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| Uncle Marty |
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I’ve been in the jewelry business for over 50 years.
During my informative years I was raised by my grandfather. My father served
our country during WW 2 and my paternal grandfather understood it was his duty
to teach me ethics and integrity. My grandfather was a poor man but believed
riches were determined by how you acted towards your fellow man. He taught me
respect for all peoples regardless of their religion, politics, culture,
ethnicity, color, and language they spoke. He believed that we are all G-ds
children and should act accordingly. My grandfather made his living in the
needle trades, tailoring for others.
When WW 2 ended, my father opened a one man shop setting other peoples diamonds
and gemstones into rings and jewelry. When his brother returned from the US Air
Force, after flying more than 50 missions over Germany, he was taught the
setting trade by my father.
My cousin who returned from the Seabees, stationed in China and the surrounding
area, where they built airfields to bring in supplies, joined my father and
learned the trade.
I was 12 years old and brought to work to run the errands. My job was known as
the Go For.
I was to go for whatever was needed.
My father, uncle and cousin taught me all they new about the business they grew
to love.
I too joined the United States Army when it was time that our country needed
me.
After serving in different headquarters within the United States I was sent for
overseas duty to Heidelberg Germany, a lovely city. I was married by this time
and remain married to the same woman after 47 years. We have 2 wonderful
children, both actively involved in the jewelry business, and 3 grandchildren.
Those are the real jewels in our lives..
Returning from Military service I decided to join the jewelry business, but not
as a "bench man."
I went to work for a series of retail jewelry stores and learned marketing,
salesmanship, and the jewelry trade from others actively in the trade. I
discarded the actions of some we thought were distastful and were not ethical
in their ways of doing business with the public.
We continued to learn and work toward the goal of some day owning our own
jewelry business.
Ultimately I went to work for the Zale Corporation. Although by that time I had
been a manager of a jewelry store owned by others, I accepted a position as
assistant manager of a leased dept. I rose through the ranks until becoming
District Manager of the Leased Dept (Discount Jewelry Concessions) in J.C.
Penny and other upscale stores. After 5 years I was promoted to the buying
office of Zales, at that time located in New York City.
I was trained in every department of the buying office till Mr. Zale appointed
me head of the Surplus Department. I was responsible for millions of dollars of
merchandise that either was mismarked, needed to be repaired or did not sell in
that geographical area and had to be shipped elsewhere.
I made all decisions as to destroying badly handled jewelry or resending it.
My direct supervisor was Mr. Abraham Zale, one of the founding brothers. I worked in the
New York Office another 5 years.
I left Zales to be the Jewelry Buyer of the largest wholesale jewelry company
in the United States. After working for them we came upon the realization I was
prepared to open our own jewelry business. We had very little working capital
but I had a supportive wife and family that understood we were about to start a
new adventure.
Our new business was to be called Kron Jewelers and located in Freeport NY. The
following is a family secret which I am about to disclose after all these
years. We bought an existing jewelry store location that had been a jewelry
store since 1902. The name they used was their family name but it was not for
sale. The sign man wanted $1000.00 to change the name. We didn't have the extra
funds. So my father in law suggested we use the letters and change the name. We
had letters K R O N to work with. NORK did not sound right and RONK did not
sound right so we called the store Kron Jewelers.
Kron Jewelers openned in Freeport NY in Sept of 1971.
From the beginning we outfitted an incomplete jewelry store in the front and a
factory in the back.
We designed and made many jewelry items which others have copied today and
claim as their own. We did not copywrite our designs so we cannot claim fraud.
Many of our customers who wear these original designs know the truth and know
they had the first of that design long before the copiers came on the scene.
I attended the Gemological Institute Of America (G.I.A.) to further my gemstone
education.
During this time I joined many of the jewelry trade organizations and became an
active participant of educating consumers about fraud in our industry. I warned
the "clam diggers" ( name used in the old days to identify Freeport citizens)
of the "Fracture Filled Diamonds" Diamonds being renamed as "Clarity Enhanced".
This was so unbelievable by the local newspaper that they refused to publish
what I wrote. So at my own expense I mailed 5500 letters to all my friends
(customers) who were on my database of previous purchasers from us.
It was expensive but I felt it was all worth it if I could save someone from
making an expensive mistake. I continued to send out other letters to the
community to warn them about other fraudulant practices such as temporarily
changing the color of gemstones that will revert back to their original color
after being exposed to daylight.
I recruited Arnold Diaz to investigate underkarat gold being sold by some
sellers of jewelry.
The series was called " All that Glitters is Not Gold".
I joined CJA Consolidated Jewelers Association. Ultimately I was offered the
unpaid position of Nassau County chairperson. I held this position for many
years. I resigned so younger people can rise through the ranks and stay active
in this most worthy organization. CJA sponsors a banquet each year to raise
funds for the "Make a Wish Foundation". We also have meetings in which we
educate jewelers about changes in our industry. I am now a member of the Board
of Directors
Over these past 34 years our customers have become our extended family. We have
watched their families grow up and now we are selling both them and their
children and grandchildren Diamond Engagement, Wedding Rings and other Genuine
Gemstone Jewelry.
Kron Jewelers made and sold all types of gold jewelry, including rings,
pendants, earrings, and more. We can still custom make anything your heart
desires based upon your sketch, picture or verbal description. We continue to
perpetuate our long standing good name by having another website called
www.Kronjewelers.com.
We also own another website which we call
www.HotsyTotsyJewelry.com.
The Hotsy Totsy girl is our granddaughter Sarah.
The name Hotsy Totsy originated from a swing band of the 1928-1929 era in which
my father partcipated . He played the violin and the piano. My dad was a
professional musician, whose talent was passed to both my children. My son
plays the piano and was professional and my daughter is a professional
Saxaphonist.
While owning our own jewelry store in Freeport NY, I was also employed by A.H.
Riise in Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands as a paid antique jewelry
consultant.
Those 14 years were a wonderful experience for us and our children.
Then hurricane Hugo hit the islands of St Thomas, St Croix and then the
mainland of the United States damaging a swath across South Carolina and other
states. After that devestating hurricane A.H. Riise sold the jewelry dept and
they no longer needed my services.
After selling our location In Freeport NY we continued in the jewelry business.
No one I know who loves their business as we do really retires.
We have been a wholesaler of Genuine Gemstones to the jewelry trade for many
years under the name of Jewel House Company Inc..
After selling our store it was natural for us to broaden our horizons by
offering the ultimate consumers and hobbyists the opportunity to buy Genuine
Gemstones at wholesale prices, using the name www.Jewelhouseonline.com. We
enjoyed 100% satisfaction on the other well known auction website too.
As many of you know we sell the finest natural genuine gemstones. We pride
ourselves in being able to satisfy the most discriminating buyers in the
jewelry trade. Jewelhouseonline is a seller of loose gemstones and 14 kt gold
settings (parts) for the hobbiests and lovers of gemstones who made their own
finished jewelry. Genuine Gemstones will be sold using the auction method.
We opened a jewelry store and joined the mainstream auction channel on The
Internet. Although we did sell jewelry using the same name, Kron Jewelers on
that auction channel and had 100% satisfaction we felt we did not want to be
associated with all the fraud we see on that auction website. Cubic Zirconias
being advertised as cz Diamonds. Platinum rings which were not really platinum
but were plated over silver metal, Genuine gemstones which are really synthetic
at best but mostly glass, name branded items which were poor copies, weights of
diamonds which were grossly exaggerated, clarity and color of Diamonds which
are not as claimed and super sellers on that channel who do not honor their
guarantees and use misleading appraisals.
The company that forwards these auctions into your home has no responsibility
to you for the fraud on their system, in fact they advertise the fraudulent
advertisements on their front page with impunity. They do not claim that the
website is responsible because they bring to your attention the FTC Guidelines.
which is sent to the advertising jewelers and sellers of jewelry and related
items. What they do not tell you is that "there is no penalty for anyone not
following the guidelines".
We have continued selling genuine gemstones to the jewelry trade as well as to
our family of customers, and pride ourselves on the reputation we have
established.
Our philosophy is to tell the entire truth about any item we sell. As a result
most of our loose Gemstones and all of our loose and mounted Diamonds 1/2 carat
and over come with a complete grading report and quality analysis from various
independent gemological laboratories, staffed with qualified Graduate
Gemologists. It has been this philosophy that has enabled us to properly
service and gain the loyalty of our 6,500 plus customers. We enjoy the
reputation of being an honest jeweler with great prices.
You Now have an "Uncle Marty" in the Jewelry Business. JewelHouseAuctions.com final price is
determined by you, not by me. The jewelry, gemstones and collectables being sold are both
new and resale. Each item will be advertised as such.
We are relocating to Cherokee County GA. but maintaining a location in New York.
Our life continues to be active.
Change only happens when you make a change. My grandfather taught me, so many years ago,
that anything learned is never wasted. My family encouraged me to go back to school to become
a licensed auctioneer. I successfully completed a course in Rome GA. to be trained as an
auctioneer. After that I had to be tested in Macon GA to attain an official license to be
an auctioneer. I just received notification that I have passed the test.
This our newest website is an auction website of integrity as are all of our websites.
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