“When you know, you know.”
Luke and I have been talking about our future together since our second or third date so, it may come as no surprise to my readers to see photos of us scoping out Malka Diamond’s local options for engagement rings and bands to bookmark for our big day down the road.
If you’ve been shopping in downtown Portland at all, you may have already spotted the Malka Diamond store front, where they often display their glitteriest pieces and recent vintage selection. (Strategically located next to a great cafe so you can grab a cup of joe as you peruse the selection.)
What stood out to me and Luke about Malka Diamond’s, was their incredibly warm customer service and familiar faces every-time we stopped in. I actually ran into Ronnie the owner once- before we officially met- because I used to drop by the coffee shop so frequently next door. I love to look at vintage jewelry and I remember her letting me in to peruse their stunning vintage cases, answering my questions and warmly walking me through the shop.
When we decided to partner up to share with my readers the inside scoop on their excellent, quality services, Luke and I ended up stopping in the shop to look around several times. Each time we were greeted either by Ronnie, or her husband, David and offered a cup of coffee as we looked around. (This is a common practice of theirs for clients who want to peruse and chat for a while.)
During one visit, David laid out some diamonds for us and explained to Luke and I what it is we are paying for and what we should look for in quality diamonds. I loved this educational, interactive experience, because I’m definitely one of those women who can eye even the tiniest flaws in a diamond. Ronnie explained to me (and you should ask her about this industry secret when you pop in) exactly how they can offer their diamonds for such a competitive (and affordable) rate for their clients. In other words, you are getting luxury service, for almost wholesale rates!
During another visit, we were able to take a peek behind the curtain- where the magic happens. As I mentioned, Malka does offer custom designs and these are all made on location with the Malka in-house experts.
I always feel that the information serves you best straight from the source, so I took a few minutes to interview Ronnie, who gave us some insight into their history, vision and superior local service.
I love how you educate your customers on the 4C’s of diamonds. Is this something that you go through with each customer who walks through your door?
One of the ways that sets Malka Diamonds apart from a typical jewelry shop is the education we give to each of our customers. David is a graduate gemologist from Gemological Institute of America (GIA). There are only a few GIA resident graduate gemologist living in Portland and thus if you find yourself at Malka Diamonds you are in good hands. David takes the time to explain the 4Cs (carat, color, clarity and cut) with each customer. He sits with you and shows you an array of different diamonds to help you see the difference. Once the customer has a clear understanding of how diamonds are graded, they will be confident in their decision.
What makes Malka stand out from the rest of Diamond Jewelers in the Portland Area?
Malka Diamonds stands out for a many reasons:
First, is the education you will gain from meeting with the Malka team (see above). We know diamonds inside and out. When you visit our store (even if your just browsing) we want you to leave feeling like a diamond expert. Our GIA certified gemologists are committed to helping you understand your options.
Second, it is the inventory. Our selection is large and curated by GIA graduate gemologists. In addition, our inventory is quite extensive and priced competitively with online and retail shops. You will gain a clear understanding of our quality and competitive pricing once you spend some time with our staff. In a no-pressure, laid-back environment.
Malka Diamonds is a beautiful boutique shop in historical downtown Portland. We believe in making sure no one pays more than they should. The history of Malka Diamonds stems from generations of diamond cutters and wholesale diamond dealers, so we know diamonds and we are always respectful of your budget.
Last, we have a state-of-the-art jewelers workshop that allows our two exceptional full-time master jewelers to custom create and restore all of our clients pieces. We pride ourselves on the meticulous craftsmanship and the attention to detail. We also find our customers feel safe knowing that their pieces never leave the shop.
Can you expand on the benefits of having David, a graduate gemologist from GIA, available to help select your diamonds?
On your first visit at Malka Diamonds you will spend time with our team looking over our large ring collection. We will walk you through each case and discuss design options, metal choices and other details for your future engagement ring. You may find the ring of your dreams during this walk through or decide to have our jewelers custom create a one-of-a-kind piece. We then will sit down and look at loose diamonds of various shapes, weights, color and clarities. We will guide you through the process of grading diamonds, so that you too can begin to feel like an expert in these rare stones. We will also discuss your budget so that you feel comfortable with your decision. The entire process is educated driven without any pressure or gimmicks. We like for customers to know exactly what they are buying and feel confident that they made the best choice.
Tell us about your choice to offer select vintage pieces and the process around curating those for your shop.
At Malka Diamonds, we have always found vintage pieces to be intriguing. They each have their own history and each have intricate filigree and hand-crafted engraving work which sets them apart from the way many designer rings are made today. David and Ronnie travel to antique shows as well as meet with exceptional estate vendors to find the stunning collection that is housed at Malka Diamonds. Once an item has been brought into Malka Diamonds, it will go through an extensive restoration process to make sure it is ready to be worn by the modern bride.
Do you hunt down certain vintage pieces for clients as well?
We have definitely hunted down some exceptional pieces for our clients in the past. We also have hand-crafted custom rings that are inspired by rings of the Art Deco and Edwardian era.
Please tell me a bit about the family-run business aspect and how this lends itself to the overall environment and experience of shopping with your staff.
As a husband+wife team, we not only bring in experience and education to our customers but we create a no-pressure, relaxed environment for our clients. You will meet with the owners, understand our philosophy and truly become part of the Malka family.
So there you have it- welcome to the family. What you’ll find at Malka Diamond’s, is a truly personalized, low-key yet friendly experience, often times with the owners themselves. If you’re looking for someone who will chat with you and give you all the ins and outs about diamonds and offer you incredibly competitive rates for custom designs, this is THE shop for you.
Sharon Wu says
oohh i’ve never heard of malka diamonds but your experience sounds amazing with them! will definitely drop some hints to the bf and let him know 😉 haha xx
Kileen says
SOUNDS LIKE AN AMAZING PLACE TO FIND THE PERFECT RING! GOODLUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS!
Kileen
cute & little
Carolyn says
What an exciting time for you two! Looks like there’s no better place to get your diamond! eek!
Stephanie says
I bet it was such a neat experience to see them putting together those custom pieces! I’m sure you’ll pick out the perfect ring when the time comes 😉
Nataly says
Oh wow! This looks so amazing! I will have to let my hubby know about their diamonds.
Deborah says
I’ve never heard of Malka diamonds! What an amazing experience!
Taylor Mobley says
I totally believe when you know you know. I knew I wanted to marry my husband right away 🙂 This is such an informative post!
lavendamemory@gmail.com says
It’s crazy how it works that way. Congrats to you too babe 🙂
Tonya Morris says
This is such a cute experience to document! i love the family owned business aspect!
lavendamemory@gmail.com says
It was so fun and yes, small businesses are the best to work with 🙂
Denise Kokinis says
this place just looks so amazing! i love that they have unique vintage pieces and really loved hearing their story! Looks like an awesome place for a new piece!
http://www.fashionloveletters.com/2019/01/staying-active-with-meijer.html