It all began with a bracelet.
In 2002 I purchased a $1,700 blue topaz and sterling silver bracelet for my wife for our anniversary from one of the most famous jewelers out there. It was nice. But $1,700? What gives?
On a trip to Bali and I asked a local jeweler if he could make me the same bracelet. And I thought why not go out all out, so I asked him to make a few improvements on the original. The jeweler delivered. But it was the price that struck me the most-$60! Almost 97% less than what I paid. That's where the idea for Stauer was born.
We started Stauer to revolutionize the jewelry industry.
Every time we get an amazing price on emeralds, rubies and other precious and semi-precious stones and see the same stones in jewelry stores priced 5 times higher we validate our theory: that the rarest and most exotic beauties are much better priced than the big brands have made you come to believe.
Here's the Stauer difference: We don't have wholesalers. We don't pay rent for expensive shops or hire expensive celebrity spokespeople. We go directly to the source and make the product ourselves. Last year we bought 2 million carats of emeralds and 9 million carats of amethyst. The local store might buy 20 or 30 carats a year from wholesalers who mark up their product by about 50%.
We're getting the better deal and we pass the savings on to you. Because at the end of the day, true value comes from leaving $1,600 in your bank account and still being able to own one of nature's most fascinating gems.
Stauer is where you go to honor the triumphs of living. Honoring milestones or celebrating the joy and beauty of the love of your life. It's the story of history, art, science, of man's fascination with the beauty of nature. We don't overcharge you for a little blue box; instead we will take you on the romantic journey of a lifetime.
Michael Bisceglia
Stauer
Founder and President
Whether rooted in fact or based on legend, stories connect us to the past and give us a glimpse of the future. They're our collective memory, our eyes and ears. Stories have the legs to carry us down the road, even when we're sitting in our living rooms. Stories have the power to transform.
But not all stories are spun from the yarn of good intention. One jewelry industry whopper rankled us so much, we made it our business to un-tell it. Its famous opening line, "How else can two months' salary last a lifetime?" was unleashed to convince people they had to drop a fortune to feel like a million bucks.
But there's another way to look at two months' salary. A different way. And that's our story – one that begins and ends with our customer.
A hard day's work can buy a lot of things. For most people, groceries are a pretty good place to start. But folks who make practical choices still want to look sharp, indulge their sense of occasion, and give their spouse a cherished gift. That's where we come in.
While the luxury industry flims, and the jewelry industry flams, we go to the ends of the earth to deliver classic treasures at amazing prices. The finest gems are located in Tanzania? We head for Mt. Kilimanjaro. There's a great deal to be had on Australian pearls? We dust off the didgeridoo.
Then we make friends with mine owners and craftsmen, buy in bulk, and sell direct. When we say ‘sayonara' to the middlemen, our customers get the most value for their hard-earned money.
But all that? That's just the "how." At Stauer, it's the "why" that puts the fire in our belly. And the "why" is really pretty simple –
We way-fare and wander, dicker and deal because we believe that everyone deserves to feel good about themselves... That joy-filled relationships are more valuable than the Hope Diamond... That dignity isn't a function of wealth... That making a good first impression shouldn't require a second mortgage.
We know that crutches can make their user feel broken. But the owner of a devilishly handsome walking stick might just lean in, eyes glimmering with mischief, and whisper, "Sit down. Let me tell you a story."
