Local is Cool - A Day In DTLA (Part 1)
Owning a small company is a special thing. With the seemingly unstoppable increase of large corporations rolling up industries and eliminating small mom and pop stores, we feel it is our responsibility to support others in our community to ensure that money and businesses stay in the hands of founders and their families. In our opinion, small is beautiful. It is good. It keeps quality and accountability high. This series is meant to give you a small peek inside the jewelry industry. The people that help make our jewelry and why they mean so much to us.
The jewelry district in Los Angeles is an interesting place. If you don't know where you're headed, it can seem like there's not a whole lot going on. Discreet buildings and office doors, men and women walking at a hurried pace as if carrying something of incredible value. Some of them are. Jewelry is on old world business. One of deep relationships, introductions, and respect. You don't just walk into a stone cutters office - you ask for an introduction. Close ties and respect keep the wheels on this industry turning. Credit is extended on a handshake and gems are lent out to promote sales, all in a world where everybody knows somebody that knows you. If you stiff someone, they'll go to the person that gave you the intro. It keeps people accountable and it keeps business flowing at a fluid pace.
Tif and I will usually drive up to the jewelry district once or twice a month. It depends how busy we are. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But it's important to show face and settle our bills in person. We usually putter up the 5 freeway in our '85 VW Vanagon around 10am to avoid traffic and park in our favorite parking lot on Hill st. Our buddy there always finds us a spot.
After a quick bite at the local kebab spot, its time to see our people. Wander into a building on Hill St, hop into a beautiful art deco elevator, and head up to the 9th floor. First stop is Song. He's our main stone cutter (his son, Stephen, is too). The red cross brought him to the States in the 60's during the Vietnam war. Prior to that, he lived in the jungle of Cambodia for four years to avoid being killed. His stories are intense but he's a gentle man with a huge heart who has taken me under his wing over the years and taught me so much about gemstones and the art of lapidary.
The incredible thing about gemstones is that they come from all over the world. Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Australia, Brazil, Montana, Arizona, and more. Endless more. We do have a thing for stones mined close to home - agates from Malibu, Turquoise from Arizona, Jade from Big Sur. But there are just too many types of gemstones scattered across this beautiful planet to admire just a few.
Over the years of sitting with Song I've gained insight into the world of gemstones and gained an education unavailable in any school setting. The real deal from a master. And he and his son have become part of the SKYDOG family. No visit is complete without tea, cookies, gemstones, me writing him a check, and me buying gems that I wasn't planning on buying.
These days he'd much rather hang around with us and drink good tea than sit and cut stones. With safes full of beautiful gemstones and a son who will most likely take over the business, he's focused on quality of life. He couldn't care less about money. He'll show us museum-worthy stones and then tell us that they're not for sale. A man of principles. For both of us, jewelry and gems are about beauty and reverence. The money is secondary.
When you buy one of our pieces, you're supporting Song and his family. I pay him top dollar and never haggle on price. Never have - it's not my style. His work is worth every penny. I dread the day that Song retires, but am a little bit excited to see the new life that his son will breathe into the family business. Time will tell.
Stay tuned for parts 2-4 to meet some of the other artisans we work with.
Also, feel free to drop a comment or shoot us an email at jordan@skydogjewelry.com
With Love,
- Jordan, Tif, + Josie