An accredited appraiser determines the value of a piece of jewellery and attaches a dollar amount to it.  We often hear stories of jewellery that has been lost or damaged, but it is not just the loss of a material piece with a dollar value attached to it, that can be frustrating.  To many of our customers, the piece has so much history and sentimentality that it’s impossible to attach a value to it.  Hence, jewellery means so many things to many people. No one can determine the value of a sentimental piece of jewellery to its owner.

In the year 2011, Patti and John lost their beloved family dog to liver cancer.  Vixie was a part of this family of four. In Patti’s own words, read how she honoured her beloved family dog by creating a piece of jewellery with Jeff.

     In 2001, we were not looking for a second pup but were told some black    Labrador/Golden Retriever pups were looking for a home. It was love at    first sight.  It did not take long for us to realize that Vixie (named by our 4 old son, Jake, and our 6 year old daughter, Sydney, at the time) was not only sweet, she was observant.  Vixie knew what we needed before we did; she had a sixth sense and was able to take care of her family, like she had done it before.  She was always open to go for a run. She was ready and waiting to chill on the dock.  She was there when you were sick and needed a cuddle.

Our daughter was diagnosed with a chronic disease and Vixie was her 24/7 support system.  Somehow Vixie was able to make everything manageable.  When needles were needed, doctors’ appointments scheduled and the highs and lows of the medical rollercoaster ride would not end, we somehow survived.

As much as Vixie loved doing everything and anything with us, she was in tune with who needed what and when.  How she balanced her family was a gift and we continue to feel her with us.

Vixie took ill, and was gone in 3 days, so her loss was sudden, and we had trouble getting back to some sense of normal.  Though we could feel her near, I wanted something tangible.  I took my idea of a bracelet, with Vixie’s paw imprint, to Jeff and he and his team were able to create a statement piece.  Now, Vixie is able to walk with me always.

We were so glad that we were able to memorialize Vixie exactly the way Patti had wished for.  See below for pics of the various stages of production of this piece and of course, some loving pics of Vixie and her family.

The fact is, jewellery holds various meanings to its owner.  That meaning can be re-created at Jeff Walters Jewellers.  Throughout our 20 years of serving our customers, we have been able to memorialize loved one’s with symbolic pieces in many different ways.  For example, we have done this by combining pieces of a loved one’s jewellery into one piece that can be worn by the survivors. We have been honoured to create rings and pendants that represent a spouse or child that has passed on.  A previous blog detailed the story of a beautiful dragon-fly necklace that was created in honour of one’s father. Don’t hesitate to search your soul so that you too can wear a piece that has deep meaning and sentiment for you.  We feel privileged to provide some comfort to you, in a very special piece of jewellery, just like Patti did!

Book online to get your sentimental piece started.