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Turning Glass Into Diamond
Turning Glass Into Diamond
By: Ken Foster
“Honey, where do you want to go today?” Was the question I asked knowing this morning was the only good weather expected this weekend. “I don’t know. What’d you have in mind?” She replied, not really caring but she does expect me to give her a couple of choices. Just like asking what do you want to eat and wanting me to give several suggestions for her to choose from.
But today was different, I knew what I wanted to do and said. “I want to go find the perfect pair of sunglasses.” I’ve had this problem for some time now and it involves my agreeing to always wear a helmet. My regular prescription glasses seem to oscillate at the same frequency as my face shield only opposite (in other words they shake). These two items shake in different directions that it blurs my vision at highway speeds and I can’t make out signage until I’m right on it. It has something to do with the padding pressing against the legs of my glasses and the wind. This isn’t the safest conditions but one I’m hoping to change real soon. Changing helmets helped but wasn’t the solution so maybe a pair of glasses that have changeable legs that make them goggles might resolve this problem.It was a beautiful Saturday morning, the sun was shinning and the temperature was in the upper fifties with the high in the mid sixties, you know the reason we live in Texas. I wanted this issue fixed before we rode to the Lone Star Rally and that left just two weeks. Still that should be sufficient time for prescription lenses to be made.
After bundling up we headed to our first stop about fifteen miles away. They had a few sunglasses but nothing for prescription and it seemed they leaned more toward motorcross than street. As we were heading back to the bike my phone ringed (something that rarely happens). It was our friend Craig calling to find out what we were doing. He was out trying to get something for his Jeep. Strangely enough he was only a mile away from where we were going next so he exited the freeway and waited for us. We quickly got our gear on and rode two miles south to meet up with him and continue shopping.
With no luck there either we decided to head back to our end of town and maybe stop for lunch at a local burger shack we frequent. Craig was by himself in his Jeep so he couldn’t cruise in the HOV lane so he was held up in some traffic while we motored along without delay. We met again at the burger joint and had a nice meal while watching the weather channel showing the rain moving in from the northwest. We still had an hour and a half to kill so we finished eating and met again at Al Lambs Honda. I knew they had some sunglasses but hadn’t looked at them.
With no luck there either we didn’t really have enough time to keep the search going so we sat outside at the tables and enjoyed the warmth of the sun and talked about very little. I had just bought a round of soft drinks when I heard my wife say in a horrified, bewildered, crushed, exasperated tone. “My diamond’s gone!”
Immediately Craig and I went into search mode and began scouring the ground for the errant gemstone. We were on hands and knees looking when I asked. “When was the last time you remember seeing it?”Her reply was. “I don’t know. I think it was there when we left this morning.” Every guy knows that deep sick feeling in the pit of his stomach when his wife is staring at him it fix this catastrophe. And this wasn’t anything like “Honey the plumbing’s backed up” or when its thirty degrees outside and she say’s “Can you add some air to the tires I think they’re low”. Those are just minor irritants; this was like a mule just kicked me in the gut. I looked toward the west at the incoming storm and knew there wasn’t anyway I could get over there and look for a diamond in two parking lots as the storm did its thing. All I could do was respond. “Don’t worry we’ll get your ring fixed.” When we got home the sun was no longer out and I looked all over the driveway in hopes that was where it was lying. I gave up the search just as the rain started.
We looked at our homeowner policy and it did include a provision to repair or replace jewelry but we had to have an aprasial within the last year. Ooops, no help there, that’s typical.
Fast-forward to the middle of January and I can’t take it any longer. She’s wearing another ring I gave her but it isn’t the same. Don’t get me wrong it’s a nice ring but it has her birthstone in it instead of a diamond and it not nearly as nice, certainly not a wedding ring. We’re at my in-laws house for a birthday party and I ask if anybody knows of a good jeweler. Suddenly at the same time the reply is Nasr Jewelers from my mother in-law, sister in-law and daughter. We spent the next few minutes hearing how my sister in-law knew both the Nasr brothers before they had their own business and do excellent work at a fair price.
On our way home I decided to swing by Firewheel Mall and see where this jewelry store was located and was surprised to see it was right where we were told on the square. Of course it was already late and on Sunday so they weren’t open but at least I didn’t have to look for it while also trying to find a parking spot.
Monday after my wife got home from work we drove over to see what we could do about getting the ring repaired. I also wanted to look at just a wedding band that she could wear while riding the bike. My thinking was simple; she couldn’t pull off a diamond with her gloves if there wasn’t one.
Once at the store we met the owner John Nasr, he was very polite and helpful. My wife told him what happened and handed over the ring for him to look at. He gave it a through examination then said it needed a new basket that held the diamond and a new diamond then he surprised me by asking. “What do you ride?” After I told him I asked. “Do you ride?” With a reply of “yes” the next few minutes were filled with typical bike talk. He finally gave us a very good price on the service and while my wife filled out the repair order I looked at gold bands. When she was finished we managed to pick out a very nice ring and John quoted a good price but I just couldn’t help myself and had to shoot him back an offer that he reluctantly accepted. I know he still made money but not as much.
Then something remarkable happened. I was getting ready to pay for the repair and the new ring when John stopped me as he said. “It’ll be ready Wednesday at the latest, you can pay then.”
I was flabbergasted but managed to point out we were taking the gold band with us, didn’t he at least want me to pay for it? He replied, “No, it’ll give her a chance to decide if she likes it or if she wants something else.”
We both left with our jaws open and agreed John was a good businessman. Now I’m not the most gullible guy around, I know the ring we left to get repaired was far more valuable that the one we were leaving with but still John didn’t have to do that.
Tuesday afternoon I received a call from John and he told me the ring was ready to be picked up. A quick call to my wife and she was home within minutes of getting off work. We went back over to see what the ring looked like and were impressed. They had indeed replaced the basket with a heavier one and also set the new diamond deeper into it for better retention. Of course they straightened it out and buffed some nicks away before giving it a beautiful cleaning. All of this they did in house and with a level of professionalism and experience that’s rare to find. Even though he didn’t sell me the ring originally he gave us a lifetime guarantee. Wow, can I get even more impressed, yes I can. John then offered to take the gold band back without charge if she just wanted her ring. We both said we’d keep the band.
So now you know how to turn glass into diamond. Or how the search for the perfect sunglasses led to a new diamond. We also have found a new friend and biker friendly jeweler. NASR Bros. Jewelers, 595 Town Square Blvd., Garland, TX, 75040. Ask for John Nasr and tell him I sent ya! Funny, I still haven’t found that perfect sunglasses. Maybe I should ask Shelly if she knows anyone that needs some long term testing done.
