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Premier Knowledge: Diamond is made of carbon. It’s the only gem made of a single element.

What Others are Saying

Tammy Andrews

For someone skilled in their trade, there's perhaps nothing more satisfying than developing a new client relationship from a referral by a past customer. When Tammy Andrews was looking for a custom jeweller to create a wedding band to fit with her engagement ring, a friend who had recently had an appraisal recommended Premier Gems. Before committing to hiring Jeff to design her ring, she had him appraise her engagement ring and was very impressed by his level of skill and attention he displayed for the appraisal. Tammy was very curious about the world of jewellery design and appreciated the one-on-one time she spent with Jeff learning about the process he takes.

"I'm fascinated with jewellery," Tammy says. "I was asking Jeff all kinds of questions about his education and industry background along with questions about gems and diamonds. Not once did was I felt like I was being talked down to."

As so many of Jeff's clients are, Tammy was extremely happy with her wedding band and noted in particular how comfortable it is to wear. She will certainly be passing along the referral she got from her friend on to others.

Tyler Derksen

A marriage proposal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Tyler Derksen wanted to make his moment even more special by presenting his beloved with a custom-designed diamond engagement ring. A colleague recommended Premier Gems and Tyler was pleased that Jeff could come directly to his office to discuss the design. What Tyler thought would be a long proceeding was actually accomplished quickly and without difficulty.

"The process is really easy, more so than what I had imagined," he says. "[Jeff is] very easy to work with."

The finished ring was absolutely beautiful, Tyler says, and the woman he presented it to must have thought so as well, because she's now his fiancee.

Pamela Burke

A bucket list is a number of accomplishments a person wants to achieve before they 'kick the bucket.' One item on Pamela Burke's bucket list was to own a large, beautifully presented diamond ring. Pamela had a particular design in mind, and after attending a Premier Gems open house at Zyn Wines, decided to commission Jeff to create her dream ring.

"I saw your pieces at the show and I liked your designs and style," she says. "I also liked that we were able to compare diamonds side by side." For such an important purchase, Pamela had lots of questions for Jeff and was pleased he took the time to answer all of them, as well as educate her on the difference in quality and value between various stones.

The end result was a colourless, very high clarity cushion-cut diamond, set in a wide band which Pamela loves. Thanks to Jeff's buying connections, she was able to get a much larger diamond for her money than what other places had quoted her. Now that she's crossed another item off her bucket list, Pamela will definitely be recommending Premier Gems to others as she moves forward to her next challenge.

Matthew McWhirter

Keeping in touch with old friends can certainly pay off. When Matthew McWhirter wanted to design an engagement ring, he turned to his old school friend Jeff Nechka of Premier Gems. Having done his due diligence, Matthew found that Jeff offered better service and a better product than what he could find at several jewellery stores. Despite having a specific idea for what he wanted the ring to look like, Matthew needed help to achieve his vision.

"I'm not well-versed in jewellery or diamonds, and I [knew I] could trust Jeff's advice," he says.

After sharing his knowledge and advice with Matthew, Jeff produced a ring that was exactly to Matthew's specifications - an ideal cut diamond ring with ornate embellishments. When you hire Premier Gems, Matthew says, you get premier service and knowledgeable advice from an expert in the field of jewellery design.

Gordon Rae

When Gordon Rae was looking to rejuvenate his wife's silver-plated necklace, a piece that held great sentimental value for her, he turned to Premier Gems thanks to high praise from a friend. Jeff was able to provide a quote and complete the work in a very short period of time, much to Gordon's appreciation.

"My wife will be so thrilled to have her necklace looking in perfect condition," he says. "[You] met my full expectations."

For Gordon, the crowning touch on the service was that Jeff came to the Raes' home to present the updated piece to them. Looking once again as bright and perfect as the day it was made, it was received with great thanks.

Lorelei Talbot

Lorelei Talbot's recent experience buying jewellery did not start out very positively. After buying a diamond ring on a cruise ship, she brought it back home to Calgary and had it appraised by Premier Gems, only to find out the value and quality of the diamond were lower than she was led to believe. A third-party appraisal by the Gemological Institute of America confirmed Jeff's original evaluation, and the cruise line ended up compensating Lorelei.

The incident cemented Lorelei's trust in Jeff, and she commissioned him to create a wedding band to accompany the diamond ring, which she wanted to incorporate diamonds from her mom's wedding rings into. During the design and consultation process, she especially valued that Jeff could work with her schedule and come to her home. When the piece was finished, she was delighted with the results.

"I love it," she says. "Anyone considering using Premier Gems should definitely do it!"

Wendy Hanson

Supporting local businesses is a strongly-held value for Wendy Hanson. After being referred to Premier Gems for an appraisal by another jeweller, she was pleased with the prompt service and had her mom's diamond ring appraised right there while she waited.

Of Jeff, she says,

"I had this feeling of trust as soon as I met you... you are very professional and have a calming demeanour."

Wendy wanted to create a new ring using the diamond from her late mother's ring and was open to Jeff's designs, which incorporated ideas she had never even considered. Throughout the design process, Wendy had high praise for Jeff's service and attention.

"I felt like I was receiving the same level of service as someone spending tens of thousands of dollars," she says. "Your integrity and professionalism speak to who you are."

When she saw the completed ring for the first time, Wendy was overcome with emotion. "The ring is stunning," she says. [It] took my breath away. You brought my mom's ring back to life and now I can keep her in my memories every time I wear my new piece."

Client Sheila

Left with a touching gift of jewellery inherited from her mother, Sheila Molyneaux needed to have the pieces appraised for insurance purposes and came to Premier Gems through a recommendation from Calgary Jewellery. Uncertain of their value and which pieces even warranted an appraisal, Sheila was reassured by the referral from an established retailer and felt confident that Jeff's experience as a gemologist would give her an accurate evaluation. What wowed her was the personal service and the extra touches, like having the old gems polished up to look as good as new.

"[I am] absolutely satisfied," Sheila says. "I know what the key pieces are worth and the pink tourmaline which [Jeff] re-polished looks like a brand new gem. The scratches and abrasions are completely gone and now it just sparkles!"

Sheila also appreciated the speed of service Premier Gems provided, and the fact that there were no hidden costs in the final bill. With the appraisal complete, Sheila is now free to enjoy these special pieces and the fond memories they will bring back.

Dale & Lisa Johnstone

Dale Johnstone wanted to surprise his wife, Lisa, with a new setting for an old tanzanite and diamond ring which had lain hidden in her jewellery box for years. Having met Jeff from Premier Gems at a trunk show and seeing the quality and creativity of his craftsmanship, he knew Jeff was the right person to transform this gem.

"I like the fact that when we are in the design process [Jeff] educated us on the different precious metal and setting options to expand our focus on our limited knowledge," Dale says. "I liked that I could talk and explain what I envisioned in my mind while [he was] busy interpreting and sketching out the concept," Lisa adds.

After creating a 3-D rendering of his concept and getting its approval from the Johnstone's, Jeff created the new setting and presented it to cries of ecstatic excitement.

"[We are] overwhelmed with the end result," Dale says. "If you ever wanted something exquisitely designed and made just for you, see Jeff!"

Client: Ryan and Jen Chadwell

The Chadwells came to Premier Gems looking for an engagement ring for Jen. Their original motivation was to find the best value for their budget, which they found, along with more.

"We enjoyed working [with Jeff] so much that we went and did wedding bands and a necklace for Jen," says Ryan. Throughout the entire process, both of the Chadwells felt very comfortable and at ease with Jeff's methods after finding that the commercial jewellery stores did not respect their budget or their vision.

"[Premier Gems offers] good value - I'm not worried about being overcharged or pushed into something I can't afford," says Ryan. "Meeting with us in our home definitely brings down any defensive behaviour."

In a true testament to their satisfaction, the Chadwells have been referring friends, family and colleagues to Premier Gems and are happy they have found a gemologist they can trust.

"Our ideas meet your ideals and now we have phenomenal jewellery pieces."

Client: Maggie Herr

Maggie Herr came to Premier Gems knowing exactly what she wanted - an ideal cut diamond approximately 1.3-1.5 carats to be used as the centre piece in a custom-designed ring. She says throughout the process of acquiring the perfect gem to meet her tastes, Jeff provided her with the guidance and support she needed to select the perfect gem.

"I feel confident that I have a diamond that can be viewed as an investment many years from now," she says. She praises Jeff for his invaluable expertise in helping her make this important decision. Now that she has her perfect diamond, "I can't wait to begin the custom design process!"

Client: Brian Doell and Pippa Wilson

Premier Gems recently created a custom engagement ring and matching wedding band for clients Brian Doell and Pippa Wilson. They wanted something that was well-made and unique, as well as a great value. Of the result, they say, "I have never seen a more beautiful ring set... this must be your best work."

Client: Dan Bent

Customer Dan Bent came to Premier Gems through a referral from one of Jeff's past clients. He was searching for a ring for his 25th wedding anniversary, and had a very short time-frame - two weeks. He was very impressed with how Premier Gems took care of all his needs within his time limit and budget.

"I appreciated [Jeff] giving me all the options and the cost and benefits of each," he says. "[I was] extremely pleased beyond expectation with the product and service." In fact Dan even says of Jeff, "you're the nicest guy I've met."

Client: Jose Canal

Jose Canal's experience with Premier Gems has left him certain he will never go anywhere else for jewellery. He was seeking a diamond ring for a birthday gift, and knew that quality, industry knowledge and expertise were his top priorities for finding a jeweller. The best value of working with Jeff, he believes, is not only knowing that he got a great product at a fair price, but made a new acquaintance as well.

"I now have a new friend and have someone in a new industry in my network," he says. Not to mention, a fantastic new piece of jewellery!

Client: Norma McNalty

Not every client comes to Premier Gems looking for a brand-new piece of jewellery. Some, like Norma McNalty, want to transform old family pieces into something that better represents their personality. In Norma's case, she had two old cluster rings that she hadn't worn for years, collecting dust in her jewellery box. She was thrilled with the ring that Jeff produced for her.

"[I] wanted to cry as soon as I opened the box," she says. "I absolutely love the ring... I couldn't have dreamed it any better."

Norma liked that she didn't have to deal with the distractions of a retail store when working out the plan for her piece, as well as the fact that her ring is a true original, made especially for her.

Now, instead of languishing away in a box, her gems have found new purpose and she can't take her eyes off her new ring. "I've spent the rest of the day admiring it," she says. "You really did make my dream a reality."

Client: Lynell Aucoin

To Jeff and Premier Gems
Just a little note to thank you so much for designing my beautiful rings. I absolutely love them and can't thank you enough. Your high quality craftsmanship, amazing customer service, and caring compassionate mannerism made purchasing my rings a wonderful experience. I would and will recommend Premier Gems to all of my friends and family and to anyone looking for a beautiful piece of jewellery and superior customer service.

Thanks and all the best,
Lynell Aucoin

Client: Peter Truch & Katrina Plamondon

Katrina Plamondon's quest for the perfect engagement ring came from a rather unusual inspiration - a special dress she purchased in a striking shade of green. She fell in love with the colour and knew that a matching gem was exactly what she wanted. After settling on a green sapphire as her best option, she sent her fiancé, Peter, out to scout the city but ran into a roadblock when he turned to retail jewellers.

"I did not realize that [almost] all of the jewellers in this country source their gems from only two suppliers and if the suppliers don't have a gem in stock you're out of luck," he says. "I appreciate the fact that you were able to perform a global search and locate a green sapphire with the desired characteristics."

Once the gem was located, Peter and Katrina found that they enjoyed the design process, including learning more about their stone.

"We like the fact that the gem has a bit of history and had to do some travelling before it met us," she says. "I know the story of where my sapphire was mined, that it is untreated, and that it was done in an ethical manner."

Katrina and her husband Peter were so pleased with the engagement ring, they naturally engaged Jeff to design their wedding bands as well, using green sapphires in the same unusual shade.

"It was such an easy process," Katrina says. "We would not hesitate to recommend [Premier Gems] to anyone in need of custom jewellery."

Client: Sarah & Pam Stewart

Pam Stewart wanted to reward her daughter Sarah for excelling in school with a unique, personalized graduation ring. She especially appreciated being able to make changes as the design evolved and the ability to compare some custom rings with manufactured ones, a step which assured her of the quality of the piece she was buying.

"I got a very cool ring," she says. "This experience is way better than picking out something at a traditional jeweller. I was involved in the design and I love the fact that it incorporates gems from one of my mom's rings... even though it was not a surprise it was way cooler since I got to choose what I like."

Client: Sharon Lee-Williams

I do love the uniqueness of my rings. I like that no one else has one like it and I receive compliments often and I take pride in telling them I had them custom made.

Client: Christine Woelfle

Happy New Year!! I just have to tell you that my 18-year-old daughter just LOVED her ring. She wore it every day and it looks very beautiful on her, she wears it on her middle finger, which looks nice. Thanks so much for your wonderful work, you are truly gifted, and thanks for getting it finished before Christmas, it was so great that you could get it done just in time.

Client: Jordan McJannet

Thanks, Jeff. Also, thanks for the card. I love my ring more and more all the time. I get a massive amount of compliments - I was speaking to a man in Court and scratched my face and he literally stopped mid sentence and said "wow - that is an impressive ring."

Client: Denise Mills

Denise first learned about Premier Gems and their services at one of their educational seminars on diamonds at Calgary Harley Davidson. Impressed with what she saw and learned, she commissioned Jeff to create a custom piece of diamond jewellery that would be unique, reflecting her subtle sense of style. She was very impressed with the design process and the way Jeff communicated his ideas, first through hand-drawn sketches, then digital renderings.

"Premier Gems is the first company and Jeff is the first person I would send anyone seeking jewellery services to," Denise says, clearly thrilled with the results. "[Jeff] built something perfect and exactly how I envisioned it."

Client: Darren Hudspeth

Darren entrusted the design of one of the most important purchases of his life to Premier Gems: the engagement ring he planned on presenting to his fiancee, as well as their wedding bands. He was seeking not only information on the different qualities and characteristics of gems, but a place where he felt valued as a customer and could trust that he wouldn't be overcharged. With Premier Gems, "I knew exactly what I was getting into in terms of quality and price, nothing hidden," he says. He especially appreciated that Jeff provided him with knowledge and expertise without trying to influence his decisions. The end result was "a beautiful engagement ring and wedding bands [we are] proud to wear and showcase." Darren was so pleased with the work Jeff did, he referred his friends to Premier Gems as well.

Client: Nicole Reed

Nicole came to Premier Gems in search of another one of their services - jewellery appraisal - after inheriting some pieces of jewellery, which needed to be evaluated for insurance purposes. Jeff came to her home and appraised the items with her, allowing her to understand the process and ask questions along the way. Nicole especially appreciated the extra time Jeff spent with her, showing her how to properly clean her new jewellery. "It was a great learning experience," she says. "I'm now one step closer to getting coverage and I feel confident with the assessed values."

Client: Alison Allison

Alison thought she couldn't get luckier after winning a vacation to the Rocky Mountains, but after finding some raw garnets on a hike during that trip, she learned otherwise. She brought the stones to Premier Gems to have them cut, polished and turned into a special memento of her getaway. The information package she received gave her the confidence that Jeff had the skills and knowledge to transform her rough stones into things of beauty. After Jeff's prompt service in cutting the gems, Alison is looking forward to the design process.

Client: Deniz Sumer

Graduating from university is one of life's defining moments, and when Deniz achieved that goal, she wanted to commemorate it with a special piece of jewellery. As Jeff was a longtime personal friend of hers, it was only natural that she have him design one for her.

"The fact that Jeff came to my home made it that much more comfortable to come to a decision," she says. "You have this feeling of being a VIP since the whole process from choosing a design to presenting the final piece is an act of celebration."

She and Jeff worked closely to come up with the perfect piece, one that she will treasure forever for many reasons. "This piece was created by someone I've known most of my life and it represents my successes in school and in life," she says. "I now have a beautiful pendant that I will wear for the rest of my life."

Client: Hugh McTavish

Hugh inherited a collection of gems from his parents, including an almost seven-carat emerald. Unfortunately it had been poorly cut and was not suitable for a piece of jewellery in its current form. Recognizing that the gem had potential, Hugh brought the emerald to Premier Gems to have it re-cut. "Premier Gems was recommended by two of Calgary's finest jewellers," Hugh says. "I was convinced that this was the right company to offer advice for my emerald so that I can eventually turn it into a piece of jewellery." Jeff used his extensive knowledge of gems to reshape the emerald into what is now a stunning stone. "I can't wait to present it to my other half and then collaborate on a custom piece," Hugh says. "My dad would be proud to see that the stone turned out beautifully."

Client: Gail Shervey

Gail was in need of an appraiser to evaluate several pieces of jewellery she owned for insurance purposes. After a recommendation from a local property documentation company, Gail chose Premier Gems to do her appraisals. A key factor for her was that Jeff could come right to her home at a convenient time, but she was very impressed with Jeff's knowledge, thoroughness and professionalism.

"I now have peace of mind," Gail says. "I know the exact value of my jewellery [and] I can now move forward in getting the jewellery insured properly."

Gail plans to pass on the recommendation she received onto others.

Client: Laura Drezzick

Laura originally found Premier Gems from an online search for jewellery appraisers but ended up engaging the company to design a pendant for a loose diamond she owned. She was very pleased with the onsite service and the finished piece, and plans to work with Jeff to design wedding bands for her upcoming marriage.

Client: Aisha & Shane Sinclair

Aisha and Shane Sinclair first came to Premier Gems to have an appraisal done after another firm mis-represented their diamond's value. The experience was so positive for them that they later commissioned Jeff to remake an eternity ring that had not been well-made for them, and were thrilled with both their results and Jeff's enthusiasm during the process.

"Jeff is passionate about his pieces," says Aisha. "The look in his eye and his smile when he sees the first reaction to his work is special... he truly cares for his clients and wants to share the experience of creating memories with us."

Both she and Shane feel like they were more than just clients to Jeff, who built a relationship of trust and respect with them. Jeff transformed their ring into something that showcased the diamonds the way they were meant to be seen, and was durable enough to be passed on to future generations.

"I seek out to only work with the best and most competent people, people who I feel at ease and where there there is no selling pressure," says Shane. "[With Premier Gems] you know you're going to get all the facts and you know you're going to get great value."

Client: Nadine Clarke & Shane James

An engagement ring can be the most special gift a woman will ever receive, so when Shane James decided he wanted to propose to girlfriend Nadine Clarke, he turned to Premier Gems to design and create a ring that would be unique, eye-catching and made with attention to quality and craftsmanship. Two of their friends had already used Premier Gems to create their engagement rings, so they felt confident they would be happy with the results.

"[Jeff] listened to what I was looking for and made it happen," says Shane. "There was no pressure or stress." When they saw the final product, a nature-inspired setting with leaf accents and nearly flawless diamonds, they both felt it was absolutely perfect.

"[Working with Jeff] was probably the easiest jewellery experience we've encountered," Shane says. "We felt comfortable from the start."