Celebrate Family with Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts
By Jamie Clark Tiralla

There are over 46 countries worldwide that have a holiday to celebrate mothers.  The holiday in the United States has a long history having been made an official holiday in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson.  We honor our mother’s on this day with flowers, cards, candy, and jewelry.  With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day right around the corner, Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts is stocking up with the perfect gift for moms, dads, and grandparents.

Family stands at the core of Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts, a business owned by Heather and Darren Maertens, employing the couple’s family and friends.  “We appreciate our families so much for helping us get to where we are today, we try to remember that every day, but especially on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day,” says Heather Maertens.  Heather, a jeweler and hand engraver, offers a wide selection of unique and sentimental gifts to give Mom and Dad.

Birthstone Jewelry
Encyclopedia Britannica says that a birthstone is a “gemstone associated with the date of one’s birth, the wearing of which is commonly thought to bring good luck or health”.  Birthstones are often set into mother’s jewelry to represent each child or grandchild.  Mother’s jewelry comes in a range of styles, from simple to ornate and can be custom made to each individual style.  The most popular of mother’s jewelry is the Mother’s Ring.  Maertens sales manager, Kim Harkins says, “The Mother’s Ring makes an excellent gift for Mother’s Day.  Mom will always be able to look down at her hand and remember her children and she’ll be able to show off to all her friends and family a gorgeous piece of jewelry that captures her most valuable asset, her kids.”  Styles are available in sterling silver, 14kt or 18kt gold, and platinum. 

Hand Engraving
A long lost art; hand engraving is a traditional way of embellishing fine jewelry, time pieces, and silverware.  Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts is unique from most area jewelry stores in that it houses a hand engraver.  Heather Maertens is classically trained in the art of hand engraving and can add to the beauty of many pieces with her free hand designs.  Hand engraving is a great way to personalize gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.  The talented jewelers at Maertens, hand make sterling silver initial pendants that can be hand engraved with a monogram or initials.  Also popular for Mother’s Day, are silhouette charms that can be engraved with the name and birth date of each child and hung on a charm bracelet or neck chain.   There are also several gifts for dad that can be personalized with hand engraving.  “Probably our most popular gift for dad is a sterling silver money clip, made with 1 ounce of sterling silver.  It has plenty of room for engraving monograms and initials,” says Kim.  Other engraveable gifts for dads are cuff links, tie tacks, and watches.

Lockets
The locket might be the most sentimental gift that you can give to a mother.   “We have a collection of handmade sterling silver lockets from England that are so beautifully engraved,” says Kim.  The lockets, by Charles Green, are available in sterling silver or 18kt gold.  Charles Green is one of the oldest jewelry makers in England and has created pieces for the Queen herself.  Maertens also offers lockets in 14kt gold; all of them of course, can be filled with pictures.  The staff at Maertens can assist you with the sizing and placement of your pictures in the locket as well, a service which is complimentary.

Watches
Moms and dads alike enjoy fine time pieces.  Maertens offers Seiko watches, the affordable and stylish brand that leads the watch industry in technology.  Watches are available in many different styles and metal combinations including a new collection of rose colored watches inspired by the rising popularity of rose gold.  For those extra special occasions, Maertens also showcases Oris watches, a line of fine Swiss made watches.  “These watches have an inner beauty,” says Darren Maertens, “they are automatic, which means they don’t take a battery.  Most of the watches have a clear back so you can see the movement and all the moving parts inside the watch”.  “These watches,” Darren adds, “are meant to be passed down from generation to generation.  They are well made and accurate, and make a nice addition to any man’s wardrobe.”

Don’t let this Mother’s Day or Father’s Day pass by without taking a look at all of Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts unique offerings.  The sales staff is ready to help you select the perfect gift.