Houston Jewelry Puts Ethics Ahead of Quick Profit

Why we don't offer appraisals—and why you should care

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Our Commitment to Ethical Standards

One of the ways Houston Jewelry demonstrates this commitment is by not offering appraisal services—even though many jewelers do. This distinction is important for you to understand.

What Is a True Appraisal?

A professional appraisal is a detailed, unbiased assessment of an item's value, prepared by a qualified, independent professional. True personal property appraisers are members of recognized professional associations:

• American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
• International Society of Appraisers (ISA)

Membership in these organizations requires extensive professional study, comprehensive examination, and ongoing continuing education. These appraisers are bound by strict ethical codes to serve the property owner's interests, not their own financial interests.

The Conflict of Interest

A jeweler who buys, sells, or trades jewelry has a fundamental conflict of interest when it comes to appraisals:

• If we're buying from you, we have financial incentive to undervalue the item
• If we're selling to you, we have financial incentive to overvalue the item
• An appraisal should reflect the property owner's interests, not the appraiser's financial interests

Choosing quick profit over ethics would be easy—many jewelers do it. But Houston Jewelry believes doing what's right matters more than what's profitable.

What GIA Training Does NOT Include

A GIA Graduate Gemologist (Gemological Institute of America) receives world-class training in diamond and gemstone identification and grading. However, GIA's curriculum does not include appraisal training. GIA certification demonstrates gemological expertise—not appraisal expertise.

What Houston Jewelry DOES Offer

When you trade in jewelry with Houston Jewelry or bring items for us to purchase, we provide:

• Professional Evaluation - We assess condition, authenticity, and market value
• Fair Market Pricing - Competitive offers based on current market rates
• Transparency - We clearly explain how we determined our offer
• No Obligation - You're never required to accept our evaluation or offer

We're honest about what we provide: a professional evaluation that serves our business interests. We don't misrepresent it as an independent appraisal. That's the ethical difference.

If You Need an Independent Appraisal

For insurance purposes, estate settlements, or when you need an independent valuation of jewelry you own, we recommend contacting:

• American Society of Appraisers (ASA) - Find an appraiser at www.appraisers.org
• International Society of Appraisers (ISA) - Find an appraiser at www.isa-appraisers.org

Independent appraisers will provide documentation that reflects your interests as the property owner—making their appraisals valuable for insurance, estate planning, and other purposes where you need objective, professional assessment.

Why This Matters to You

In an industry where trust and ethics are paramount, we believe it's important to know the difference between a business that prioritizes your interests and one that prioritizes quick profit.

By not offering appraisals while we buy and sell jewelry, Houston Jewelry demonstrates our commitment to ethical business practices and respect for your interests. It's a choice we make every day: ethics ahead of quick profit.

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Protecting the Trust That Built Our Name

Ethical business practices extend beyond how we price diamonds or structure appraisals. They also include protecting the integrity of our brand—because in a market built on trust, a fraudulent or counterfeit business claiming your name can destroy that trust overnight.

Why Name Protection Is an Ethical Imperative

Due to our 70+ year reputation in the Houston market, there are occasionally those who attempt to trade on our famous name. This isn't just a business problem—it's an ethical issue because:

• Customer Protection: Customers seeking the authentic Houston Jewelry experience deserve to know they're working with the legitimate, established business they trust
• Preserving Reputation: Our reputation for ethical practices, quality work, and fair dealing has been earned over generations. Fraudulent operators undermine that trust for everyone
• Accountability: When customers work with an unauthorized business using our name, they lose the accountability and guarantees that come with dealing with the real Houston Jewelry
• Industry Integrity: Allowing brand theft to go unchallenged sets a precedent that ethics don't matter—undermining the entire foundation of trust in fine jewelry

How to Verify You're Working With the Real Houston Jewelry

There is only one legitimate Houston Jewelry—and we are located at 9521 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas. Here's how to verify:

• Location Check: Any business using the "Houston Jewelry" name that is not located at 9521 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas is not us
• Federal Trademark Registrations: Houston Jewelry Inc owns federal trademarks for:
  • "Houston Jewelry"
  • "Houston Jewelry Factory"
  • "Houston Wholesale Jewelers"
  • "Andre Pailet"
  These federal registrations provide legal protection at the national level and create a clear record of legitimate ownership
• Harris County DBA Registrations: For decades, we have registered multiple DBA (Doing Business As) filings with Harris County to deter unauthorized use of our name locally. These records are public and verifiable
• Texas Secretary of State Registration: Since Texas House Bill 3609 took effect in 2019, we have maintained registration with the Texas Secretary of State in addition to our federal trademark protections—a multi-layered legal approach to ensure brand integrity across the state
• History: Our complete 160-year legacy—including former operating names (Houston Wholesale Jewelers, Houston Jewelry & Distributing Company, and since 1993 Houston Jewelry & Fine Gifts)—is thoroughly documented in our history section
• Continuous Family Ownership: Five generations of the Donsky-Solomon family have managed this business since the 1950s. That level of documented continuity isn't something fraudulent operators can claim

If you encounter any business using the "Houston Jewelry" name anywhere in Texas that is not at our Westheimer location, you've found someone attempting to profit illegally off our history and reputation. We encourage customers to report such businesses to the appropriate authorities.

Online Marketplace Impersonators & Competitive Misdirection

Protecting our name extends beyond brick-and-mortar fraud. Across digital channels, competitors use various tactics to intercept customers seeking the authentic Houston Jewelry experience.

Marketplace Imposters

Sellers periodically appear on platforms like Amazon and eBay with descriptions or store names designed to suggest affiliation with Houston Jewelry. These sellers are not connected to us. If you encounter any seller claiming a Houston Jewelry relationship on third-party marketplaces, contact our showroom directly before making a purchase. Our team can verify whether a specific seller is legitimate.

Our Archived Online Properties

Houston Jewelry Inc owns several domain names reflecting our leadership in early internet retail: MyWeddingBand.com, 1WeddingBand.com, and WeddingBandSuperStore.com. During the Web 1.0 era, these sites established us as the leading online wedding band retailer—a position we maintained for years. The sites remain accessible as online archives of that pioneering era in internet commerce. However, the structural volatility of precious metals markets fundamentally changed the economics of online jewelry sales. High-volume, low-margin operations became unsustainable for a family business committed to maintaining quality and service standards. Today, these domains remain registered to Houston Jewelry Inc as historical records of our digital heritage, but are not actively managed or updated as commercial retail sites. Any active commercial operation of these domains by other entities is unauthorized.

Unethical Search Marketing: When Legal Tactics Undermine Trust

Some competitors purchase search advertisements for "Houston Jewelry," bidding on our trademarked name to redirect customers to their websites. This practice is technically legal—but ethically questionable. A business willing to leverage another company's trademark and reputation for traffic redirection reveals something about their priorities: quick profits matter more than transparent competition.

In an industry built on trust, that distinction matters. We believe customers should think carefully before doing business with companies that employ legal-but-unethical practices. A jeweler's willingness to compete with integrity—rather than confusion—is a reliable indicator of how they'll treat you when you've entrusted them with your most meaningful pieces.