I must be honest, I work at Baraka. But I need to share my experiences with this little business with a big dream: I have been a part of many businesses and organizations and very few (hmmm... if any?) have the drive, professionalism, creativity, and vision that I have experienced at Baraka Gemstones & Jewelry. I believe in this business. And promoting people's passions is my passion. So I need to share this review. Jamie Jockwig (the owner) lives and breathes passion and intensity. I have watched him treat each customer with dignity and respect. He is a man among men who is changing the world. With his passion to help the Baraka Orphanage in Kosele, Kenya, (https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=baraka%20gemstones%20and%20jewelry%20orphanage%20support) Jamie has brilliantly combined his business - a business that serves clients in our celebrations of life, using jewelry, with the goal of meeting the desperate need of care and nurture of children in Kenya. Jewelry commemorates our best moments and celebrates all the best of who we are as humans: pride, nurture, beauty, love, commitment, hope and even grief. Jamie has taken the best of humanity and has put it to work for the greatest need and resource of our world: to help orphans thrive. This vision in and of itself is a great one, and worthy of support. BUT WAIT! There's more: I wish you could be a fly on the wall at Baraka and hear the great stories that Baraka was built on: *Jamie's initial encounter with George, the retired jeweler who gave his life to jewelry, and chose to help Jamie with his vision. Almost every time I am with Jamie, he mentions some bit of wisdom that he learned from George, who continues on today as a part of Baraka's advisory board. *(Speaking of the advisory board,) I wish you could be part of this group of men who are the "who's who" of Seattle's jewelers, marketers & creatives, a group of men who believe in Baraka to their core, and witness their wisdom, loyalty and passion. *I wish you could experience the special relationship Jamie has with his bench jeweler. I wish you could see the incredible designs and creation that come out of their collaborations together in order to bring each client the special touches that makes each handcrafted piece a work of art - each piece commemorating part of someone's precious life and heart and story. *Or hear the many stories of clients that have come to Baraka Gemstones & Jewelry to find the special piece that will commemorate landmarks. I wish that you could witness the way that client after client is satisfied and full of joy - sometimes even to the point of tears - at the completion of each project. In a world of madness where wrong is right and everything seems upside down, Baraka is bringing quality, dignity, and heart. Baraka is a picture of the change that this world needs. read more

Jamie was awesome! I wanted to get my girlfriend a necklace for her birthday, with not much more idea in mind than using an aquamarine stone (for her birthstone), and something that would be symbolic of our relationship. I don't know much about jewelry, but after searching through the pendants on the site, I saw a trillion shaped white gold pendent with diamonds that I thought was perfect. My girlfriend and I are climbers, and the trillion shaped represented a climbing boulder to me. I called up Jamie about it, he was very honest and open up front about options and what we could do. At no point in the process did I feel pressured, or not cared about. It was very clear that he was first and foremost interested in the best thing for me and what I was looking for. He said up front that it was going to be difficult to find an aqua of the size that would fit the pendant, but that he would make some calls. I heard back from him that weekend, letting me know that he had found a dealer with a lighter aqua that would fit the pendant, it would have to be cut to the trillion shape though. I said lets go for it, he had the stone cut, and when it was ready I came in to take a look. At this point I still had not committed to buy anything, so the effort was amazing. I was pleased with the aqua, Jamie had also ordered in the pendant, and we looked at how it would fit. We then discussed options for the diamonds to fit around the pendant, and the price of it all. Once I was happy, only then did we draw up the final quote and I submitted payment. I came back some time later to get the piece, and thought it was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever purchased. Thanks Jamie! read more

I recently sought to sell a set of rings and spent considerable time researching jewelers. After reaching out to a few places, Baraka consistently stood out, recommended by several sources in my research. Jamie was prompt, personable, and courteous throughout our exchanges. We arranged a convenient date for me to bring in the rings for an evaluation and quote. Jamie took the time to thoroughly assess my rings, and I appreciated that he kept me informed about the current state of the diamond market, which has been impacted by the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds. Despite this, he offered a fair price that aligned closely with my expectations. He was also transparent, suggesting that I explore third-party marketplaces for potentially higher offers but reassuring me that I could return if those options didn't pan out. Given my concern about scams, I ultimately chose to accept his offer, feeling confident in his professionalism. The entire process was seamless, efficient, and straightforward. Jamie also took the opportunity to educate me on gold bars and coin investments--a topic that has recently been circulating in my social circle--which I greatly appreciated. The atmosphere at Baraka is equally impressive. The showroom is impeccably organized, with jewels and gems displayed beautifully, set against a backdrop of elegant decor. The staff were all incredibly friendly and approachable, adding to the welcoming environment. For anyone looking to buy or sell jewelry, I highly recommend Baraka for its exceptional service and knowledgeable team. read more

Baraka Gemstones - Could not get better People or Customer Service!! I showed up at Baraka Gemstones (hereafter BG) on a Saturday afternoon with an emergency - I needed to get 2 rings, with Star Sapphires, and I wanted them by that coming Wed afternoon. This was coming at the last minute and I knew I couldn't expect them to come through - too many variables - but I had to try. I called them up and Jamie (owner) answered - I explained my plight, and he told me to come over. Right away he had one ring that fit what I was looking for - which was amazing enough, - but not the second ring. For that ring, he had to cut a stone from a different ring, order the new ring, have it taken to another jeweler to have it assembled, before it could be polished, and be taken for appraisal. He couldn't guarantee anything because of the mail system or how backed up the other jeweler was, but he would do his best. The ring showed up late, so everything was pushed back, and he wasn't able to get it to me until the 11th hour - when he met me at Pacific Place in Seattle - to deliver both rings!! Jamie didn't have to do half of what he did to make this happen - much of which was on your day off - and took most of your Monday morning - I can't thank you enough - and as an epilogue - both Jessica and Jesper got their rings - and appear to like them, and the thought behind them, very much - I think it was a home run!! - and it couldn't have been done thanks again - and I know where I will be going if I want another ring - Baraka Gemstones!! read more

I set out to surprise my girlfriend with a beautiful custom ring. After much research, I found an independent online silversmith to make it for me. As it was a surprise, I used a printable online sizer to determine her ring size...big mistake. The ring just fell off her. With no returns, I was left in a quandary. I love to support independent artists and small businesses. But would I be able to find one locally who could resize her ring without damaging the integrity of the inner inscription? You bet I did. Jaime at Baraka lived up to his namesake. He was truly a blessing. All that it took was a quick size evaluation and he remedied my dilemma. In a few days, we received a personal phone call that the ring was ready for pick up. Jaime was able to drop her ring two whole sizes without ruining the inner inscription. It looked beautiful! He even remembered me when I returned the second trip. The studio is filled with amazing jewelry, some of which Jaime himself explained the process of creating with me. In the future, all of my custom jewelry work will be created by Baraka. The service is personal and his story is inspirational. Where else can your custom creation aid in the benefit of Kenyan orphans? If you need a friendly, yet knowledgable jeweler, look no further than Jaime at Baraka. read more

Ah. I see. Semantics. A quote. Yes, you gave me a quote. And no I wasn't interested in getting insurance on jewelry I was looking to sell. I will give a star for correcting me on that. I just find it odd that you keep going on about me simply pointing out that in my experience your quote was the lowest of 3 places I went to. It's business. I don't care what you do in your free time. I'm basing my review simply on what I went through. I'm not out to hurt people or take anyone down. I'm not sure why that's so hard for you understand. You will continue to do business and I'm sure you will make out fine. It's not a popularity contest.You will some happy customers, some not so happy. You simply can't please everybody.Based on my situation, I would simply have people do their due diligence and see if they get a fair deal. If they decide to do business with you, great. Finally, telling me about markets and days of the week isn't something I really need to hear or care about. It comes across as an excuse. When you gave me your quote, funny you never mentioned anything about the day of the week and the market. And I would never leave my jewelry with anybody for a week or longer. That's just asking way too much. read more

I couldn't be happier with my ring from Baraka! It was a happy accident that we found this place and I'm so glad we did. I was only half-looking for a replacement wedding band the day we stumbled upon Baraka in the little "artisan annex" at the Sunday Ballard Farmer's Market. One look, though, at the unusual pieces on display, and I was sold. The tourmelated quartz immediately caught my eye, and once I slipped the piece onto my finger, I knew it was meant to be. The ring is unique and visually stunning. The owner, Jamie, explained the idea behind the design (a little architectural setting paired with some vintage details) and that sealed the deal. Jamie was able to size it and have it back to me in under a week. The fit is beautiful but Jamie made extra sure I was happy with the final product. I was! You MUST check out their store in Ballard to get a bigger glimpse of their work. AND- SUPER BONUS- Baraka has partnered with Baraka Orphanage in Kenya to provide a new shelter for orphans there. i feel pretty darned good at night knowing my purchase is not just lining the pockets of the rich- but rather enriching the lives of those in need. Win win all around. read more

I appreciated the loving attention the staff gave my beloved silver bone bracelet. I brought it in for a simple link repair that ended up costing under $17, but I was treated like I was bringing in a high-ticket item that would generate lots of revenue. The person who repaired my bracelet also cleaned it and went over it carefully. As a result, Jamie let me know that some of the other links are wearing thin (which I can now see, but hadn't noticed), so I'll be taking it back in a few months for a thorough overhaul. They also held off on repairing another bracelet because the metal isn't readily identifiable and they didn't want to do further damage by experimenting around with it. I appreciated their honesty and that they didn't take any risks. Jamie gave me some good ideas about next steps to take to get the bracelet safely repaired. While I was in there, I noticed they have some gorgeous jewelry for sale that seems to be reasonably priced (I went in right before my birthday and was soooo tempted). Definitely check this place out, whether you need repair work done or you're looking for something special! read more

I brought my engagement ring to Jamie last week to be sized down a half size. I sent him a message via his website contact form to find out how much it would cost/how long it would take. To my surprise (and delight!) he got back to me within a couple of hours and his quote was far more reasonable than other jewelry stores in the area. He explained that the re-sizes/repairs are picked up on Saturdays and are usually ready the following Saturday, so I went in on a Saturday morning to drop off my ring. Jamie was very friendly and I felt comfortable leaving my ring with him to be re-sized. True to his word, he called one week later to let me know my ring was ready to be picked up! It cost under $80 to have my ring re-sized, which was great. Most shops charge $100+. Plus, Jamie donates 10+% of his profits to support orphanages in Kenya. Baraka may be easy to miss since its tiny storefront is on the ground floor of an apartment complex, but it deserves more visibility! My ring fits perfectly now, and it's shinier than the day I first got it. We will definitely be using Baraka for any future jewelry needs! read more

Baraka is a local shop that immediately makes you feel more at ease when you stop in. Jamie is absolutely amazing to work with. Extremely personable and very up front, never once did he try to push a certain stone or setting on me. Instead he guided me through all the options, telling me exactly how expensive each style would be as well as why it was that price. The same went for stones. Very knowledgeable and absolutely helpful when it came to making those decisions. In terms of actually tracking down a stone, he went above and beyond for me. I had a fairly tight budget and Jamie had warned me that the style of stone I had in mind was very uncommon to find at the price I wanted, but he said he would do his best. A week later, I stopped back in after receiving a call that he had found some possible options. He absolutely did his best. He showed me a good variety of stones in the style I was looking for, and he was actually able to find one that not only looked amazing but it was under my budget. I have no problem recommending Baraka after how great an experience I had. read more

Jamie Baraka is an outstanding jeweler. I'm so glad we found him. He restored our faith in jewelers after dealing with others who felt like used-car salesmen with changing and inflated prices. Jamie is that rare and amazing gem of a professional who you can trust with your prized possessions -- and trust that he will be honest and give you a fair and excellent price. We went to Jamie with a wedding ring repair. Yardwork had left the ring deformed and missing a few stones. Jamie had a beautiful office in Ballard with great ambiance -- and even a bowl of water and treats for our dog! He also conveniently works at the Fremont Fair on Sundays. Jamie delivered impeccable work on-schedule. The ring looked as beautiful as new. I also read in the Seattle Times that he donates some of his proceeds to an orphanage where he used to work. Amazing! He will definitely be our trusted family jeweler and we're recommending him to friends and family. read more

Couldn't be more pleased with my experience at Baraka. I needed a jewelry appraisal for my mom's estate and was astounded at the quality and comprehensive detailed description of each piece, and the surprising value of what my family and I supposed to be largely costume jewelry. Jamie and Shane couldn't have been more helpful, supportive, and honest in introducing me to the costs, timeline, and avenues of selling or donating what was for my mom her lifetime treasures. It's a busy shop: While there I saw young couples find their special rings, seniors picking out the perfect setting for their damaged or broken legacy heirlooms, on the spot evaluations of the cut and quality, even the history behind their precious brooches, pendants, earrings. You can bet I'll be back. I plan to get my wife a very special anniversary ring this summer which I know would be impossible to find at some mall factory jeweler, so see you soon Jamie and Shane! read more

My husband stumbled across Baraka while looking online for vintage jewelry as a birthday present. We live in Ballard but had never noticed Baraka before. We ended up buying a beautiful peridot pendant, which I just love. More importantly, though, Jamie looked at my 1930s wedding ring while we were there (he'd offered to clean it) and said that I really needed to get it re-tipped, as three of the prongs weren't doing anything to hold the diamond in. He took it to a bench jeweler for repair and it came back looking better than it did when we first bought it. I now feel secure in the knowledge that my diamond isn't going anywhere. Jamie provides great customer service, and even had some duplos for our 18 month old to play with while we browsed. Now that I have a kid I know how hard it must be for a business of this sort to accommodate children, but Jamie does a great job. I'm sure we'll be back in the coming years. read more

In a search for a present for my wife for Christmas, I luckily stumbled upon Jamie at Baraka Gems in Greenwood. The store itself has an amazing variety of intricate pieces from so many backgrounds. I was looking for jade, but they also have so many other gems and minerals. Both loose and rough, to cut and set in some really great pieces. They also do wedding sets, anniversary pieces, and other high quality designs. Jamie and his team are so knowledgeable about the stones, and the pieces, it is impressive. I was very happy to find an amazing jade bracelet that I think my wife is really going to cherish for years to come. I took my son with as well, and he was amazed and found several pieces that were amazing. He was also happy to find out Jamie has a music background, and they talked about that as well as the Jewelry and pieces. Really a good place that I think I will be frequenting for years to come. read more

I inherited a 2+ carat diamond from my great grandmother and wanted to make it into an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I was very hesitant to leave the stone in the hands of anybody (given that it's the most expensive thing I own) but, when I consulted with Jamie, I trusted him right away. We found the most beautiful antique looking setting to house our 9mm diamond (which is a difficult size to match). The setting was made for a smaller stone, but Jamie made it work for us with no extra charge. Jamie was so diligent and happy to meet our needs. He was a pleasure to work with. I walked in to Baraka with a giant diamond that I had no idea how to handle and no idea what setting to put it in, and Jamie was extremely patient and helpful.. I could not be more pleased with my experience.. He made the most beautiful engagement ring in the world for me! read more

Hidden away in the recesses of Seattle are some gems of businesses dedicated to creativity and to customer satisfaction. Jamie Jockwig's Baraka Gems is one of them, tucked away on Greenwood just below 85th Street. Don't expect to simply drop in and peruse what the gem shop has to offer, though. You've got to be invited. Ring the bell and a challenging voice asks, "Who are you? Do you have an appointment?" Security is TIGHT at Baraka Gems. Be prepared to bring your driver's license or passport. With those introductions out off the way, Jamie invites you to browse the stunning jewelry creations he has made or imported. Good taste is the byword at this place. He deals primarily with wedding sets, the unique kind that last forever. And you're unlikely to forget him as well. You may even want to keep coming back just to check in and see what he's up to next. read more

Our experience with Jamie was fantastic. We found Baraka after we had visited a couple other jewelry stores around Seattle looking at engagement rings, and it was like a breath of fresh air. There was no pressure, no pushing the budget, just a willingness to help us find what we were looking for. Jamie walked us through the entire process of creating an engagement ring. He was able to show us a selection of diamonds in our price range and ultimately helped us find the perfect one. He was then able to provide a selection of settings that would fit the stone, which was great to see. After deciding on the setting, Jamie arranged for the stone to be set and the ring to be sized quickly. The ring came out magnificent, absolutely stunning, and fits perfectly. Without a doubt, I would recommend Baraka Gems to anyone in the market for fine jewelry. read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Baraka! Jamie and Shane are the best! Located in the heart of Ballard, this small shop is as unique and no pressure as one can find in a jewelry shop! Jamie made choosing an engagement ring fun and no pressure. I got the chance to try on styles with a girlfriend and even though I came back more than once he remembered me every time. A year later, ready for a wedding band, Shane was there to support me every step of the way. I was able to order several styles from the website to try on (no strings!). I was patiently supported while I made the decision and it was very clear that this shop and everyone in it has a strong passion for their work, not just a pay check. I am beyond thrilled with the wedding set I have and appreciate that money from my purchase benefits children in need. read more

My fiance and I did a random search on the internet to find a jeweler who might be able to buy a ring set from us. We found Baraka and went in to the store and had a chat with Jaime about different options for selling it. We got a great education on how the process works and decided to try consignment to get the best dollar value. Jamie got the job done and was a pleasure working with all along the way. I highly recommend Baraka Gemstones if you are searching for a local jeweler. The website is amazing as well as store hours and location! When I went to local bank to cash my check for the sale, the banker that was assisting me also gave me a raving review of his own personal shopping experience with Jaime. Good to know your reputation exceeds you in your community. May your business continue to grow and prosper. Thank you. read more