Our Story
A Friendly Interview with Buffalo NY Jeweler, Barbara Oliver
About her passion for jewelry
Q) Naturally, the first question to ask any professional gemologist is: what's your birthstone? Please, tell us about a favorite piece of birthstone jewelry you own.
A) The traditional birthstone is Zircon and the modern stone is Tanzanite. One of my first designs is my own Tanzanite ring that I made in the early 90’s. I love the way the color shifts from violet to royal blue, depending on the light source.
Q) You have been in jewelry sales for 18+ years. What first attracted you to this exciting field of work?
A) When I was 9 years old and all my friends were reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, I was reading about diamonds and gemstones. I have always been fascinated how nature formed all those different minerals and crystals. It has been a love affair ever since. At age 35, after many years spent in jewelry sales, I figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up and went back to school to become a graduate gemologist.
Q) You design custom jewelry from a rainbow of precious stones and diamonds. Which gems are your favorites to work with and why?
A) I am not partial to any particular stone, as each one has a story. I do like to work with unusual stones like Andalusite, natural Spinel and Tourmalines in unusual hues. Anything that changes color is fun.
Q) Can you recall the most beautiful piece of custom designed jewelry you've ever created, Barbara? What was special about it?
A) A ring that I made for a client that contained 4 generations of her family’s diamonds and sapphires. We created a new heirloom using all the old and modern stones that suited her taste to a tee. We re-refined all the original metals from the old rings and pendants to retain the original meaning and kept the legacy going.
Q) Trends in gems and precious metals come and go. At different times pearls, colored diamonds, tanzanite and other treasures have reached peak popularity. In your observation, what's the hottest trend in gemstones and precious metals right now?
A) Color, color, color!!!! Yellow or white metals, choose what looks best on your skin and what matches your mood. Trendy, schmendy. Will you wear it with pride in 5 years or will it look dated? Choose what makes YOU happy - not what magazines say you should like. Think how you will wear the piece. Your skin tone, facial shape, height, hair length and so many other factors, combined with your personal taste, can point the way to the perfect piece of jewelry for you.
Q) In old movies and books, we typically see men choosing an engagement ring for their sweethearts. These days, is it still common for men to do this, or are they more likely to visit your jewelry store in Buffalo with their intended to choose an engagement ring?
A) Every couple is unique in their choosing the perfect ring and stone. Some are old fashioned in their method, some arrive in the store with a print-out kindly supplied by the fiancée-to-be, some come as a couple or entire family with a number of generations for the big decision.
Q) You are a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America and bring nearly 20 years of experience to your work. What is the most important thing you learned in earning your certificate and how does it help you in assisting your clients?
A) Offer only what you would want to own yourself. I am a “doctor of diamonds” so I take a lot of time to educate my clients as to what they are actually looking at. I do this to make sure that they understand why one stone may be more expensive, and yet another stone is prettier to their eye.
Q) What is the most exquisite or expensive piece of jewelry you've ever seen in your life?
A) On a trip to the Smithsonian Museum in D.C. as a child, I encountered the magnificence of the Hope diamond and it will stay in my mind forever!
Q) Recently, the world was saddened by the passing of Elizabeth Taylor. Her collection of jewelry, worth an estimated $30 million, is dazzling with its array of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. When this actress was young, tastes in jewelry tended to run to fabulous, flashy, massive and stunning for those who could afford fine pieces. Has this trend held through the years, or are clients more typically drawn to understated jewelry today?
A) The big 'blingage' has been, and always will be, the norm for some while others will always prefer the understated. Each customer has her own unique taste in jewelry, clothes. It is what we feel comfortable wearing that counts. I think you can tell a lot about a person by what pieces she has as her signature jewelry. What is every day for one would be black-tie-only for the other. No rules!
Q) If you could own just one piece from Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection, which would you choose and why?
A) Her diamond tiara. My husband calls me the Empress, plus, if I had a bad hair day, who would notice?
Q) The popularity of pearls never fades. These jewels of the sea require extra care and your local jewelry shop offers a pearl stringing service. Would you please explain how this works and how pearls should be cared for so that the owner gets greatest enjoyment from them?
A) Pearls are organic, so the best way to tidy them up after wearing is to slightly dampen a soft cloth and “make nice” on each individual pearl. Never dip the entire strand in any liquid as the string will not dry out where it passes through the drilled portion. This can cause the string to weaken in those spots. Restringing is not an expensive endeavor and can be done on an annual basis if the pearls are worn frequently. Pearl earrings and rings should be cleaned with whatever soap you would use on your skin, again avoiding soaking as the pearls are typically half drilled and affixed with epoxy glue and a prong. When putting on your strand or necklace with pearls, hairspray and perfume before you adorn yourself with your treasures of the sea.
Q) You also offer jewelry appraisals. What do these involve and how do they benefit the owner?
A) Appraisals are done in front of you while you wait. They are typically done for insurance replacement or estate resolution. The appraisal document includes a full description of each piece including design, stones and metals, along with the grading of each stone. A photo of the piece is printed on each appraisal to ensure easy identification and reproduction if necessary.
Q) Women are often fortunate enough to inherit heirloom jewelry. You offer jewelry repair in case it needs mending, but what if the style of a piece doesn't suit the recipient's personal tastes. How can you help?
A) Ah, that is the fun part for me. I love the challenge of taking from the past while keeping the sentimental value in a newly crafted, one-of-a-kind piece that meets the taste and style of the recipient. I help my clients understand that it is OK to change that special ring or pendant so it is worn and loved. Not OK to stick it in a drawer and never wear it because they feel compelled to keep it as-is and not love it. Repairs and refurbishing to original condition is also what we do. The look on my client's face when she is presented with the properly fitting, shiny treasure renewed is what I love about my work.
Q) You make an extra effort to create a lovely atmosphere for your clients to shop in when they come to your Buffalo jewelry store. Describe the experience they can expect when they come to Barbara Oliver & Co.
A) We have created a very relaxed, inviting atmosphere where customers feel welcome to browse, play dress up, have a beverage and a really, really good chocolate. We have comfortable a living room-style setting in addition to the showroom space for those who require the utmost in privacy as well. Batman and Polly Pockets coloring books and crayons for the younger crowd. Sometimes, Molly, my Standard Poodle, is here to help customers’ selection, or for some petting. Never any pressured sales. I consider my store to be like an adoption agency in which all my pieces find a good home where they are loved and appreciated.
Q) Anything else you'd like to add, Barbara?
A) We always try to accommodate everyone’s needs; however large or small, they are equally important to us. We pride ourselves on exemplary service and offer additional after-hours service by appointment.
We hope you've enjoyed getting to know more about Barbara Oliver and her beautiful jewelry store in Buffalo, NY today. We take great pride in our record of customer satisfaction. If you have a question or a complaint, please let us know so that we can make it right. No business is perfect, but we will do our best to be sure that you are satisfied. If you are interested in visiting Barbara Oliver and Co., or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please go to our contact page for more information or call us at (716) 204-1297. We look forward to hearing from you!
