I had no idea that coming in for a restring of my pearls would end up in such a wonderful business…read morerelationship. Grace is absolutely amazing! She has been from my very first visit. She has always treated me with the utmost kindness and respect. She's such a pleasure to talk to and do business with. That said, I do feel compelled to share an observation regarding the uncomfortable level of attention I sometimes receive from some of the male police officers/security staff while shopping. On multiple occasions I've noticed prolonged staring and a sense of being closely watched in a way that I don't see directed toward other customers. It makes me feel uncomfortable and takes away from what would otherwise be a quite enjoyable shopping experience. In contrast, the female officers have always made the environment feel much more comfortable. One officer in particular, a Black woman with short, curly salt-and-pepper hair, goes out of her way to create a consistently welcoming atmosphere. She often greets me before the staff has the opportunity to, chats with both me and other customers, and, during slower moments, can usually be seen wiping down the display cases with a microfiber cloth to make sure they're clean and presentable for the next customer. These are small but meaningful things, but they make a discernible difference in the shopping experience. Now...Back to my pearls. During my initial visit, I brought in my necklace which had been horribly restrung by another jeweler. Honestly, it looked like a toddler did it. While, I waited for Grace to grab the paperwork, I took a look at some of the beautiful pieces they had available in the store. Grace informed me that they were running a special, offering an additional 20% off of all jewelry that month to celebrate the store's anniversary. After I completed the paperwork for my pearls, I mentioned to Grace that I was interested in upgrading my white gold and diamond tennis bracelet: I intended to sell my current one and purchase a new one. She gave me the information necessary for that transaction and gave me a specific day to return so that a gentleman named Andrew would have the opportunity to give me a price for my existing bracelet. I came back on the day that she recommended and brought some other pieces that I no longer wear as well. I ended up selling the pieces (for a bit less than I thought I would get), but after talking with Grace, I realize that another diamond tennis bracelet might not be the way to go. She asked me if I had any interest in yellow gold. I told her that I haven't worn yellow gold since I was a child and that it's just never been my thing. She told me that it would look beautiful on my skin given my complexion, and she brought out a set of gold necklaces that were not shown on the floor for me to try on. I had to admit... She was right. Based on the aesthetic I told her I wanted when I was planning to get a new diamond tennis bracelet, the pieces that she showed me aligned much more with my vision. Essentially the conspicuous detail of the craftsmanship was much more impressive (to me) than the "bling". I ended up leaving with a completely different bracelet than I expected, but every time I look at it, I'm so much happier than I ever was with my diamond tennis bracelet. When I came back to pick up my pearls, Grace showed me some other lovely pieces that they got in... which I'm also considering adding to my collection. I love that Grace took the time to truly learn and understand my aesthetic, as well as my rationale behind it, as opposed to just selling me the first shiny thing. After I purchased my new bracelet, she confided in me that she was really glad I didn't buy the diamond tennis bracelet I had my eye on, even though it was a more expensive piece, because this item, in her opinion, looked so much better on me. What started as a simple visit to get my pearls re-strung has become the foundation of a long-standing business relationship. I appreciate that I have one dedicated person that I can go to, who has taken the opportunity to get to know me, not just as a potential customer, but as a person and is able to make recommendations from that place. I don't think enough businesses understand or value the importance of that business relationship. I'm currently planning to purchase a few additional items (that I otherwise had no intention of buying) simply because I value this relationship, I want to support the business, and because Grace took the time and care to gently push me past my comfort zone and help me to evolve my aesthetic. I've already referred this business several times and I am looking forward to many more future visits and future purchases.

This is the best jewelry store in Old Town and the DMV. First rate service. Ask for Andrew B. He's…read morethe best.