February 22, 2022

This past Saturday one of the places that Mano and I visited before our Anniversary dinner was Diamond’s Direct at the Domain so I could get my jewelry cleaned.   I have crazy love for this store and its employees – specifically the managing/owner – Anat Adi-Atlas and my FAVORITE salesperson, Allison Parks.  

Let me tell you a story – when Mano and I married in February of 2010 we were so broke that we could not afford fancy wedding rings.  In fact, the day we married on the beach, I wore my mother’s wedding band for when she married my father many moons ago and I bought Mano a (cheap) band off the internet which ended up breaking a year later.  

In 2013 we’d heard commercials on the radio for this new jewelry store called Diamond’s Direct that had just opened at the Domain and well wasting time one evening we decided to go in and see what it was all about.  

Ladies – let me tell you something – this store is AH-MAZ-ING! They have something for everyone and I mean everyone. Every budget, every style, anything and everything you can imagine, they have and if they don’t they can get it – you know how I know because they have ordered me some jewelry that I wanted.  

We met Allison Parks on this first visit as we were perusing the cases and looking at diamond rings.  Just window shopping, really.  We found a Diamond’s Direct original design that Mano fell IN LOVE WITH and we asked for a price.  Me, being the financial one of our relationship and having just completed Financial Peace University thought this ring is beautiful but there’s no way that we can afford this, which I said to Mano many, many times.  We thanked Allison for her time and we left. 

Fast forward a month goes by and Mano, who took many pictures of the ring, could not get this ring out of his mind.  So we went back, surprisingly, the day we went back it was Allison’s first day back to work from vacation, and believe it or not, the ring was still there.  Although she had to go looking for it – but it was there.  Mano and I looked at the ring again, we argued about the costs, talked and discussed it with Allison, and were able to work a deal to put the ring on layaway and work to pay it off over time – and by that I mean over a period of many, many, many months.  We would go visit our ring on layaway often, and over that period of time, we forged a friendship with Allison.

Fast forward to the next jewelry purchase, two years later, after Mano’s wedding band had broken, I decided to upgrade his ring.  The story is basically the same story, we found something we liked, though it was too much, worked a deal with Diamonds Direct, and put it on layaway for many, many, many months.   When I finally had saved enough to make the final payment I visited Allison and told her of my plan to give it to Mano as his birthday present in Fredericksburg in a couple of weeks.  She guaranteed me that she could get the ring on time – which I never doubted. 

To make a long story short – this ring has forever bonded us with Diamond’s Direct, Allison, and Anat.  Through a series of unfortunate events, getting this ring became a mess.  The first ring came in and it was horrible – it looked nothing like the ring we had bought, so Allison sent it back.  The second ring was no better and it was sent back too, the third ring was correct but the size was off so it was sent back.  I’m not sure how many rings we went through but it was at least 4, maybe 5 rings, but Diamond’s Direct stood by their word and their product.  They gave me the ring from the display to give to Mano on the day of his birthday so he had something to open.  They worked with me on the price of the ring to offset the issues which allowed me to purchase diamond earrings for myself as well – but through the whole process, Allison and Anat kept us informed and proved to us that this is not just a jewelry store but our friends.

Over the years, we’ve purchased different items from Diamonds Direct. I have brought my friends in who have purchased items and we’ve also become very good friends with Allison and Anat.  In fact, I’ve done a commercial for the store and I’m still waiting on my call from Hollywood to do voiceovers for commercials as my next career.  (Seriously, if you are interested – hit me up!)

When I was diagnosed with cancer – Allison and Anat became my cheerleaders. They have joined my virtual prayer groups, they have sent me candy, text messages, and, love.  This weekend I contacted Allison and let her know that I was coming in to see them and boy was it great to get a big hug and see these amazing ladies.  See we’ve become friends and not just a customer.  We’ve shared losses together (losses of family members) and shared celebrations together (weddings, etc.).   

God works in great and mysterious ways for all of us.  He puts the right people in our paths when we need them.  In fact, that person may come in the package of a salesperson and manager from Diamonds Direct.  But when needed, they are actually your cheer squad and your friend.  

In closing, if you ever get the opportunity to stop by Diamond’s Direct at the Domain and get a chance to meet/see Allison Parks and Anat Adi-Atlas and tell them what Mano and Tracy sent you.  I promise – you will be glad that you did! 

Allison and Anat – thank you both for the love and friendship – y’all are family to us! 

Xo,

Tracy