CollectionsMay 09, 2025
Pieces of the Week: Marie Lichtenberg’s Collaborations for Mother’s DayLichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.
IndependentsFeb 06, 2016
Chicago-Area Jeweler Delivers Using a Drone
Distinctive Gold Jewelry in Frankfort, Ill. recently surprised a longtime customer by lowering a Concord watch onto her front lawn.
Frankfort, Ill.--Ever since the notion of delivering goods via drone hit the news, jeweler Tony D’Ortenzio wanted to get in on the action.
His dream was to give one couple a memorable engagement by flying the ring in mid-proposal.
D’Ortenzio owns Distinctive Gold Jewelry (known as DGJ) with his brother Joe. The store, which has been in the family for more than 40 years, has had three Chicagoland locations and now is in Frankfort, a southwest suburb.
The store’s inaugural drone delivery took place earlier this fall, on Sept. 23, but the planning began months before that.
In late spring, DGJ sales associate Lisa Karlstedt, who has worked at the store for 25 years, identified someone she thought would like the idea of giving a gift by drone, a longtime customer named Rob.
Rob and his wife Paula have purchased quite a bit of jewelry from DGJ over the years. What’s more, Rob, who works as an accountant, has a keen interest in technology and likes doing things that are fun and different for his wife.
Karlstedt said he was into the idea from the start, and they knew then that the drone delivery would take place either for their anniversary or her birthday, both of which are in September.
D’Ortenzio, meanwhile, was doing what any smart retailer who has a drone dream would do--hunt for a local vendor to help him execute something that is out of his area of expertise.
Not surprisingly, he found what he was looking for on Facebook, a local man named David Ho who owns Aerial Photo of Illinois, a company that deploys drones to take pictures for the real estate market. Ho is not only experienced in operating drones, but has FAA approval to do so commercially.
D’Ortenzio said he called Ho in to take an aerial photograph of the store, then popped the
question: Could he fly a piece of jewelry from the store to a house about two miles away via drone?
Ho consented, and D’Ortenzio was one step closer to executing his long-sought-after special delivery.
Delivery Day
The delivery was done via manned drone, meaning Ho and his wife and D’Ortenzio and Karlstedt followed it in two separate cars to make sure it didn’t get tangled in the town’s power lines along the way. Ho was in the lead car, operating the drone with a remote control.
WATCH: The watch’s journey via video shot by the drone
Karlstedt said tensions were high as their white sedan wove its way through the streets to Rob and Paula’s house.
About 250 feet above them, a $10,000 18-karat white gold Concord watch with a diamond-set mother-of-pearl dial was flying through the air sans insurance. She said there isn’t really coverage for drone delivery that they are aware of, so “We knew when we figured out that we were going to fly a piece of jewelry from our store to their house, we were going to be responsible for it. And it was way up there, let me tell you.”
Luckily, the weather cooperated and there were no hang-ups along the way, literally.
WATCH: “This is the weirdest thing you’ve ever done, Rob.”
When the drone landed, or, rather, hovered, and Paula pulled down her anniversary gift, everybody was pleased and relieved. “It was the perfect day, the perfect moment for the perfect customer,” D’Ortenzio said.
He said the special delivery, which the store 100 percent paid for, cost him about $350 out of pocket. That’s expensive as deliveries go but worth it--not only were his longtime customers happy, but the drone delivery netted them coverage in local newspapers and on social media.
While there likely won’t be any more aerial deliveries from DGJ in the near future as the Chicago winter sets in, D’Ortenzio hopes to take flight again. Next time, he’d like to drop in with an engagement ring, which is what he originally wanted to deliver.
“I still want to do the engagement one,” he said. “I just think that would be so memorable.”
Karlstedt agreed.
“We would love to do this for an engagement sale. Imagine getting proposed to and having a ring come out of the sky. That would be so cool.”
More on Independents
The Latest
SourcingMay 09, 2025
Gemfields Resumes Emerald Mining in ZambiaThe miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.
CrimeMay 08, 2025
Former NYC Jewelry Store Employee Arrested in 2017 Choking Death of Boss Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
EditorsMay 08, 2025
5 ‘Superfine’ Met Gala Jewelry MomentsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.
Weekly QuizMay 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinMay 08, 2025
Instappraise Introduces Game-Changing Trifold Appraisal FormatSponsored by Instappraise
FinancialsMay 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth Notes an Uptick in Engagement Ring Sales in Q1CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
IndependentsMay 08, 2025
Verragio Announces New Regional Sales ManagerCathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.
FinancialsMay 07, 2025
Pandora Posts Strong Q1, Plans for TariffsThe company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.
ColumnistsMay 07, 2025
The Smart Lab: Building a Seasonal Marketing Strategy for Mother’s Day and BeyondConnecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.
SourcingMay 07, 2025
Gemfields Says Emerald Sales Improved in Latest AuctionIts commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.
TechnologyMay 07, 2025
Punchmark’s Latest Podcast Features a Very Special Guest National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff joined Michael Burpoe to talk tariffs, consumer confidence, and the sky-high price of gold.
AuctionsMay 06, 2025
Harwell Godfrey Reimagines 10-Carat Blue Diamond for Met Gala-Ready BroochDesigner Lauren Harwell Godfrey made the piece as an homage to the 2025 gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Events & AwardsMay 06, 2025
Here’s Who Made Jewelers of America’s New ‘20 Under 40’ ListExpanded this year to include suppliers, JA’s 2025 list honors 40 up-and-coming professionals in the jewelry industry.
IndependentsMay 06, 2025
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens New StoreLocated in Fort Smith, it’s the Mid-South jeweler’s first store in Northwest Arkansas.
IndependentsMay 06, 2025
Gunderson’s Jewelers to Be Featured on ‘World’s Greatest’ TV SeriesThe episode about the family-owned jeweler will premiere May 17.
IndependentsMay 05, 2025
Zadok Jewelers Opens Store in AustinThe Houston-based jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot showroom will include a Rolex boutique.
AuctionsMay 05, 2025
Nancy Astor’s Cartier Tiara Heads to AuctionThe turquoise and diamond tiara hasn’t been on the market since it was purchased by Lord Astor in 1930.
SourcingMay 05, 2025
Crater of Diamonds Yields 4-Carat Brown Diamond“The Duke Diamond” is the largest diamond registered at the Arkansas park so far this year.
TrendsMay 02, 2025
Ring Concierge, Kraft Partner on Mother’s Day Macaroni Necklace The childhood craft of making dried pasta necklaces for Mother’s Day is all grown up as the 14-karat gold “Forever Macaroni” necklace.
CollectionsMay 02, 2025
Piece of the Week: Angely Martinez’s Emerald Promise RingSet with May’s birthstone and featuring an earthworm, this ring is a perfect celebration of spring.
MajorsMay 02, 2025
Stuller’s New Bridal Catalog Is Here“Bridal 2025–2026” includes popular styles and a dedicated section for quick pricing references of lab-grown diamond bridal jewelry.
SourcingMay 01, 2025
Tariffs & Colored Gemstones: Relying on Stock, Considering the Ripple EffectThough currently paused, high tariffs threaten many countries where gemstones are mined. Dealers are taking measures now to prepare.
MajorsMay 01, 2025
Peek Inside David Yurman’s New Miami Flagship StoreLocated in Miami’s Design District, the 4,000-square-foot store is an homage to David and Sybil Yurman’s artistic roots.
TrendsMay 01, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: 20 Pieces of Emerald Jewelry for MayMay babies are lucky indeed, born in a month awash with fresh colors and celebrated with one of the most coveted colored gemstones.
MajorsMay 01, 2025
Jewelers of America Opens Applications for 2025 ScholarshipsThe deadline to apply for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship is June 12.
