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Meet Joe Freemond of JK & Co Jewelers in Cherry Creek North

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Freemond.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I got my start in the jewelry industry in 2014 working as a wholesale diamond dealer specializing in large diamonds and colored diamonds. I had been in food sales, representing different kinds of Italian import companies and I was traveling to Los Angeles quite frequently for work. Whenever I would go to LA, I would stay with one of my best friends, Abe Jacobs. Abe and I knew each other from college and Abe had gotten into the jewelry business right out of college. On one of my trips out to LA, while staying with Abe, I met his boss at the time who owned a highly specialized diamond business and we immediately hit it off. He offered me a sales position at his growing company, and at the time it was a very “once in a lifetime, invitation-only” sort of opportunity. So, I took a massive risk, quit my job, and moved to LA from Denver within the month. The rest is history as they say.

I worked with Abe and another jeweler, Matthew Kauffman, as we navigated the world of wholesale diamond sales, buying estate jewelry from private customers, and working with high-net-worth clients on investment diamonds as well. This was a whole new world to me, and I loved learning everything I could. I found myself totally geeking out on the study of the gems themselves, and I loved how every single stone was different and unique, and so were the customers. No two days were the same and it always kept me on my toes and constantly learning. It was also at this time that I decided to further my knowledge of the industry and the study of gemstones by enrolling in the Gemological Institute of America. Going back to school for a gemology degree was something I would have never really anticipated doing, but I loved every second of it.

I worked in LA with Abe and Matthew for about six months when I made the decision to move back home. At the time, I had some personal and family things going on where it just made sense for me to be back home. And to be honest I desperately missed Colorado, the mountains, Denver, and my network here. Flash forward another six. months and Abe, Matthew, and I decided it was time to leave the wholesale company in LA and start our own operation. We had spent a lot of time working with many people in the diamond and jewelry industry, we had worked with countless clients, and we had learned enough to know that we really wanted to do things a little different. We wanted to focus on a very personalized experience for our customers that people simply weren’t being offered at your typical jewelry retail store or from many other jewelers around the country. We wanted to create an atmosphere where the client’s dream creation was of the utmost importance, and to offer an incredible value for our customers while creating custom pieces that showcased the absolute best quality in craftsmanship found in the industry, all at prices that were lower than our average competition. With this all in mind, we launched JK & Co in August 2015.

At JK & Co., we offer a fully integrated private jeweler experience. We work one on one with each individual customer to create a custom-made piece that meets exactly what they’ve dreamed of. Although I have an office that clients can come to meet me in, I more often meet with clients in the comfort of their own home or office, on their time, to create an experience that is custom tailored to them. I want all of my clients to feel as comfortable as possible working with myself and JK & Co, and I’ve found that meeting with someone on their own turf really helps to facilitate that personalized experience.

Honesty and transparency are of the utmost importance to our operation, and I love to walk my clients through each and every step of the process when designing an engagement ring or other custom pieces of jewelry. My favorite part of the whole process is sitting down with a client and educating them in-depth about each and every stone we are presenting and really teaching them about all of the individual characteristics that affect the value of those stones. I want my clients to really feel fully involved and engaged in the whole process so they walk away feeling that they not only are getting the custom jewelry piece or engagement ring of their dreams but that they actually learned something and understand where their investment is really going. At Jk & Co., we believe in developing long-term relationships with our clients and treating people the way that we would want to be treated.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road, but growing pains are simply part of any small growing business. I think the biggest hurdle we have faced is simply educating customers on the difference in the overall experience that we offer compared to your typical jeweler. I don’t have a huge inventory of finished pieces or stones to immediately show a new client, and in Denver, we don’t have your typical large showroom full of sparkling jewelry cases for clients to peruse. That alone is something a lot of people are not expecting. What we do instead is really get to know our clients personally, work within their budget, and get to know what is really important to them so we can make a custom piece that they will love and cherish for a very long time, and make sure they are involved and educated about every step. I’ve found that once people understand the difference in the full experience and expertise that we offer, they tend to really appreciate the personalized hands-on approach that is so drastically different than a normal retail store with pushy salespeople and an intimidating atmosphere. I want to work with each client and create something totally unique that tells their story the way they want it to be told.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
At JK & Co., I specialize in custom, made-to-order engagement rings, and jewelry, with a major focus on a fully personalized and private experience for each and every customer. I take a very education-based approach to make sure every client understands each step of the process and feels personally involved in the creation of their dream ring or piece of jewelry. We are known for custom engagement rings in particular, with a tremendous focus on quality craftsmanship that will stand the test of time. All of our diamonds and gemstones are ethically sourced and handpicked, and I strive to evaluate their quality based on true beauty, sparkle, and overall stunning life of each stone. I place a tremendous emphasis on offering complete transparency in every step of the process while being completely open and honest with each client, and that is something that I am very much proud of. Our attention to detail in creating a unique and personalized experience for all of our clients is something that is definitely special to our operation, and I strive to ensure that all of my clients are receiving a one-of-a-kind experience and finished a piece that they will enjoy and cherish for years to come.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was (and still am) very nerdy and detail oriented. I could sit for hours building Legos or models, and I was always a perfectionist. Although I never dreamt of being a jeweler when I was a kid, that attention to detail has stuck with me and definitely serves as an integral facet of how I approach my business at JK & Co. I’ve always loved to understand how things were made or how they worked, and I’ve always been a voracious reader. I grew up in Crested Butte, CO and then Denver, so I’ve had a deep love of the outdoors and the mountains since I was very young. Anyone that knows me knows that I am deeply passionate about skiing and spending time in the mountains in general, and that is something that has only gotten stronger over the years.

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