Seeking something sparkly to give for Mother’s Day? TWO by London’s selection of diamond jewelry is all heart. The elegant boutiques carry a vast array of sentimental pieces, from dazzling diamond heart necklaces and eternity bands to an adorable gold bracelet that spells out “love” in pavé. They make for a memorable way to express everlasting gratitude to Mom.
Of course, the three TWO shops — at Americana Manhasset, in East Hampton and at the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center in Manhattan — also offer hundreds of other precious pieces suitable for other celebrations and occasions, from birthdays to bat mitzvahs. “TWO by London really focuses on those giftable items,” says Scott Udell, who launched the bridal-jewelry concept shop in 2011, along with his wife, Jessica, and is among the fourth generation guiding London Jewelers.
“Scott started it as an engagement store, but it focuses on the cycle of life as well,” adds his mother, Candy Udell, who heads London Jewelers with her husband, Mark (the grandson of the founder). “You can start with your engagement ring, then get your wedding band, and then you go to the first-year anniversary gift, the push gift and the Mother’s Day present.”
For those who’d like to add their own unique touch, TWO’s customization program allows shoppers to develop pieces to their exact specifications with the help of an in-house design team and 3-D-rendering software.
“We do a lot of personalized and monogrammed jewelry with special significance for our customers,” says Scott, noting there are prices to suit every budget. “We can engrave dates, include a birthstone, write a message in someone’s handwriting and more.”
Scott remembers one doting dad who created the ultimate push present for his wife: a gold oval pendant with their newborn daughter’s fingerprint and her initials. “She was over the moon when he presented it to her.”
Last year, Scott and his sister, Randi Udell-Alper (also a vice president at London Jewelers), devised a touching Mother’s Day present for their beloved mom: a gold bracelet bearing four plaques, each engraved with the name of a grandchild.
“I wear it every day,” says Candy proudly. “I love and treasure it.”
Appraisals 101: London Jewelers’ Mark Reyman explains the art of measuring treasures
Why do customers come to you? Clients may have an engagement ring, wedding band or watch that they want to insure, but they need something in writing from a qualified appraiser that states its value. As a certified gemologist appraiser with the highest rating a jewelry appraiser can achieve in the United States — one of only a few in the New York metropolitan area — customers can be assured that my expertise will meet the required standard of all insurance companies. For insurance, we assess an approximate replacement value — how much it would cost to purchase a similar item. For estates, divorce or collateral, there’s another calculation called fair market value, which tends to be quite a bit lower than replacement value.
What jewelry is worth appraising? I recommend a minimum value of $1,500 for each item. Most insurance deductibles are approximately $1,000. If there are multiple items whose authenticity is in question, I will identify the pieces of higher value that should be then considered for a written appraisal.
How does the process work? One of the good things about our process is you are not required to leave your jewelry. You come in, sit down and observe the appraisal right on the spot. I run tests, take measurements, write descriptions and take photos. Since we have a fully accredited gem lab on premises, we can be a bit more technical and precise, resulting in a more accurate appraisal. Then I prepare the report, which you’ll receive in approximately a week.
What’s the cost? In the past, appraisers would charge a percentage — usually 0.5 percent — of how much an item is worth. We charge a base rate by the item, plus an additional fee for larger diamonds, colored stones or an intricate piece, as it will take me longer to measure each stone.
— Laurie Kahle