I kid you not darlings, one of my very first words was “jewelry.” And from that moment, I have always had a deep love for all things sparking and beautiful. Some of my earliest memories with my beloved grandmother are of going with her to her favorite jeweler to peruse his new pieces. Standing next to her, I would be totally enthralled with the glittering wares being placed on soft black velvet trays in front of her to inspect. As I got older, whenever I would visit her, she would allow me to take one item from her jewelry collection to wear during my stay. After she passed away, I have special memories of my mother pulling out the jewelry she had passed on to her, and telling me about all of the different pieces as she let me try them on. As I got older, jewelry still continued to hold a special place in my heart. It has been connected to so many special memories. From the little diamond and sapphire ring that my parents gave to me for my 10thbirthday, to the two very special pieces of jewelry my mother gave me to wear on my wedding day (earrings that my grandmother received from my grandfather to mark their wedding and the necklace that she had made from diamond drop earrings that once belong to her mother), to my engagement and wedding ring that Darling Husband gave to me as a pledge of love, all of the pieces in my own growing jewelry collection hold deep and personal meanings.
I’ll be honest, I’m not a big costume jewelry person for all my love of sparkles. Instead, I prefer to take my time and invest in quality pieces that will stand the test of time and become family heirlooms. As much as I don’t want to wish away the years, I look forward to the day that I can pass pieces on to Madam for her to hopefully love and enjoy wearing as much as I have. I know that these pieces, both inherited and purchased, are so much more than simply the glittering stones and precious metal that they are made of. They represent moments, people, and feelings that are invaluable. Even though my grandmother is no longer with us, when I wear her watch daily, I am reminded of the incredible woman who impacted and influenced my life.
Moral of the story: life is full of precious moments. And when you want to commemorate them with something special, something that will last, and something that will shine as bright as the smiles that light our fondest memories, the best place to start is with a good jeweler. A good jeweler can have many qualities, but if you’re asking what I look for, it’s someone who is not only talented as an artist, but someone who is honest, someone who listens and someone who can deliver beautiful work at a reasonable price.
Lucky for me, I have found just that person here in Montreal, and because I love to share a good shopping secret, I’m so thrilled to introduce you to Maidor and their incredible team of professionals. Think of Maidor as a private jeweler that is open to the public. Having first opened the doors of their Montreal showroom in 1984, they have produced creations from the simple to the sublime over the past decades while amassing a loyal and devoted clientele. Tucked away above the bustle of Philips Square, the Maidor showroom welcomes clients, both new and returning, to shop their existing pieces or work closely with one of their talented designers to create a custom piece.
As a token to mark Madam’s birth, my parents offered to gift me a piece of jewelry for my birthday and I knew instantly the piece I had in mind. I had long eyed delicate eternity bands and thought one done in emeralds, Madam’s birthstone, would look gorgeous worn as a stack along with my wedding and engagement ring. Having recently discovered Maidor, I also knew this would be the perfect jeweler to work with to create this very special piece. I worked with David, an incredible designer and jewelry expert to create the ring of my dream. From sourcing the perfect vibrant emeralds, to making sure that the custom setting would sit perfectly flush to my engagement ring, the level of detail and attention given to creating my ring was unwavering. Both the piece and the experience itself were entirely custom – I was involved in the ring’s creation from the first mold, to the final fitting before the stones were set. And when I received the final product shined to perfection and tucked into a little black box, it was nothing short of perfect. Delicate yet totally dazzling, the ring was even more than I had imagined. It pairs perfectly with my engagement and wedding ring, and also looks just as beautiful on its own.
Having been so impressed with my experience during the creation of my ring, I have now gone back to Maidor to both repair and redesign jewelry, and even my mother has worked with them to create both custom pieces and a stunning pair of earrings out of loose stones that had been languishing in her jewelry box for decades. Time and time again, we have both been so impressed by the incredible quality of their work, their exemplarily customer service, and the wonderful price point they are able to offer. Since Maidor sources the stones and materials directly and creates the pieces in their own dedicated onsite workshop, they’re able to offer their clients an incredible price point. I’ve also been so impressed with their impeccable customer service. Without fail, new clients are greeted with a warm welcome and returning clients are welcomed as family. In an era of lagging attention to a quality customer experience, the team at Maidor truly distinguishes themselves with their expertise, attention to detail, and genuine warmth.
For those looking to treat themselves to a beautiful piece or for those who might been looking to treat someone else, I cannot recommend Maidor enough. You will not be disappointed and will absolutely become a loyal client just like I have. Happy shopping darlings!
p.s. Hi Darling Husband! I know you read this, so feel free to pop over to visit my friends. They’d be quite happy to show you a gorgeous little tennis bracelet I’ve been eyeing. I pinkie swear I’ll pass it on to Madam one day.
