Headlines

Jeweler-Turned-Author Analyzes Our Jewelry Obsession

Published

8 years ago

January 4, 2016

INSTORE Staff

Human nature explains a lot, she says.

Professional jeweler and scientist Aja Raden spoke with The Boston Globe about her new book, “Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession and How Desire Shapes the World,” a narrative nonfiction that explores jewelry in the context of history and human psychology.

When asked where our jewelry obsession comes from, she replies: “Beauty has a very powerful effect on the human brain. And scarcity has an even more powerful effect. … When you think other people are getting something and you might not, your brain really freaks out. So the jewelry industry was poised to exist from the day human beings stood up and started acting like human beings.”

Raden tackles other issues in her Q&A with the Globe, including the rise of the engagement ring.

Why This Jeweler Chose Wilkerson

Mark Lauer is the owner of Mark Michael Diamond Designs, the Minnesota-based jewelry gallery known for exceptional and uniquely designed diamond jewelry. Though he loved creating the beautiful jewelry his business was known for, retirement was an exciting alternative to the 60+ hours a week he’d spent building it up. He called Wilkerson to help with a retirement sale. “I did talk to two other companies, but I just didn’t feel they offered the same services that Wilkerson did,” he says. “I knew Wilkerson had the expertise to follow through and give me the service and results that I wanted. They’re the number one rock stars in this industry.”