CollectionsOct 10, 2025
Count Down to the Holidays With Astrid & Miyu’s Advent CalendarsThe trio of Advent calendars include a version with 18-karat gold and lab-grown diamond jewelry in a red lacquer jewelry box.
IndependentsMay 12, 2020
Squirrel Spotting: Life in Lockdown
In his latest column, Peter Smith muses about “Taxi Driver,” a condescending conversation, and what jewelers can learn from his dentist.
Peter Smith is president of Memoire and Hearts On Fire. He is author of two books, “Hiring Squirrels,” and “Sell Something.” Connect with Smith on LinkedIn or at dublinsmith@yahoo.com.
My wife Sherry and I watched the movie “Taxi Driver” last Friday night.
If you’ve seen the classic Robert De Niro film from 1976, you’ll remember it had some pretty heavy content.
As we discussed the film over breakfast Saturday morning, we wondered aloud whether Jodie Foster, who was 12 or 13 at the time she was cast as a prostitute (a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination), was even allowed to watch the film after it was completed.
I turned to Sherry and said, “Do your little Google-ramble.”
She responded, “It’s too early for me to want to hit you!”
Welcome to week nine of COVID-19 lockdown.
For context, I often kid Sherry about her insatiable curiosity.
She and Google are on such good terms that anytime I even hint at a question, she whips out her iPad and looks up the answer. I love it!
Occasionally, I’ll try a little reverse-psychology such as …
“I wonder if so-and-so ever worked with such-and-such.” I do it in such a way as to convey mild, but not motivated, interest.
You can see what’s happening here.
If I said, “Hey Sherry, would you look up …” she’d respond with a something like, “I’ll do that right after I iron your socks.”
Since we are on the subject of condescension, I asked her what the most condescending thing was that’s ever been said to her.
She replied without hesitation that a “friend” once asked her in the course of conversation, “And you make how much running your piddly little jewelry store?”
For the record, she was running a very profitable jewelry store and employing 12 people at the time of the inquiry, many of them the principal breadwinners in their families. He, on the other hand, had a government job, employing nobody.
In an unrelated matter, I saw a post recently from my friend and former colleague, Pat Henneberry.
Pat is one of the funniest people I know, and she posted on Facebook about getting a “we’re all in this together” email from an airline.
Her post suggested that the last time she flew on that airline, her bag weighed 52 pounds and they were apparently not all in this together.
I thought about Pat a couple of days later when someone posted a photo from the same airline showing a flight out of Denver where about one-third of the passengers, and some of the airline’s employees, weren’t wearing face masks.
If you’ve seen the classic Robert De Niro film from 1976, you’ll remember it had some pretty heavy content.
As we discussed the film over breakfast Saturday morning, we wondered aloud whether Jodie Foster, who was 12 or 13 at the time she was cast as a prostitute (a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination), was even allowed to watch the film after it was completed.
I turned to Sherry and said, “Do your little Google-ramble.”
She responded, “It’s too early for me to want to hit you!”
Welcome to week nine of COVID-19 lockdown.
For context, I often kid Sherry about her insatiable curiosity.
She and Google are on such good terms that anytime I even hint at a question, she whips out her iPad and looks up the answer. I love it!
Occasionally, I’ll try a little reverse-psychology such as …
“I wonder if so-and-so ever worked with such-and-such.” I do it in such a way as to convey mild, but not motivated, interest.
You can see what’s happening here.
If I said, “Hey Sherry, would you look up …” she’d respond with a something like, “I’ll do that right after I iron your socks.”
Since we are on the subject of condescension, I asked her what the most condescending thing was that’s ever been said to her.
She replied without hesitation that a “friend” once asked her in the course of conversation, “And you make how much running your piddly little jewelry store?”
For the record, she was running a very profitable jewelry store and employing 12 people at the time of the inquiry, many of them the principal breadwinners in their families. He, on the other hand, had a government job, employing nobody.
In an unrelated matter, I saw a post recently from my friend and former colleague, Pat Henneberry.
Pat is one of the funniest people I know, and she posted on Facebook about getting a “we’re all in this together” email from an airline.
Her post suggested that the last time she flew on that airline, her bag weighed 52 pounds and they were apparently not all in this together.
I thought about Pat a couple of days later when someone posted a photo from the same airline showing a flight out of Denver where about one-third of the passengers, and some of the airline’s employees, weren’t wearing face masks.
The plane was also packed, including people jammed into the middle seats. It wasn’t the kind of environment anyone is likely to welcome post-pandemic.
In better news from the same day, I got an email update from my dentist that could serve as a prototype for how things ought to be done.
It read:
In better news from the same day, I got an email update from my dentist that could serve as a prototype for how things ought to be done.
It read:
“We cannot wait to welcome back our team and patients into a NEW and improved space. Yes, our construction team has been working steadily and safely on creating a space I have always dreamed of having for our patient care. New equipment, new state-of-the-art technology, new features solely focused around our patients, and simply a beautiful space will be waiting to greet you all in the near future. We also used the equipment specifically designed to keep our team members and patients SAFE. Air-filtering systems and extra-oral dental suction systems will be features you don’t see at a typical dental office but will be valuable additions to our office as we stay on the leading edge of safety for everyone in our space. Providing the safest and best possible care is always on our mind and our mission.”
Wow. That is an impact email amid the litany of nonsense we get from businesses telling us how we are “all in this together.” (Many of them, I might add, we’ve barely heard of.)
For what it’s worth, my dentist is a small business owner and, as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, she’s making the American Dream work for her. I couldn’t be any more proud of her.
That’s a “piddly little” business doing the right stuff in the midst of this crisis.
I’m almost looking forward to going back there.
For what it’s worth, my dentist is a small business owner and, as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, she’s making the American Dream work for her. I couldn’t be any more proud of her.
That’s a “piddly little” business doing the right stuff in the midst of this crisis.
I’m almost looking forward to going back there.
More on Independents
The Latest
CollectionsOct 10, 2025
Piece of the Week: Marla Aaron’s ‘Nymphenburg Lock’Created in collaboration with Nymphenburg Porcelain, the lock is part of a four-piece collection that took two years to bring to fruition.
MajorsOct 10, 2025
Frederick Goldman Names New VP of SalesJewelry industry veteran Alisa Bunger has taken on the role.
Brought to you by
JA New York Fall Is Right Around the CornerThe upcoming show provides savvy retailers with the opportunity to stock their cases with best sellers in advance of the holiday season.
SourcingOct 09, 2025
Feriel Zerouki Is Leaving De Beers The company and industry leader’s two-decade tenure with De Beers will come to a close at the end of the month.
Weekly QuizOct 09, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsOct 09, 2025
This Fabergé Egg Could Crack $27M At Auction“The Winter Egg” set the world auction record for a Fabergé piece twice at previous Christie’s sales.
MajorsOct 09, 2025
Sy Kessler Buying Watch Batteries as Silver Hits Record High The company will pay 1.5x silver’s current spot price for each pound of silver oxide batteries submitted.
CollectionsOct 09, 2025
Katkim Launches First Men’s CollectionThe line includes a “Shadow” series crafted exclusively for the new men’s offering and reimagined styles from the brand’s core collections.
SourcingOct 09, 2025
Gemfields’ Mini Mixed-Quality Ruby Auction Garners $11MThe rough on offer was recovered from a newer area at the Montepuez mine.
SourcingOct 08, 2025
In ‘Storied Diamond,’ Jared Jewelers Is Emphasizing the Journey The retailer’s new collection of engagement rings and fashion jewelry is set with natural diamonds that are traceable via blockchain.
CollectionsOct 08, 2025
Emily P. Wheeler Shifts Into Neutral for Latest ‘Ombré’ CollectionThe champagne colorway in her newest “Ombré” collection combines white and trendy brown diamonds, a departure from her usual vibrant hues.
CollectionsOct 08, 2025
Tsuba Designs Inspire Monica Rich Kosann’s New CharmsKosann partnered with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to create a set of necklaces inspired by the artwork on samurai sword handguards.
CrimeOct 07, 2025
Men Who Posed as Utility Workers Found Guilty in Jeweler’s MurderCarlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo face life in prison for the October 2024 murder of 72-year-old Detroit-area jeweler Hussein Murray.
CollectionsOct 07, 2025
Jessica McCormack Looks to Sea Spirits for ‘Tempest’ CollectionThe brand’s first high jewelry collection, “Tempest” plays with movement while calling to mind the folklore of the sea.
SourcingOct 07, 2025
Columbia Gem House Announces ‘Opals for Outback Heroes’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will go to a volunteer-run fire and rescue group in the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia.
MajorsOct 07, 2025
Stuller Names Its S.E.R.V.E Stars for 2025Stuller said the recipients embody the company’s core values, which include community participation and personal and professional growth.
WatchesOct 06, 2025
This Fall, Citizen’s Forecast Calls for RainCitizen’s new “Rainell” women’s watch has a raindrop-shaped case and is available with a silver-, gold-, purple-, or green-colored dial.
AuctionsOct 06, 2025
The ‘Rolex That Made Rolex’ Heads to Auction at Sotheby’s The “Mercedes Gleitze Rolex Oyster,” named for the British endurance swimmer who made it famous, will go up for sale next month.
GradingOct 06, 2025
GIA India Names Former De Beers Exec as New Managing DirectorAmit Pratihari was previously the managing director of De Beers India and Forevermark India.
SourcingOct 06, 2025
SoCal 24 Karat Club Integrates Into Diamond Club West CoastMembers of the Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California will gain access to expanded services, resources, and connections, DCWC said.
TrendsOct 03, 2025
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco Tie the Knot Wearing Diamonds, White MetalsGomez’s jewelry included Tiffany & Co. drop-style earrings while Blanco stacked diamonds from Jacob & Co. on his wrist.
GradingOct 03, 2025
Grading Lab HRD Antwerp Names New CEODiamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.
TrendsOct 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kallati’s Pink Sapphire RingTaylor Swift flaunts an Elizabeth Taylor-esque gemstone in promo for her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
CollectionsOct 02, 2025
Boucheron Debuts Cuffs Crafted With 3D-Printed SandIts “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.
CrimeOct 02, 2025
$1M in Jewelry Stolen in Northern California Smash and Grab Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.
MajorsOct 02, 2025
Neil Lane Jewelry Exhibition Coming to Toledo Museum of Art“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.
