8
juStOUt
APRIL 6. 2QO7
northwest
Jeweler Carries Only the Finest
Ponce also places importance on customer service.
“This is a place where people can feel comfortable
and know they’re being given die highest quality at
best prices,” he said. “And
we’re family!”
The store is open from
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday
through Sunday. For more
information call Ponce or
store
manager
Michael
Quehbenan at 503-233-3698
or visit www.jewelrybyponceportland.com, which
is still under construction.
John Ponce, the man behind Jewelry by Ponce
at 3288 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., is a third-generation
jeweler who recently moved to
Portland and opened his store in
February. “My parents were into
manufacturing charms, but 1 went
my own route,” said Ponce, who
said he carries only higher-grade
gemstones.
Being the best, only and first
seems important to Ponce. He said he was the first
to design rhe Gay Pride ring. Ponce, who opened
his first store in 1983, has
toured all the big Pride
festivals, where copies of his
original design abound.
With more than 400 rings
for men, Ponce claims to
have the largest selection in
the country. A man with
a one-karat diamond on his
nipple, Ponce also claims to
be the only act in town to
sell handmade, high-end
body jewelry.
The retail space, a ware
house turned elegant gallery,
has a living r<x»m area where
people can sit and look at the
jewelry while sipping a cup of
coffee. “We don’t pressure
anyone to buy anything,”
said Ponce. “We believe that
after looking around, you’ll
understand we have the
best.” This is made clear
when kxiking at his collec
John Ponce (right) and Michael Quehbenan staff a solid-gold jewelry
store on Hawthorne.
tion of Tanzanite. Ponce
claims to have the highest
grade in the country of this bluish-purple stone
Bringing Comfort Food
found only in Tanzania.
into Modern Times
Jewelry by Ponce carries more than a half-million
Christopher Pierce might own the new hot
dollars worth of loose gemstones with which to
restaurant on Alberta Street, but he’s lived in the
create original pieces. All of the gold in the store is
neighborhood for 15 years. “I bought a house that
still based on 2004 prices. “Gold has doubled along
originally had transients living in it and crack
with gas pnces, but 1 won’t change the tags till they’re
dealers on the corner, and 1 paid $40,000 for it.
sold out," said Ponce. While rhe quality is impressive, | I sold it to build [Francis Restaurant],” said Pierce.
business
watch
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1853 SW Jefferson • Portland
503.226.6269
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Ö mawa
503-644-9121
DAN BROWNING
Herzog-Meier
cari@heriogmeifr.com • www.herzogmeier.com
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Little Store . . .
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722 N Sumner (at N Albina) • Portland • 503-460-3830
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Tel 503.281.8688 • Fax 503.249.1440 • www.impress-usa.com
Francis owner Christopher Pierce is part of Alberta Street’s transition.
“1 wanted to be part of the
transition and help bring
jobs to my neighborhixxJ."
The 72-foot frontage
of the rmxJern-designed
building at 2338 N.E.
Alberta St. is Pierce’s
outlet for providing well-
crafted focxl in a comfort
able environment. With
66 feet of windows, patrons
can people-watch while
enjoying what Pierce calls
eclectic American cuisine
with a twist.
Pierce spent 15 years in
five-star hotels and resorts
creating ice sculpture and
cooking before getting
a degree in art history and
sculpture. “Since I’m an
artist, I try to use my space
on Alberta the best 1 can
to support artists in the