A native New Yorker, Fern Leibowitz always was attracted to jewelry. While working as a CPA in New York City where she had contacts with wholesale jewelers, that attraction continue to grow. In Virginia Beach, Leibowitz followed her jewelry passion and went to work at Either Ore Jewelers. After working at the store for 13 years, she purchased it, transitioning from employee to owner.
“I realized I had a natural ability to sell jewelry because I love helping people, and every piece of jewelry has a story to tell,” she says. But there’s more to selling jewelry than just making the sale, so Leibowitz learned about repairs, measuring diamonds, and redesigning pieces.
“My niche at the store became refashioning older pieces into something new. I became intrigued with custom work ever since I redesigned my own engagement ring and other jewelry pieces I owned.”
Either Ore resets stones in a piece of jewelry with more modern style. Leibowitz says she listens to what the customer wants and does not try to sell inventory out of the case. That is her specialty. Plus, she has added affordable fashion jewelry for gifts, vegan handbags, and a large variety of gold and diamond jewelry.
Leibowitz says she is “delighted with the current trend of resetting and custom- designing jewelry using large halo diamonds on rings.”
Her personal mantra is “Do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in every way you can.”