some of the children while on this trip and was touched by how the donations made by jewelers around the world help save these children from poverty and death.

“My master’s degree is in child development and early childhood education,” Nelson explained. “Before I was involved in the family business I was an educator and advocate for children’s early education. Refilwe brought me back to my roots and it was great to see our donations at work.”

Customers at Nelson’s Jewelry donated money, boxes of shoes, garments, personal hygiene and school supplies before Sue left for her trip. She was able to deliver these items directly to the children and watch firsthand how the Refilwe program gives orphaned children a new start on life and helps to break the cycle of poverty in Africa. Armed with a new appreciation for the program, Sue has additional plans to find ways to support this campaign.

“This was a humbling and uplifting experience. Humbling because of the overwhelming need and uplifting because I saw how dramatically these children lives have been changed by our customer’s donations and our store’s support. To read about it is one thing, but to have the opportunity to see and experience it firsthand is very special.”

Call 815-459-2411 for more information on how to make a donation to globalgiving.

Sue Nelson is back in Africa

2011-03-05T15:06:00.000-06:00

Sue Nelson returned to Africa this week. Keeping up with her progress, here is what she has done on her first day:

Hello everyone, we had a very good trip to Africa, everyone arrived pretty much on schedule. Today we visited the Refilwe community project and got to meet lots of children. They are truly amazing kids. A lot of progress has been made in the last couple of years with additional buildings and services offered to the children. We had a bus load of much needed donations and it was greatly appreciated. Thank you for all of the donated items! The kids LOVED having their pictures taken and would run over when a camera appeared. Tell Hanah I found a friend for her named Jessica. Jessica is also a dancer so I gave her the pictures of Hanah's dance team. Hannah and Jessica will be able to exchange e-mail addresses. It's always good to have a friend on the other side of the world:) Tomorrow we head to Botswana and the safari camp. We're all looking forward to that. I'll check in again when I can. I miss you all!

Love Sue

Check back to hear more about Sue's trip later this week!

Sue Nelson headed to South Africa

2011-02-23T15:54:00.000-06:00

Sue Nelson is traveling to the diamond mines and cutting factory of Southern Africa on March 2nd. This is potentially an exceptional opportunity for our customers.

Her trip starts in Botswana, a country currently out-producing every country in the world in gem quality diamonds. Sue will be among the first Americans to tour the new diamond mines and also to visit the most state of the art diamond cutting factory in the world. Meeting the master diamond cutters that cut diamonds for Nelson's Jewelry Private Collection of Southern African Diamonds is important, as this seventh generation diamond cutting family is committed to cutting the most beautiful diamond possible from each piece of rough.

She will also have the rare opportunity to witness the sorting process of rough diamonds. This is done under the strictest security and the review of the diamond boards that monitor the Kimberely Process. This process guarantees that a diamond purchased at Nelson's Jewelry is free of conflict and is mined without endangering or harming the health or welfare of any individual or the environment.

The highlight of Sue's journey is a visit to the Refilwe Community Project in Johannesburg. There she will see how sponsoring jewelers are changing the lives for the better in this severely disadvantaged area. Sue is meeting orphaned children that now have a home thanks to our customer's donations, and with special project leaders from globalgiving. Sue will see firsthand our donations at work, and be introduced to a successful model for breaking the cycle of poverty in Africa.

Finally, this trip is an excellent opportunity to purchase diamonds directly from the factory. If you have a special occasion coming up and wish to purchase or trade a diamond from Nelson's Jewelry Private Collection please contact Sue by March 1st. Call 815-459-2411 for more information about the trip.

Make Your Jewelry Sparkle Like the New Year

2011-01-11T10:19:00.000-06:00

At Nelson's Jewelry, we always recommend having your rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets checked and cleaned every six months. This will help keep your jewelry sparkling like new and make sure that you keep up with everyday maintenance to avoid costly loss of precious gems and diamonds.

As we start the new year, having your jewelry cleaned and polished has never been easier! Just drop off the jewelry you would like inspected and our jewelry experts will check it for loose gems or worn metal while you wait. If you would like to have the scratches removed from the metal, just leave the item or items with us and for as little as $5.00 per item, you can have your favorite pieces of jewelry looking like new again. Best yet, most clean and polish jobs are ready for you to pick up the next day.

Like this tip and hope to hear about more jewelry ideas soon? Nelson's Jewelry has a new blog, updated weekly. Check it out here and let us know what you think.

Small Business Saturday set for November 27th

2010-11-22T16:51:00.000-06:00

American Express recently began promotions for the first-ever Small Business Saturday to be held on November 27th, 2010. As a small business, we are excited to come together with our local community and participate in this event. Small Business Saturday is the perfect day to decide to shop local, save money, and help boost the Crystal Lake economy and preserve our neighborhood's character and charm.

Join the movement and spread the word with the help of American Express and Facebook. Check out this link for more details or email justin@nelsonsjewelry.com to find out what Nelson's Jewelry is doing to support our local economy!

Watch Battery Weekend

2010-11-05T16:41:00.001-05:00

At Nelson's Jewelry Daylight Savings time means an extra hour of sleep AND changing a lot of customer's watch batteries. Stop in and see us if you are having trouble setting your watch or notice that your watch is not keeping time after you set it on Sunday. We typically change your watch battery while you wait and at $8.00 for most watch cells we are McHenry County's source for watch battery replacement. Our certified watch technician, Justin Banaszynski, repairs quartz watches and is able to complete watch band sizing while you wait. For watch repair questions, email him at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com, or stop in at our store in Crystal Lake, IL.

Lee National Denim Day at Nelson's Jewelry

2010-10-20T14:23:00.000-05:00

At Nelson's Jewelry, we are gearing up to wear denim on October 22, 2010, in exchange for a $5 donation to the Women’s Cancer Programs of EIF to support the fight against breast cancer. We invite you to join our team or make a donation at our store now until October 31st, 2010 to support this important cause.

As you may be aware, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. But since 1996, Lee National Denim Day® has raised nearly $80 million for the fight against breast cancer just $5 at a time. On Denim Day®, Oct. 22, our team has pledged to wear jeans and each donate at least $5 to the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

So stop in at Nelson's Jewelry in the Crystal Lake Plaza in October wearing your jeans and donate to help us find a cure. Email justin@nelsonsjewelry.com or call Beth Anderson at 815-459-2411 for more information on our Denim Day event.

Congrats Britt! 40 Years at Nelson's Jewelry

2010-10-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

Our "pearl girl," Britt Lee, is celebrating her 40th anniversary at Nelson's Jewelry today! She started working for the original owners, Art and Alice Nelson, in 1970 as our first salesperson and soon also became our first and only pearl re-stringer. She remained on the staff after the business was sold to son's, Bob and Richard Nelson, and has continued to work part-time even after Art and Alice Nelson retired.

Britt has strung Nelson's Jewelry Match-a-Pearl program since it was created in the 1980s. Our Match-A-Pearl program is designed to allow Britt to pre-match good quality 5 to 5 ½ millimeter Akoya cultured pearls and lets our customers purchase individual quantities of unstrung pearls without leaving the necklace for matching. Match-a-Pearl reduces the cost per pearl when purchased in quantities in the same package.

We are proud to have Britt as part of the Nelson's Jewelry family and look forward to spending another 40 years with our "pearl girl" at our store in Crystal Lake, IL. If you have questions about our Match-a-pearl program, please call Britt at 815-459-2411.

A Fall Classic: Ammolite Jewelry

2010-09-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

At Nelson's Jewelry in Crystal Lake, IL we love finding rare and unique jewelry. Ammolite Jewelry, by Korite International, is that type of collection.

Ammolite is one of nature’s rarest gems. Its iridescent colors glow with a rainbow of shades. Each piece of Ammolite is unique in brilliance, color and pattern. Mined only in Alberta, Canada, Ammolite’s personality constantly changes as it flashes in the light. Because each stone is unique, this is a must-see for all lovers of special gemstones. During the fall months we are highlighting new pieces in this collection and plan to have a variety of 14-karat white and yellow gold and sterling silver pendants, earrings and rings available during the holiday months this year.

If you have not had a chance to see a piece of Ammolite Jewelry yet, stop this September and let us know what you think. If you already own Ammolite, leave us a comment and tell us about your piece or stop in and let us do a free clean and check on your item.

Getting engaged? Check out designer Levy Creations

2010-08-06T14:44:00.000-05:00

One of our favorite designers at Nelson's Jewelry just released a few new engagement ring designs perfect for the fall season. With a variety of wedding band options, this collection is great for any size diamond and may be modified for almost any diamond shape as well.

Levy Creations, a Chicago based designer since 1973, has four new Halo style engagement rings designed with beautiful diamond melee surrounding the center diamond and accenting perfectly down the side profile of the engagement ring. All styles are created in 14-karat or 18-karat white or yellow gold or Platinum and each design may be modified to hold a classic round brilliant diamond, a modern princess shape, an emerald shape or even an antique oval or cushion shape diamond.

We have a variety of engagement ring designs in stock as well as McHenry County's largest selection of Southern African Diamond brand diamonds available for you to explore. If you are ready to get engaged, stop in today and let us give you our famous education diamond lesson. Call 815-459-2411 to set up an appointment today or email justin@nelsonsjewelry.com and let us help you prepare to Pop the Question!

Golden Summer Event at Nelson's Jewelry

2010-07-16T16:24:00.003-05:00

This summer we are offering an exclusive opportunity for our jewelry blog subscribers. Starting July 19, take advantage of our Golden Summer event and reward yourself with credit for your old gold jewelry. Hurry, offer ends August 31st.

Recently our customers have asked why we typically do not give credit for scrap gold. Having been in Crystal Lake since 1962, we value our reputation as a fair and honest jewelry store. We do not want to jeopardize our integrity by accidentally purchasing stolen or counterfeit goods, so we do not buy scrap gold or jewelry from just anyone walking in our door.

However, with gold again reaching all-time high levels, we are offering a special service exclusively for our blog subscribers who are only willing to sell their scrap gold to a store they trust. As an established customer at Nelson's Jewelry, we invite you to scrap any of your old gold jewelry for credit or trade it toward a purchase.

Just mention this blog post to participate in the event. Feel free to forward it to your friends to allow them access to our Golden Summer event as well, and please email me at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com if you have any questions.

Thank You for Supporting Crystal Lake Babe Ruth's 50th

2010-07-07T10:35:00.001-05:00

During the month of June, to help Crystal Lake Babe Ruth celebrate 50 years of baseball in McHenry County, customers came in to our store and had a watch battery installed. Bob, Sue and Richard Nelson and the staff at Nelson's Jewelry would like to thank everyone who participated, as our customer's and staff generous donations helped raise money toward field improvements.

Crystal Lake Babe Ruth (CLBR) provides an opportunity for kids ages 13-18 to play competitive baseball. Since the league is the only Babe Ruth organization in the McHenry County, it draws players from around the county. The league works to teach skills, mental and physical development, a respect for the rules of the game, and basic ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. If you would like more information on how your son or daughter may participate in the league, or how your organization can help CLBR reach another 50 years of baseball in McHenry County, please email Justin Banaszynski at jbanaszynski@clbr.org.

Please let us know if your organization would like to participate in a Nelson's Jewelry fundraiser. We are always looking to help community charity organizations and many of our product lines, including Southern African Diamonds and Sarah's Hope Jewelry already make donations to worldwide charity organizations with every purchase. Call Sue Nelson at 815-459-2411 or email Justin Banaszynski at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com if you would like more information.

Become a New at Nelson's Newsletter Member

2010-06-22T15:52:00.000-05:00

Nelson's Jewelry now has a monthly email newsletter designed specifically for our customers to learn about new jewelry collections, special events and even exclusive drawings happening every month at our store.

If you have not registered for our monthly email newsletter and would like to be a part of all of our exclusive New that Nelson's opportunities, please email me at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com, or stop in and fill out the Newsletter entry form. Currently we are offering the chance to win an ivan alan jewels designed Forever Thank You pendant just for signing up for our email newsletter in June.

Ivan Alan, the Chicago-based designer of our very popular Diamond Occasion™ Necklace and Bracelet, created the Forever Thank You concept to express appreciation for the people that make a difference in our lives. Ivan believes that his Forever Thank You pendant or pin will serve as a lasting reminder of your gratitude. This collection is available in sterling silver or 14-karat white or yellow gold and prices start at $100.00.

We have this complete collection in our store, so visit us in the Crystal Lake Plaza Shopping center or online at www.nelsonsjewelry.com

Support Crystal Lake Babe Ruth at Nelson's Jewelry

2010-06-01T17:50:00.000-05:00

Crystal Lake Babe Ruth has been a place for McHenry County to play baseball since 1960. At Nelson's Jewelry we would like to help them celebrate 50 years by donating 50% of all watch batteries replaced at our store from June 1 to June 30th. Just bring your Casio, Seiko, Pulsar, Citizen, Bulova or whatever brand watch you wear and mention you want your battery to support Crystal Lake Babe Ruth.

Crystal Lake Babe Ruth has over 700 players participate during the year and offers 12-month instruction. If you are interested in finding out more about the league or would like to make a donation to this 501-C not-for-profit organization, please email league President Jim Sabo at jsabo@clbr.org or Volunteer coordinator, Justin Banaszynski at jbanaszynski@clbr.org.

Nelson's Jewelry is located in the Crystal Lake Plaza, on Rt 14. All watch battery replacement and quartz watch repair is done in-house by a certified watch technician and most watch batteries are replaced while you wait.

What's New with Sarah's Hope Jewelry

2010-05-25T15:55:00.000-05:00

Sarah's Hope Jewelry is one of our favorite new collections at Nelson's Jewelry in Crystal Lake, IL. As Sarah explains, "each of our lines is dedicated and named after a woman entrepreneur in the developing world who's striving to overcome poverty through small business ownership. As a means to contribute, Sarah’s Hope™ Jewelry was begun to fund small business microloans that start at $50.00 MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) distributes these loans that are designed to give women living in impoverished situations a fair chance at supporting themselves and their families."

Marisol is the newest collection introduced by Sarah's Hope Jewelry and the inspiration for this collection came from a woman in Puerto Rico, who started a day care center with the help of MEDA-sponsored ASSETS. Marisol received Child Development Certification using funds supported by Sarah's Hope Jewelry.

At Nelson's Jewelry we are really proud to work with Sarah's Hope Jewelry and love their message of Do Good. Feel Gorgeous. Visit McHenry County's only source for Sarah's Hope Jewelry at One Crystal Lake Plaza, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or call us at 815-459-2411.

How to Care for Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

2010-05-10T17:46:00.000-05:00

With the recent surge in gold prices and the ability to create fashionable jewelry in high quality sterling silver mountings, many of our customer's have wondered how to care for their new sterling silver jewelry.

Sterling silver is quite pure. In addition, silver patinas with age. That ability allows designers to exaggerate the patina and sometimes even pre-oxidizing the surface. Also, many designers incorporate a rhodium finish that reduces the ability for sterling silver jewelry to tarnish as well.

Because sterling silver is somewhat softer than most gold alloys, it is more likely to be abraded by movement between the jewelry and the skin or clothing. Sometimes you may find that the sterling silver stains your skin green due to the copper component of the silver alloy. When this occurs you should polish your jewelry and use a non-abrasive powder on moist skin areas to avoid a reoccurring condition.

Also, soaps, detergent, polish, and some cosmetic creams may build up under a ring causing a type of dermatitis. To prevent this, you should always remove all rings before using soap or detergent, and clean your sterling silver rings frequently.

Using a polish cloth treated for Sterling Silver is the best method for keeping your favorite silver jewelry clean. Stop in and ask our sterling silver experts to help you with any of your silver jewelry questions.

Nelson's Jewelry Newsletter

2010-05-06T11:36:00.000-05:00

Starting in April, Nelson's Jewelry has a New at Nelson's Newsletter available for customers who would like to learn about new jewelry collections, hear about special events and discover our unique promotions happening throughout the year. If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, email us at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com and we will add your email to the list. To see the first addition, look here

http://app.e2ma.net/campaign/37928.99391be293ca67608ab8d3ca9bd38073

Thank You!

2010-04-15T13:09:00.000-05:00

We love hearing about your engagement ring experience. If you have a story, post it here or add it to the collection of customer stories on Project Wedding under the Nelson's Jewelry link.

See more reviews of Nelson's Jewelry on Project Wedding.

Insurance Appraisals: Do you know the value of your jewelry?

2010-04-08T18:39:00.000-05:00

At Nelson's Jewelry we work with insurance appraisals every day. An accurate and detailed jewelry appraisal will provide you and your insurance company with the information necessary to help in case an item is lost, damaged or stolen. An insurance appraisal is a formal opinion of a jewelry item and verifies that the item is authentic, identifies the type of design, the quality and finally the monetary value of the item.

Unfortunately, many customers do not realize how important it is to have their jewelry appraised until an item is lost. We always provide jewelry appraisals with every engagement ring purchased at our store and will provide documentation on any item we sell when requested by the customer. This insurance appraisal makes it much easier to work with the insurance company when making a claim.

We also do insurance appraisals for customer's jewelry that was purchased at another store or on jewelry items that were inherited or passed down through the family. In addition, we update insurance appraisals as well. It is important, especially with the current price of gold, to make sure you are paying the correct premium to your insurance company.

If you would like to have an item appraised or if you are interested in more information, please email Justin Banaszynski at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com

Diamond Day Event in March

2010-02-26T14:41:00.000-06:00

Nelson's Jewelry is excited to announce their Diamond Day Event on Saturday, March 20th. Customers will leave from Nelson's Jewelry at 8:30AM and travel by motor coach to the Chicago Field Museum. The rest of the day includes:

Attend “The Nature of Diamonds” exhibit
A group docent presentation on the story of diamonds, a visit to the vault to view stones including the 128.54 carat Tiffany Diamond and the Incomparable Diamond, weighing in at 407.48 carats! Breathtaking jewelry that has rarely been displayed is featured on this tour.

Tour the Field Museum’s “Grainger Hall of Gems”
Explore the natural beauty of Earth’s gems and witness their transformation from rough specimen, to stunning stone, to spectacular jewelry on this tour.

Travel to Lawry’s Restaurant, Chicago
Lawry’s “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” Luncheon
Featuring complete South African cuisine with your choice of entree and dessert.

Visit Southern African Diamonds US Headquarters, Chicago
See the complete collection of Southern African Diamond jewelry, meet the people behind the scenes, and view the most beautiful diamonds in the world.

Receive a $100.00 Gift Certificate to Nelson’s Jewelry
Use this gift from Nelson’s Jewelry toward any product or service in our store. Expires June 30th, 2010. See store for complete details.

Everyone is welcome, so bring a friend and enjoy a Diamond Day with Nelson’s Jewelry

SUBMIT FORM BELOW TO ATTEND:
Yes, include me in the Diamond Day Event

Name: ___________________________Phone: _______________

Number of Guests: _________ Email: _______________________

Lunch entrée choice: (circle one) Fish Chicken Vegetarian

Mail or drop off $100.00 payment by March 6th to secure a spot on the trip
Space is limited, so please RSVP by Thursday March 4th, 2010
Questions? Call Sue Nelson at 815-459-2411 or email sue@nelsonsjewelry.com
Nelson’s Jewelry
One Crystal Lake Plaza
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Thank you to our customer's

2010-02-19T12:39:00.005-06:00

We would like to thank all our Southern African Diamond customers for their purchases. With every purchase, Nelson's Jewelry has made a donation to GlobalGiving and our most recent project is almost complete. See the complete details at www.globalgiving.org/projects/south-african-orphans

For more information on how you can help this amazing cause or for other projects Nelson's Jewelry will be working on in the future, please email Justin Banaszynski at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com

Are you ready for Valentine's Day?

2010-02-11T12:38:00.002-06:00

Valentine's Day is Sunday, February 14th. If you need the perfect Valentine's Day gift for that special someone, Nelson's Jewelry is the right place to shop. Our collection of Andrea Candela or Everlon Diamond Knot Jewelry is just right for Valentine's Day or any gift giving occasion. You may see the entire Andrea Candela collection at www.andreacandela.com

You may see our complete Everlon Diamond Knot collection or a variety of other great jewelry gift ideas at our website, www.nelsonsjewelry.com

Stop in for your free jar of jewelry cleaner

2010-01-05T14:04:00.000-06:00

Nelson's Jewelry is ready to help your jewelry sparkle in 2010. Become a fan of our Facebook Fan Page, start following us on Twitter, or mention you read this blog and receive a free jar of jewelry cleaner.

Sparkle in 2010 and find out about all our events happening throughout the year! Email Justin Banaszynski with your comments at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com or stop in today.

Everlon Diamond Knot Collection

2009-11-14T15:53:00.001-06:00

As the only independent jeweler in McHenry County with this collection, Nelson's Jewelry is proud to offer Everlon Diamond Knot Jewelry this holiday season. This collection is truly a tribute to the strength of love. The designer believed only true love is ever sure, ever lasting and ever strong and we know you will love the way each piece of jewelry has been crafted. In addition, every piece of Everlon Diamond Knot Jewelry, made in 14-karat white or yellow gold or sterling silver, holds a brilliant diamond that secures the knot in place.

To view this entire collection, visit Nelson's Jewelry today or check it out online at www.adiamondisforever.com

What's New at Nelson's Jewelry this Month? Sarah's Hope Jewelry

2009-09-22T16:51:00.000-05:00

Nelson's Jewelry is proud to offer a new collection of jewelry starting in September. Here is a brief explanation of this exciting new collection.

"At Sarah’s Hope™ Jewelry, we have a special place in our hearts for women and the struggle that many of them face when trying to overcome the crippling effects of poverty. There are women all over the world who are driven, talented and determined, who just need some help getting their dreams off the ground.

Each of our lines is dedicated and named after a woman entrepreneur in the developing world who's striving to overcome poverty through small business ownership. As a means to contribute, Sarah’s Hope™ Jewelry was begun to fund small business microloans that start at $50.00 MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) distributes these loans that are designed to give women living in impoverished situations a fair chance at supporting themselves and their families."

Each purchase that you make adds to the funds that will be sent all over the world to assure the success of these women entrepreneurs. At Nelson's Jewelry, we believe that Sarah's Hope is the perfect representation of uniquely designed Sterling Silver jewelry and fits perfectly in the world of fashion accessories. Using the highest quality .925 sterling silver, than rhodium plating to resist tarnishing, each piece in this collection is so brilliant it produces an amazing radiant white color. At Sarah's Hope, they believe rhodium is why their jewelry has the look of platinum for the price of silver.

Most pieces found in the Sarah's Hope™ Jewelry line are set with E’Sperene™. Their created stone, E'Sperene™, combines quartz crystals with metal oxides resulting in formations of exceptionally vibrant and dynamic colors. You will notice subtle to dramatic shifts in colors as the E'Sperene™ reflects light. It's part of its intriguing beauty! Slight variations in silversmith work or in the stone composition and color are intrinsic to the handmade process and reflect the one-of-a-kind artisan-ship of our jewelry.

Next time you need a watch battery, ask us to see our new Sarah's Hope Jewelry collection. Email justin@nelsonsjewelry.com with questions.

Become a Facebook Fan of Nelson's Jewelry

2009-08-04T18:07:00.000-05:00

See what all our fans are up to and what they have to say about our store on Facebook

Nelson's Jewelry on Facebook

Check out our Naymz Profile

2009-07-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

One of the best links to everything that is happening at Nelson's Jewelry.

This link is a great way to find out about special offers, what's hot in jewelry designs and see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter and on our home page at www.nelsonsjewelry.com

GelinAbaci - The Most Brilliant Tension Mounting Designs Available

2009-07-06T16:06:00.000-05:00

Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments in life. At Nelson's Jewelry we love helping you create a contemporary designer engagement ring with a GelinAbaci Tension set mounting and having her say “Wow!” from the moment you slide the ring on her finger. GelinAbaci, available at Nelson’s Jewelry in Crystal Lake, craft designer engagement and wedding bands of the finest quality. Each GelinAbaci mounting is modeled to show intricate detail.

Developed in the late 1960's, a technology known as "tension setting" actually produces rings so tough that they will last a millennium before losing their spring power and loosening their hold on their captive gemstones. Yes, tension setting does away with prongs, channels, bezels or any other kind of enclosure to hold gems in place. In tension settings, the whole tension mounting acts as a stone holder, meaning the diamond is held in place by the ring itself. It is a better system than a prong setting, which holds it with a claw just a fortieth of an inch thick. Stop in at Nelson’s Jewelry and let us show you why in tension setting, the stone is actually more secure.

The tension collection is made especially for your center stone. Depending on the style, there is 65 to 95 lbs. of pressure applied to the girdle of the stone. The tension setting process allows the maximum amount of light to pass through the center stone, creating brilliance that is superior to all traditional styles of setting. Tension setting places the center stone under pressure to provide optimum strength, elegance and security. At Nelson’s Jewelry, we assure the design and craftsmanship of the tension settings are engineered to accommodate your center stone perfectly. We love working with tension mountings and GelinAbaci is the best in the business at building amazing tension engagement rings and wedding bands.

Email me at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com if you have questions about tension mountings or would like to see our exclusive collection of engagement rings and wedding bands.

Diamond education and more at Nelson's Jewelry

2009-05-07T12:21:00.000-05:00

Do you remember when you decided to Pop the Question? For most, that moment is one of the biggest events in our lives and for sure one of our most important jewelry buying experiences. I know it was for me. At Nelson's Jewelry, we are always helping guys with all their diamond engagement ring buying needs. I really enjoy aiding in the education process of diamond selection and love showing all the amazing engagement ring styles that are available.

Still, my favorite part of the whole process is after we help them select the perfect South African Diamond in a beautiful engagement mounting. This is when we get to hear how this amazing diamond ring will be presented. Sometimes when guys Pop the Question the ideas are funny. Sometimes they are romantic, like planning a day of spa treatment to make sure you have the house to yourself and then creating the perfect path from the door to the kitchen with candles and rose petals leading to an amazing home cooked dinner and a memorable engagement moment. Whatever way our customers decide to Pop the Question, I guarantee it is one of the most excited and amazing moments in a couple's life and we feel blessed at Nelson's Jewelry that we are a little part of this process.

If it is time for you to Pop the Question, stop in and meet our expert engagement ring specialists and let Bob Nelson, Sue Nelson, Beth Anderson and myself help you choose an amazing engagement ring we know she will love forever.

Watch Battery Installs and More at Nelson's Jewelry

2009-04-10T10:52:00.000-05:00

I’m Justin Banaszynski, store manager of Nelson’s Jewelry in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and a certified quartz watch repair technician. When I took this job after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Northern Illinois University, it was in large part for the chance to learn the jewelry and diamond business from one of the owners, Gemologist Bob Nelson. However, with Richard Nelson, the store’s in-house Goldsmith, Crystal Lake’s favorite diamond girl, Sue Nelson, the pearl expertise of Britt Lee and an a amazing group of women already on staff, I hoped I would be able to come in and manage all of this talent. Thankfully, I have become so much a part of the Nelson family that I am often asked if I am actually a relative. Well, while I may not be related by blood, I have never felt more like a part of a family then I do working here at Nelson's Jewelry.

I worked with my grandfather, a watchmaker, starting more than ten years ago, and now having worked at Nelson's Jewelry for almost five years, I would like to once again remind everyone of the services I am able to provide for our customers. At Nelson's Jewelry, our staff is able to replace watch batteries in almost any watch while you wait, as well as size almost any style of watchband. In addition, as a certified watch technician, I am able to work on most quartz watches, replacing crystals, cleaning watch cases and bands, repairing setting crowns and stems and performing movement replacements on most timepieces.

Stop in today and see why we are McHenry County's source for watch battery replacement and quartz watch repair. Give us a call at 815-459-2411 or come see us at One Crystal Lake Plaza, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.

We love helping you with all your jewelry needs!

2009-03-26T16:57:00.000-05:00

It is our mission at Nelson’s Jewelry to provide premium service with unparalleled expertise every time you enter our store. Listed below is a brief description of all the services we provide as a family-owned jewelry store in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Jewelry Repair
We have an experienced Goldsmith on staff that will complete all our jewelry repairs. Typical in-store repairs include ring sizing, stone setting, gold soldering, prong repair, polishing and rhodium plating. Our Goldsmith will generally estimate the cost of repair while you wait and repairs are usually completed in one week.

Remount or Design Your Own Jewelry
Do you have gems that are currently going unworn because they are in settings that are either worn, out of style or set in the wrong metal? We have a large selection of mountings in which we can set your gems. Do you have a great design idea, but cannot find the right piece of jewelry for your precious stones? Let our design team help you custom-create the perfect piece of memorable jewelry.

Watch Repair
We offer a full range of quartz watch repairs including battery replacement, watch band sizing, watch band cleaning, crystal replacement, stem/crown replacement and movement replacement. Most quartz watch repairs are completed in our store. Our certified watch technician will usually estimate the cost of repair while you wait. Typically repairs are completed in one to two weeks. At this time, we are not able to repair mechanical watches in-house.

Watch Batteries and Watch Band Sizing
We will open almost all watches and test and replace the battery while you wait. We will adjust the size of your watchband at no charge if the watch was purchased from us or for a fee if it was purchased elsewhere. Most band adjustments are performed while you wait. We have a large selection of leather, expansion and metal watchbands for band replacement.

Insurance Appraisals
An insurance appraisal is used to describe your jewelry and establish a maximum risk to the insurance company to replace your item with another item of like kind and quality. We offer insurance appraisals at a reasonable fee, which is determined at the time the jewelry is left. Your jewelry will be identified and valued by a Gemologist in the form of a typed appraisal. Appraisals are completed in the order they are received in a week or less. While we do not offer while you wait appraisals, we do have same-day and next day appraisal services available by appointment.

Insurance Replacement
If you need to make a claim to your insurance company we suggest you use the following procedure. First call your agent and describe your loss. If the agent feels your policy may cover your loss you will be given a claim number. Try to get a phone number and fax number of the adjuster. We will prepare an estimate for replacement on your behalf. If the item is damaged bring it in for our inspection. Bring in any supporting documents you may have like appraisals, pictures or receipts. We can then fax the estimate to your insurance company.

Estate Appraisals
An estate appraisal is used to describe your jewelry and establish a fair market valuation suitable for tax purposes. This value is based on the expected exchange price between a willing buyer and willing seller under current market conditions. This is not an actual offer to purchase. We offer estate appraisals at a reasonable fee. Your jewelry will be identified and valued by a Gemologist in the form of a typed appraisal. While we do not offer while you wait appraisals, we do have same-day and next day appraisal services available by appointment.

Engraving
We offer engraving service at a reasonable fee on items purchased at our store. We are able to engrave charms and lockets as well as medical id bracelets and many other items. We offer inside ring engraving at no charge for purchases from our store and at a fee for an item purchased elsewhere.

The Andrea Candela Collection at Nelson's Jewelry

2009-03-12T14:40:00.001-05:00

The name Candela is recognized as one of the finest Spanish designers in the jewelry industry. Now the Andrea Candela Collection of fine jewelry is available exclusively at Nelson's Jewelry in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Among the most innovative and creative jewelry designers in the industry, Andrea Candela crafts fine sterling silver rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets with beautiful 18-karat gold accents. The new designs are a modern focus, but also carry on the timeless traditions of early Spanish jewelry creations.

The exotic gemstones and fine quality diamonds found in Andrea Candela are all hand picked for each piece of jewelry. Andrea's passion for color exuberates through each diamond and gemstone chosen exclusively for their quality and hue. Identifiable by the unique Armadillo finish and rope edge design trademarks, this collection is perfect for the fashion forward woman.

Stop in today to see this collection sold exclusively in Crystal Lake, Illinois at Nelson's Jewelry. For questions, call Justin Banaszynski at Nelson's Jewelry at 815-459-2411 or email at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com. See everything we have to offer at www.nelsonsjewelry.com

Ready to Pop the Question?

2009-02-12T14:38:00.000-06:00

At Nelson’s Jewelry, we have fortunate to be apart of many engaging stories over the past 46 years. When that big day arrives, we are always honored to help our customers Pop the Question. With a wide selection of designer engagement rings and sparkling loose diamonds from our Private Collection of Southern African Diamond brand diamonds, we love helping our customers prepare to "Pop the Question" everyday!

GelinAbaci
A GelinAbaci Tension set mounting is made especially for the center stone. Depending on the style, there is 65 to 95 lbs. of pressure applied to the girdle of the stone. The tension setting process allows the maximum amount of light to pass through the center stone, creating brilliance that is superior to all traditional styles of setting. If she likes modern designs, the tension mounting is the perfect Pop the Question tool!

Levy Creations
Levy Creations is a Chicago-based designer specializing in engagement and anniversary rings. Their in-house design team is constantly producing new and unique styles using high quality gold and gems. Their attention to detail is paramount and they have a state of the art manufacturing facility including using a super white alloy for all their ring designs. If attention to detail and classic style is her thing, than Levy Creations is the right choice to help you Pop the Question.

D’Oro
The designers at D’Oro craft all their jewelry in-house and have master artisans capable of custom-designing anything you can dream up. If you want to make a custom ring, perfect for your custom girl, D'Oro is the right choice when you Pop the Question.

ivan alan jewels
The Le Contur engagement ring and wedding band collection is uniquely crafted to fit comfortably on the hand. Each ring contains finger-conforming contours, allowing for the most soothing fit imaginable. If she is in to comfort and designer style, the Le Contur collection from ivan alan jewels is sure to Wow her when you Pop the Question.

Heart of Gold

2009-01-29T15:23:00.000-06:00

Help The McHenry County United Way

Do you have old gold jewelry just lying around your jewelry box?

As an established customer at Nelson’s Jewelry, we invite you to scrap your old gold jewelry. Use it toward a purchase, a store credit, or we’ll even pay you cash.

We have a gold heart too. Nelson’s Jewelry will donate a portion of all gold received to The McHenry County United Way. The offer for cash ends February 14, 2009, so stop in today!

Call Justin with questions, 815-459-2411 or email justin@nelsonsjewelry.com

Engaging Stories Event Announced!

2008-11-25T17:10:00.000-06:00

Nelson’s Jewelry has been Engaging People for 46 years. We have been honored to help your family celebrate the many engaging events in life and hope you have enjoyed your Nelson's Jewelry experience. Please share your favorite Nelson's Jewelry engaging story with a note or picture. For each story you enter in our memory book we will make a donation to our South African project giving hope to orphaned children.

Email stories to engaging@nelsonsjewelry.com or post your story directly to our blog and thank you for sharing your important family moments with us.

What's New at Nelson's Jewelry in Crystal Lake, IL?

2008-11-13T19:00:00.000-06:00

Nelson’s Jewelry has been engaging people for 46 years. Since 1962 we have been honored to help McHenry County families celebrate the many engaging events in their lives. Thanks to our loyal customers and our commitment to offering quality jewelry at the lowest price every day, our business has once again grown in 2008. With our newly expanded store, many customers have asked what is new at Nelson’s Jewelry.

Ammolite is one of nature’s rarest gems and the newest member of our colored stone collection. Ammolite’s iridescent colors glow with a rainbow of colors. Each piece of Ammolite is unique in brilliance, color and pattern. Mined only in Alberta, Canada, Ammolite’s personality constantly changes as it flashes in the light. Because each stone is unique, this is a must-see for all lovers of special gemstones.

Also new at Nelson's is our collection of Chocolate Cultured Pearls from Imperial, which are perfect for the fall and winter fashion season. Each dyed Chocolate Pearl necklace offers a variety of flavorful colors including rich decadence, light espresso and latte as well as other chocolate medley of colors. Stop in at Nelson’s Jewelry and find your favorite chocolate shade today.

The NeverEnding Color necklace from ivan alan jewels is the perfect mix and match colored stone necklace with a removable clasp that allows the pendant to have one or more colored links attached at a time. Perfect for a contemporary Mother’s pendant, this necklace is also a great design for women who love to wear different colors every day. Check out www.ivanalanjewels.com for more details.

Finally if you are looking for a gift for the guy who has everything, the Seiko Elite collection of watches offers sophisticated technology with craftsmanship and designs that are a hallmark of the Seiko name. Each collection, Arctura, Velatura, and Premier has its own special allure to match a customer’s distinct personality. Ladies high fashion styles are available including beautiful diamond watch designs and stylish mother of pearl dials.

For more information on our store or the products above, please email me at justin@nelsonsjewelry.com or check out our website, www.nelsonsjewelry.com