Jeff Pesature (30) and Alex Johnson (26) are both from Yardley, PA. But cupid shot his arrow a bit further south, in Alexandria, Virginia, when Jeff, doing an apprenticeship program with the Washington D.C. Plumbers Union, met Alex, who was working a rotational marketing program for a pharmaceutical firm. The two were introduced by Alex’s cousin, who is a friend of Jeff’s younger sister, Kelsey.

The Engagement
Fast forward to 2018. Jeff and Alex had, by this time, discussed marriage, but in general terms. The immediate goal, Alex thought, was for Jeff to finish his education. Jeff had other plans. He knew that an heirloom necklace from Alex’s grandmother contained a diamond that Alex ultimately hoped to see repurposed into an engagement ring one day.

“My brother-in-law had purchased Kelsey’s ring at David Craig Jewelers and highly recommend them, so I knew where I wanted to go,” says Jeff. “I was home for the weekend and secretly asked Alex’s mom and sister to meet me at David Craig Jewelers with the diamond,” explains Jeff. “I was really nervous but everybody at the shop made me feel totally at home.”

“We’re always honored to be entrusted with our clients precious jewelry heirlooms,” says Paul Cohen, a GIA graduate gemologist at David Craig Jewelers. “It’s wonderful to be able to give these special pieces new life for yet another generation.”

Past, Present and Future
Jeff asked for Alex’s hand in marriage on December 22^nd . He presented Alex with a new engagement ring which David Craig Jewelers had created, consisting of the heirloom diamond in the center (representing the past), framed by quarter-carat diamonds on either side (representing the present and future).

Jeff and Alex were later joined at one of their favorite Philadelphia restaurants, Brigantessa, by a large gathering invited from both sides of the family. The couple plan to get married at another big family celebration this year on New Year’s Eve, at Feasterville’s Buck Hotel. They will settle in Pennsylvania where Alex now works.

“We’ll be purchasing our bands at David Craig Jewelers and, for that matter, any jewelry we want to buy in the future,” sums up Jeff. “It’s the only place I would shop after such a wonderful experience.”

Tim Christman (29) and Kristin Teschner (28) both attended Bensalem High School but didn’t start dating until after they graduated. Sparks flew and…

The Proposal
Tim proposed June 18^th 2016, at the Teschner’s annual summer backyard party. The BBQ involves a Christmas theme. Invitees included all of Kristin’s extended family and a load of friends. There were even the annual gag Pollyanna gifts. After opening the presents Tim surprised Kristin with another gift —asking for her hand in marriage in front of the gathering.

The Ring Dilemma
Tim had not purchased Kristin’s engagement ring at David Craig Jewelers. She adored it, but when it came time to fit a band to her engagement ring, discovered the two rings wouldn’t lay flush. She felt terrible pointing out the “flaw” to Tim but eventually explained the dilemma.

“We went back to the original retailer and he said he’d have to change the setting to have both rings lay flush, or he’d need to specially contour a wedding band to fit, which would mean I wouldn’t be able to wear the band alone,” recalls Kristin.

That dialogue should have taken place when the retailer sold Tim the ring, and it hadn’t.

“The salesperson wanted me to consider a new mounting. I didn’t want to change anything about that engagement ring—after all, it was the one with which Tim proposed to me,” says Kristin.

David Craig Jewelers Saves the Day
After visiting a few jewelry stores and being told basically the same story, the couple discovered David Craig Jewelers.

“We came across them when looking for different options,” says Kristin. “And sure enough, as soon as we walked in I felt totally at home with the people and even the dogs (owner David Craig Rotenberg and his wife, Debbi, raise Portuguese Water Dogs who frequently visit the store). Everyone was just super friendly, relaxed and helpful.”

“Kristin was obviously really concerned about the issue,” recalls Paul Cohen, one of the gemology experts at David Craig Jewelers. “The engagement ring has a halo of small diamonds set in a circle around the center stone. The understructure was built in such a fashion that the wedding band hit against it and wouldn’t sit flush. The jeweler who sold them the ring should have explained this, that Kristin might not be able to wear a basic band with the engagement ring.”

Paul didn’t feel that the task was insurmountable whatsoever. He was able to restructure the halo to allow the ring to “marry” perfectly with a regular wedding band.

“We reconfigured the existing ring without really changing the halo effect, which cost less than a new mounting, but most of all preserved the sentiment,” explains Paul.

Kristin was thrilled. The couple went on to also purchase Tim’s band at David Craig Jewelers.

“I was nervous leaving my diamond ring with what really were initially total strangers, but everyone immediately made me feel so comfortable that I had no doubt this was a very honest establishment,” says Kristin. “They accomplished what so many other jewelers said couldn’t be accomplished.”

The Wedding
The couple were married September 29, 2018 – a “typical fairytale wedding” that included a reception at Celebrations in Bensalem and a honeymoon in St. Lucia.

“We’ve already decided we’ll be returning to David Craig Jewelers to purchase another ring for my other hand for our first anniversary,” remarks Kristin.

To Be Continued…
Kristin is so enthralled by David Craig Jewelers that she convinced her brother to shop at the store for an engagement ring for his fiancé. Perhaps we will have another Teschner story to add to this blog next year!

“I would recommend David Craig Jewelers to anyone,” says Kristin. “Julie and Paul, the ones who I initially met, made what could have been a very stressful experience a very pleasant one.”

Remember the famous “Bend and Snap” scene from Legally Blonde where Paulette falls for the UPS guy? Life imitated art in June 2015 when hair stylist Shannon McIntyre, originally from Langhorne and proprietor of Pennington, New Jersey’s Pixie Salon, met veteran UPS deliveryman George Sigle.

Shannon’s mom, Cheryl, met George first, four months before Shannon. George had delivered a parcel to the new salon that Shannon had recently purchased. George chatted with Cheryl who he assumed was the owner. Cheryl explained she was merely helping set up the salon for her daughter, Shannon, who was still employed in Newtown, Pennsylvania and had only recently signed a lease for the NJ establishment.

Cheryl called Shannon immediately after George left, telling Shannon she “just had to meet” this “nice and cute” guy. Shannon’s initial response: “OMG – this is SO pathetic – this is what my life has come to—my mom is trying to set me up with the UPS man!”

But mom’s intuition was right on. While Shannon was often busy with clients when George came in with deliveries, the two felt a connection and would chat amicably as time allowed. As Shannon remembers telling her mom the first time she laid eyes on George, “You’re right – he’s cute, nice and super friendly!”

Finally, in September 2016, Shannon and George went out together. The date turned into a nine-hour marathon of bike riding, dining and getting to know each other.

“I drove away that night thinking about my day and realized just how awesome it had been spending time with Shannon,” recalls George.

The couple got engaged December 2017 and were recently married on July 28^th 2018 at St. Andrew’s Church in Newtown with a reception at Rose Bank Winery.

The Ring

George adored his grandmother, a lively, maternal fixture in his life who lived two doors down from the home of his youth in Lancaster County. George had inherited her engagement ring.

“She was so easy to talk to and a great friend,” remembers George.

When it was clear the couple would get married, Shannon’s aunt, Karyn McCready, asked George if he would like to have Shannon’s great grandmother’s wedding band that Karen had inherited and was willing to part with. The idea of “marrying” the two families of rings together sounded wonderful, but the visual just wasn’t right. That’s where David Craig Jewelers came in.

David Craig Jewelers Saves the Day

“This was a complex undertaking,” explains David Craig Rotenberg. “With only weeks to go before the wedding, we needed to figure out how to transform George’s grandmother’s wedding ring, which was rather worn, and restore it to a new condition. And somehow we had to make it work with Shannon’s great grandmother’s wedding band.”

David Craig Jewelers decided to create a third element, an additional band that would fill in spaces in order to make the engagement ring flow better with the wedding band. All rings can now be worn separately, but, when combined, not only honor two families but connect the past with the future for Shannon and George.

“David and his staff are so professional, and they have any eye for jewelry unlike anywhere I’ve ever been,” says George. “They make you feel special, like a true friend, and have great suggestions.”

The couple honeymooned in Bermuda and now live in Holland, PA.

P.S. –Want to have a good chuckle? See UPS superhero George save Christmas in this adorable video filmed for Pennington gift shop The Front Porch.  

U.S. Air Force Captain Devin White flies KC 10 Extender planes. They’re the big tanker aircrafts that the military uses for air-to-air refueling. He met another “KC” in 2016 —Kristen Cautilli. The writing was on the wall (or in this case the sky!).

Since Devin was deployed in the Middle East at the time, the two didn’t get to meet until Christmas Eve, 2016. And, exactly one year later, on Christmas Eve, 2017, he proposed.

Kristen, from Holland, PA, is currently a Physician Assistant at Penn Medicine’s Princeton Health. Devin, originally from Houston, Texas, is based out of South Jersey’s McGuire Air Force Base.

The Ring

After some suggestions from Kristen, who had visited David Craig Jewelers with her mom while Devin was deployed on another mission, Devin purchased a round 1.21 carat Forevermark diamond for the proposal.

“I’ve gotten so many compliments,” says Kristen. “It’s so beautiful!”

The diamond is set in a 14k white gold, four-prong solitaire mounting. Kristen was thrilled with the choice and loves that her stone is responsibly sourced and also registered with a serial number. (Note: Every Forevermark diamond is hand-picked to be part of the collection. In fact, less than one percent of the world’s diamonds are eligible to be called “Forevermark.”) “Lots of people might shop at Jeweler’s Row or the big chains, but I’m more about quality than quantity,” explains Kristen, who had also visited a few other stores with Devin and thought some of the rings they were seeing seemed overpriced.

“I’m more of a boutique shopper—I want to be able to have full confidence and trust in someone, and I immediately felt that way about the staff at David Craig Jewelers and David, who also offered advice,” says Kristen. “Also, it’s great because any sizing issues can be easily fixed.”

The future Captain and Mrs. White are planning a February 2019 wedding in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

As a National Guard recruiter for Bucks County, Nick Brinckman is used to enlisting recruits with heartfelt persuasion and, of course, simple facts. But it obviously didn’t take any persuading at all to convince Lauren Steele to agree to marry him. And the simple fact was that he loved Lauren and knew she felt the same about him.

Nick, a self-titled “military brat” who attended Council Rock High School with Lauren, moved to Florida junior year and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral, Florida before joining the army. Lauren graduated from Council Rock and went off to college. Fifteen years went by.

Fast forward to 2016. Two divorces and five children later (three for him, two for her) the two met up again in Bucks County thanks to mutual friends. This was something special. Nick knew he wanted to marry Lauren, but also recognized that blending two established families could be challenging. He sought approval individually from all five children. “They all thought that asking Lauren to marry me was a great idea,” Nick recalls. Nick also spoke to Lauren’s mother, sister and even visited Lauren’s deceased father’s gravesite to express his intentions.

The Ring

Nick took Lauren into David Craig Jewelers to have her finger sized for what she assumed might be a holiday gift.

“I wanted a local jeweler, someone who had a great reputation and loads of experience,” said Nick. “David was really friendly, as were his staff.”

Nick returned to the store weeks later and, with David’s help, picked out a beautiful one-carat round diamond. The stone would sit in a cushioned cut bezel setting in 14K white gold, all designed by David.

“David is just an extremely nice guy and was willing to answer any of my questions and offer advice without being forceful,” said Nick.

Nick thought Christmas vacation holiday 2017 would be a great time to propose when he, Lauren and their children would be together at Camelback mountain. On December 29th, under the stars, with the warmth of a fire to help illuminate the sparkle in Lauren’s eyes (and the beautiful diamond he pulled from a gift box!), Nick asked Lauren to be his wife. Lauren, a NICU nurse at Abington, enthusiastically said yes, or to be exact, “Yes, a thousand times yes!”

A wedding date has not been set. We send our best wishes to this great couple and their children.

According to Forbes magazine, the coveted gold medals being handed out at this month’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics only contain about 6 grams of 24-karat gold. The rest of that medal weight comes from sterling silver, with the medal’s overall value worth about $570 in today’s market. But the awards going to these elite athletes aren’t the only gold objects that aren’t “pure,” and for very good reasons that don’t necessarily include price considerations.

Your Precious Metal Mix

“Pure” gold is 24K or “karats,” a purity measurement that shouldn’t be confused with the “carat” in a diamond which actually refers to the weight of the stone. That 24K ring, at a degree of purity of 99.95+%, might sound prestigious. But the reality is that rings made of pure gold will bend and scratch much more easily because pure gold is a softer metal.

Most wedding bands and engagement rings are probably 14k (58.3% gold) or 18K (75% gold) which means that the gold is mixed with other precious metals to add strength. These rings contain a bit less than 60% gold in order to hold up better with less signs of wear. They’re a perfect compromise for appearance, price and durability.

Gold-plated jewelry means a thin layer of gold is applied (bonded) on top of a base metal such as copper. Gold-plated jewelry will show wear and tear since, over time, the thin outer layer of gold fades and tarnishes. Gold-Filled is a name that’s a bit misleading since the “fill” or core is actually brass, copper or occasionally silver. A thicker gold layer (at least 5% to be considered “gold-filled”) assures longevity of up to 30 years.

A Rainbow of Colors

Yellow Gold is combined with alloys like copper and zinc to add strength. White gold is often combine with palladium, nickel (the nickel makes it harder; palladium is a softer metal) or silver and then covered (plated) with rhodium which gives it the whiter color. Both yellow and white gold can be good for long-term and constant wear.

Silver looks like white gold, and, while less expensive, is a softer precious metal and may tarnish over the years. That’s why “white” wedding rings, which are usually worn daily, are made of white gold or platinum (a rarer metal that’s even more expensive than white gold) instead of silver. “Rose” gold contains copper – the more copper added the stronger the “red” look of the gold.

We could go on and on. If you’re interested in finding your perfect piece of gold jewelry, come on in and speak to the experts at David Craig Jewelers. There’s David himself— he’s got a HEART OF GOLD— and a whole team of certified consultants —they’re also veritable GOLD MINES of information! We’d love to answer your inquiries about gold, diamonds, gemstones, appraisals, or any other jewelry-related questions. You can also give us a buzz at 215-968- 8900.

On a balmy summer day in 2015, marathoner Matthew Myers stopped into Moishe and Itzy’s restaurant at Summit Square, Langhorne for a yummy respite after a run.

Afterwards, Matthew decided to head down a few shops for a peek into the nearby David Craig Jewelers for a look at their engagement rings.

Even without the added “happy” endorphins from running, Matthew immediately knew this was the place he would make his important purchase for the love of his life, Laurie Heusner.

“I had looked at different jewelers, and knew I didn’t want a chain store – I wanted a more personalized experience and David Craig Jewelers seemed like the perfect place,” says Matthew.

He purchased a sapphire ring (Matthew’s birthstone) surrounded by diamonds on a white gold base. The vibrant blue color also matches Matthews eyes – a reminder for Laurie of his commitment to her. The ring is overall “understated” since he knew Laurie wanted something more “low profile.”

The couple had started dating in 2013 when they met through friends when involved in a marathon fundraiser. Matthew proposed August 1, 2015 and the couple were married one year later on August 12, 2016 at Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium (be sure to check out the “guest mammal” in the photo!). Mr. and Mrs. Myers now live in Langhorne. Laurie works at Swarthmore College, and Matthew for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Matthew’s white gold matching wedding band is highlighted by an aquamarine gemstone, Laurie’s birthstone. All rings were custom made and designed at David Craig Jewelers.

The couple also purchased wedding gifts for each other from David Craig – a Citizens Eco-Drive watch for Matthew from Laurie, and a diamond and aquamarine bracelet from Matthew to Laurie which also served as her “something new” at the wedding.

“I highly recommend David Craig Jewelers,” says Matthew. “David (Rotenberg) and everyone else there was so very helpful and clearly listened to us to make sure we got exactly what we wanted.”

In 2012, Kelsey Wilhere, from Langhorne, and Dennis Lynch, from Levittown, were introduced to each other by a mutual friend.

At the time, Kelsey was a student at Penn State Abington and Dennis was studying at East Strasbourg University.

After graduation in 2014, the two moved to Las Vegas where they both began their careers, Kelsey as a kindergarten teacher and Dennis teaching 8th grade health. The couple discussed marriage and knew it was in their near future, but Dennis still wanted the proposal itself to be magical.

Dennis had visited David Craig Jewelers after hints from Kelsey who had already perused rings in the Bucks County, PA store. Says Kelsey: “I used to babysit for Joanne Jeuch*, (an Accredited Jewelry Professional for David Craig Jewelers), and had actually visited her at the store, so I had a good idea of the kind of ring I would like.”

In the summer of 2014, Dennis decided to pop the question in front of about 100 people gathered for a party for Dennis’s mom’s 50th birthday. “Kelsey wanted to include family and friends in all steps of our adventure,” said Dennis. “So,
after giving a speech in honor of my mother, I got down on my knee and surprised Kelsey by proposing in front of the group —people who meant a lot to both of us —which seemed the perfect time.”

The couple were married June 23, 2017 in East Windsor, New Jersey. They still reside in Las Vegas.

“I only get my ring (a dainty, princess-cut center diamond made and designed by David Craig Jewelers) cleaned when I return back to this area. I trust them all at David Craig and everyone is so personable—David always shakes our hands, asks how we’re doing and you know he means it,” says Kelsey.

“You really get a good feeling when you walk through the door,” agrees Dennis.
We wish Kelsey and Dennis happy holidays and best wishes as they complete their first year together as Mr. and Mrs. Lynch!

*Kelsey’s ring, as further explained by Joanne:
“Kelsey’s ring is set in white gold. The center diamond is flanked on each side by a round diamond.  The shank of the ring is set with ten additional diamonds, five on each side, that are graduated in size with the smallest diamonds closest to the center three stones.  It’s a beautiful, delicate creation that perfectly suits Kelsey. Plus, for her wedding ring, she chose a pair of curved diamond bands that fit up against her engagement ring on each side.”

Cupid shot his arrow in 2008 and the recipient sweethearts were Lisa Cassese, formerly of Bellmore, NY, and Chris Groser, from Yardley, PA. The two were sophomores at Syracuse University living on the same dorm floor when they first started dating.

Fast forward to May 2015 and Chris was eager to propose. Chris shopped around at a few different places. Confused and a bit disappointed in the selections he saw, he turned to his closest shopping expert for advice – his mom, Renee. She suggested Chris head to David Craig Jewelers, where Chris’s brother-in- law, Joe, had purchased his wife Melanie’s ring a few years back.

“I couldn’t have been more satisfied,” says Chris. “David and his staff are helpful and personable, plus I really liked the kind of original styles David carries. I felt very comfortable making this major life purchase through David Craig Jewelers.”

Lisa immediately said “yes,” deciding that the ring, while lovely, might match her personality even better with a few subtle setting changes. Says Lisa: “David was very accommodating in helping us customize the ring. We had a few rounds of revisions since I wasn’t 100% sure what I was looking for. Ultimately, I ended up getting exactly what I wanted.”

The couple were married May 6, 2017 and now reside in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Both Lisa and Chris work in the field of marketing—Lisa as a strategist for Macy’s and Chris as creative director for a digital ad agency.

Lisa wears her David Craig Jewelers ring with love and pride – it’s a “classic and delicate” Forevermark® solitaire on a thin band shank set with diamonds. The engagement ring rests comfortably against a matching wedding band, also lined with diamonds. Like many of David’s creations, the Cassese-Groser ring is registered in MOND, The Museum of Named Diamonds.

“I couldn’t be happier,” sums up Lisa. And we couldn’t be happier for the two of them and wish them much happiness!

Customized Forevermark Engagement Ring

The Happy Couple

Customized at David Craig Jewelers

Customized Forevermark Engagement Ring

Claire Wiley met Skyler Borgman four and a half years ago while the two were living in Philadelphia. She was attending vet school at the University of Pennsylvania and he was working towards an MBA in Finance at Temple.

When Skyler proposed to Claire last month he did so with a romantic dinner, lit candles and a special family heirloom—the Bogach Diamond. The beautiful, European-cut stone was currently residing in a necklace. It was registered in MOND, the Museum of Named Diamonds, and had been passed down through the generations from its Ellis Island entrance into the United States with Skyler’s great grandmother.

Skyler (originally from Lansdowne, PA) and Claire (originally from Connecticut) knew just where to go when they decided to re-set this heirloom stone into a unique engagement ring for Claire—David Craig Jewelers. Claire was aware of David’s reputation as one of the area’s leading experts on gemstones since her mother had previously turned to the Bucks County jeweler to re-set her own engagement ring.

The young couple were happy to obtain Claire’s mom’s recommendation. They were delighted with the final ring creation which now boasts hand-set, natural light pink diamonds surrounding the family heirloom diamond. The main diamond is slightly elevated as David says, to “not only enhance its natural beauty but to signify its special history in the family.”

Says Claire: “I wanted a solitaire but David told us he could design something even more beautiful if we let him, and he was so right. My ring is more incredible than I ever could have imagined – we basically let David use his talents to create something and he presented us with this work of art!” The couple plan an August 5, 2018 wedding in New Hope.

We wish them much happiness and lasting joy!

Several months ago, we had the opportunity to meet a lovely couple, Blair Delson and Ross Cohen, who came to David Craig Jewelers to buy their wedding rings. Blair and Ross got married in Philadelphia this past summer on August 29, which happened to be the same day as the Philly Naked Bike Race. Continue reading Philly Couple Takes Wedding Photos During Naked Bike Race →

She said YES! We are delighted to share in Ben and Nicki’s recent engagement. Continue reading Love Story: Ben and Nicki’s Engagement →

We’d like to congratulate our clients and friends, Rob & Nicole, on their recent engagement. Rob popped the big question to Nicole with a stunning Forevermark diamond in a Center of My Universe mounting made by Ritani. Continue reading Love Story: Rob and Nicole’s Engagement →

These unique men’s wedding bands by Lashbrook feature a variety of metals, shapes, and designs that will not only look great on your groom, but will showcase his unique personality and style.

Continue reading 11 Unique Men’s Wedding Bands →

Congratulations, Jerry & Rachel!

We’d like to congratulate our clients and friends, Jerry & Rachel, on their recent engagement. Jerry proposed to his beautiful fiancée Rachel while they were away in Maine. Check out their engagement photos and Rachel’s gorgeous ring below!

We now carry Ritani engagement rings at David Craig Jewelers! Ritani is a high-end jewelry brand modernizing the way people purchase diamond engagement rings and jewelry. Continue reading We Now Carry Ritani Engagement Rings! →

Finally got engaged, thank u @davidcraigjewel for making it so easy for my fiancé as well! My ring is perfect! pic.twitter.com/6FTzKruqWx

— Michelle (@mrjfriends) September 24, 2013

Enter the Jewelers of America Ultimate Proposal Contest for a chance to win $5,000 in Platinum jewelry from our store!
Continue reading Jewelers of America Ultimate Proposal Contest – You Could Win $5,000 in Platinum Jewelry From Our Store →

I’ve been working with David ever since my son Joseph was in the third grade. Joseph told David that I could really make those diamonds sparkle with my camera, and he hired me right then and there. We love David’s products so much that my son just went to him to purchase his wedding bands! Continue reading Dawn Deppi and David →

This stunning round halo three stone engagement ring features Forevermark diamonds set in 18K white gold. Imagine the look on her face when you get down on one knee and present this ring to her. Continue reading Round Halo Three Stone Engagement Ring →