|
Linkous & Green
Custom-designed Jewelry
At Linkous & Green, customers will find designer jewelry as
seen in Hollywood alongside custom designs fashioned in-house, with
service that aims to exceed expectations. They opened a year and a
half ago at 1060 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. For John
Linkous Jr. and Lisa Green, the store is the result of their
reaching for a dream - to own their own business featuring
merchandise and services they enjoy.
The jewelry store showcases the talents of both partners, who
worked in the jewelry business 17 years before opening their store.
Green, a graduate gemologist trained at the Gemology Institute of
America in Santa Monica, Calif., enjoys working with customers to
select the right piece of jewelry, whether it's exclusive designer
jewelry or the custom designs that Linkous creates.
|
|
Lizzie Starck/Staff
|
|
Linkous & Green's full-time staff
includes Dana Boucher, from left, John Linkous, Lisa
Green and LeAnn Qualls. |
"Besides the more traditional things, we keep up with the
latest style. If it's stylish, we like it," Green said. Diamond
initials, Invicta watches like those seen at the Espy Awards, and
Damiani, an Italian designer with a new line by Brad Pitt, are among
the stylish offerings at Linkous & Green.
"We have a necklace that Brad Pitt designed for Jennifer
Aniston - a little bit of Hollywood here in Oak Ridge," Green
said. She loves one-of-a-kind pieces, and except for silver, Linkous
& Green doesn't duplicate jewelry offered in the store.
Linkous works behind a glass wall in the back shop, creating
custom designs in gold and platinum and repairing jewelry with the
latest in technology. Linkous & Green is one of only a handful
of stores in the region, and the only one in Oak Ridge, with a laser
welder, which uses light rather than heat and fire to make delicate
repairs quickly and safely. Prongs holding stones can be repaired
without removing stones from the settings.
"The challenge keeps me going, and the changing
technology," Linkous said. At the age of 12, he began learning
jewelry repair from his father, who owned a jewelry and watch repair
business for 51 years in downtown Knoxville. He later discovered he
loved designing jewelry and would make a piece of jewelry for his
wife for every occasion.
"If the customer can draw it, John can make it," Green
said.
The owners aim to exceed customer expectations, working through
any obstacles. Once, wedding rings on special order were late
arriving at the store. They showed up after the couple had gone to
the airport to leave for the out-of-town wedding, so Green and
another employee rushed to the airport with the package, delivering
it to the gate before the couple left. Back at the store, their
customers are treated to Maribel chocolates.
The partners believe in supporting the community that has
supported them. They have held a jewelry design contest for
Jefferson Middle School students, hosted a Girl Scout workshop in
jewelry making, and supported several non-profit organizations.
The diverse inventory of diamonds, stones, pearls, collectibles,
and fine gold jewelry includes designs by D.K. Finds, Isabelle Fa,
Rudolph Erdel, Robert Wander, Zelman & Friedman, and Me &
Ro, the designers for the "Sex and the City" cast. The
whimsical Lunch at the Ritz collection, Angels with Attitudes, and
Joy to the World Christmas ornaments are also offered at Linkous
& Green.
For more information, call Linkous & Green at (865) 482-1400.
|
