Linked In

…So a couple of weeks ago I was at Leslie Hindman working a fine jewelry preview.  (A preview runs for five days ahead of the auction so that clients can check out the dazzling goodies in person.)

This was a fantastic sale.  There were gorgeous rings, necklaces, earrings and pins galore.  My personal favorites?  A beautiful pair of simple diamond studs and an emerald cut diamond ring.  My tastes run to the classic but there were scads of “important” statement pieces to be had, as well.

The preview was jammed.  I was busy all day long with collectors, dealers, women of the world, suburban housewives, grandmothers looking for Christmas gifts, executive assistants shopping for their bosses and mothers and daughters trying on engagement rings.

Most came armed with lists and an eye for a good piece- and maybe a bargain or two.  It was fun.

And then I met Rick.**

(**Name changed to protect his consumer privacy.)

Rick, too, had a Christmas wish list.  He was searching for items for a host of friends and family.

I spent a good hour and a half with him as he savvily made his way from jewel case to jewel case looking at rings, bracelets and watches for his mother. (His pinkie was the same size as her ring finger.  Their wrists were the same size.)

And he scoped out lots of adorable necklaces for all his lucky teen aged godnieces.

Clearly Rick knew his onions.  And his timepieces.  He had more than a “civilian’s” knowledge of fine watches and his informed comments made his expertise in this area obvious.

Rick was my favorite kind of client.  Educated and determined to find just the right gift.

We had a ball as we went around the showroom and then we came to the very last case.

Rick looked at me intently.

“May I ask you a question?”

I knew from his tone that this would have nothing to do with the LH inventory he had been eying for the last ninety minutes.  I was curious.

“Sure.  Go ahead and ask.  What would you like to know?”

“Do you happen to have any spare links to the watch that you are wearing?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” I replied.  “My wrists are small and any watch I buy always has to have some links removed.  They’re still in the box that the watch came in. Why?”

“I just bought my mother that exact same watch on line but it’s too small.  I need three links so that it can fit her.  If you have them, I’ll buy them from you.”

“Let me go home and double check that I have them. But you’ll have to set the price.  I have NO idea what to charge you.”

We exchanged email addresses and after work I checked the box.

There were three links and their pins.

I also checked prices on the internet.  It was kind of a crapshoot.  I found similar links for Rolex watches but not for Bertolucci.

I emailed Rick the pic and we agreed on a price.

The next day he showed up at the showroom and effortlessly peeled off  twenty dollar bills from a big wad of cash.

I must confess that I experienced a moment of seller’s remorse.

Maybe I should have charged him more?  After all, he couldn’t give his mother the watch without my links.

But then I came to.  They had been sitting around for years and I had no use for them.  What were the odds that someone would actually need them?

Besides, I like the old adage “Pigs get fed but hogs get slaughtered.”

But still I’ve got to ask, Dear Readers.

Anyone out there love their mother alot and need a link and a pin from a gold watch?

I’m your girl.

Cash only, please.