Tikun Olam-תקון עולם: Make the World a Better Place

First, sorry for the bad pun.

The Frye Museum shop in Seattle features much fine jewelry and I’ve bought my wife several birthday and anniversary presents there. My latest favorite jewelry designer there is Urban Links Design, whose card says, “Two Sisters, Two Cities: New York–San Francisco,” which seems pretty self-explanatory. Their work is colorful, elegant, stylish and reasonably priced.

For her last birthday, I bought my wife an earring set and necklace. What made the purchase even more satisfying was that my 4 year old son was there and helped me pick out the gifts (well, I gently guided him and luckily he agreed with what I preferred–I’m not sure I trust his taste in jewelry enough at this tender age to let him be the sole judge of what we should buy!). When Jonah and I showed her what we’d bought, he was so proud. Of course, this made her all the happier with the gift. It was just a nice, sweet time.

But the first time my wife wore the earrings she lost one. It was somewhere between her office down at the waterfront and the waterfront restaurant at which we ate. We retraced our steps and practically put our eyes to the ground trying to find it. But it was nowhere to be found. She was distraught and blamed herself. I think she may’ve felt she somehow spoiled the joy of the giving by losing the gift (she didn’t). I promised her we’d get in touch with Urban Links and ask if they could help.

Janis wrote a heartfelt letter to the designer explaining what had happened and begging her to help us get a replacement. We were afraid the replacement might cost something like what the original cost. But the designer took mercy on us and said she’d only charge the cost of the stone.

A few months later the replacement arrived with a note from the designer saying she’d been so touched by my wife’s sincere and heartfelt plea that she decided not to charge anything at all. An extraordinary act especially in this day and age.

So if you’re looking for some beautiful jewelry go to their site and e mail them asking the name of a gallery near you that offers their finely crafted wares.