Project Update #3 (5/10/2000)

[Jenny]

For those of you who haven't read Beth's thread about the messages, you may be interested to know that Michelle is most likely going to be given our messages sometime in the next week while COI is in California. That's when I was told they's be given to her so that someone would be able to take them home for her. Hopefully someone will let me know when she does get the messages and I will let you all know!

Now, for the earrings.... in anticipation of going to LA this weekend, I went ahead and called the local jeweler that my mom knows to find out about their selection of rubies. They lady I talked to was very nice. She said they do have a few pairs of ruby earrings in the store, as well as some loose gemstones that I could look at. For the plain round ruby studs, she liked one particular pair that they have that she said was a really great color. They're about 1/4 carat each, and they are $325. The one thing that might not be good is that they are set in 14K gold (I think most of you wanted it to be 18k). Anyway, I will check this pair out on Friday. If I like them but don't like the 14K gold, the jeweler can make me a different pair using the same (or higher) quality rubies set in 18K gold. I'll also be able to see if the size is about right. We have enough money to go a little bigger if we want -- though not too big because we don't want anything too flashy and I'd rather spend the money on higher quality. I'll let you know how my shopping turns out!!

Another thing to think about.... at this point, do we want to give her the earrings in June, right after the tour is over, and then send flowers on her birthday, or do we want to wait and send the earrings & flowers both for her birthday?

Feedback is welcome!

[Sharon]

I'm so excited Jenny! I vote for both on her birthday. Give us Southern California MKFer's a wave when you're here :) !

[Beth2000]

I second that motion. I say let's wait for her birthday. I am so excited and the gift isn't for me either.

[GinnySmith]

I THIRD the motion. Again, Jenny, thanks for hanging in there with this.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

[AYS]

Thanks Jenny! Have a great time in LA!

I would feel better about the 18k gold, if it doesn't clog up the works *too* much. Also, I would support giving them to her when we get them, and following up with the flowers for her birthday. My reasons are:

First, I'm anxious for her to have them! And second, they are primarily in honor of her worlds victory, not her birthday. We can certainly write that we thought they were also very appropriate because they are her birthstone regardless of when we give them to her.

Also, you never know what and how long the process of her getting them will be if you send them through Goldberg's office, so we may as will initiate the process sooner than later.

However, as ever, I will be happy with whatever MKF decides.:)

[skatingfan]

Thanks.

I vote for 18K, if it is not too much trouble.
I think if we send them as soon as we get them, MK probably will get them at her B day , from what i read Shep's office is so swamped with stuff.

Then send the flowers for Bday. That is relatively easy for Shep's office to do, they just need to order it and
MKF will reimburse them.

Please take a picture of that earring.

[Marlana]

Maybe it might be a good idea to go ahead and send the earrings and the flowers later for her birthday. that way she'll maybe notice our name more. I don't know that could be silly. Anyway whatever everyone else decides is fine with me.

[Terri]

I'll add my vote for sending the earrings when purchased and sending the flowers for her birthday.

Have a safe and fun trip Jenny!

[michellesmom]

I agree with Terri.

[andycat]

I have to agree with the idea of sending the earrings now and flowers on her birthday.

I think it would be even more special if Michelle heard from MKF twice vs. just once.

But either way is great. I can hardly wait for her to receive them!! How exciting this whole thing is!

Jenny, I hope all goes well for you with the L.A. jeweler. I wish I could help (since I live in L.A.) But, I don't really know anything about fine jewelers here in town. If there's anything else I can do, pls. just give me an email!

[IzzyS]

I like the idea of sending the earrings now and flowers for her birthday, probably because I just can't wait to see what happens with the earrings!!! I'm like a little kid on Christmas!! Say hi to us L.A.'ers when you're in town, Jen!!

[Mordecai71]

I have to admit that it doesn't matter to me whether you get 14 or 18 carat.....I am not knowledgeable about such things! Whichever you decide would be best. I would like to see her get them ASAP! Not sure I could stand the suspense of waiting to June, but I will if I have to. You are doing a GREAT job with this. Keep us posted!

[XPEG]

I too vote for sending the earrings when we get them and the flowers later for her birthday. I also like the idea that you're not getting the earrings too big and flashy. Smaller and more elegant is the best.

[kwanluv]

Rubies now...

Flowers for B-day!....

You're doing great Jen! I can't wait to hear about our messages being received!!!

[u2asian]

i think we should give it to her now, and flowers for her birthday. earings celebrate her worlds victory. so i think we should get it to her soon ... july is a bit away

[TheJillymeister]

When is her her birthday? What address can I send a card to?

[TaraLipinski87]

I say both on bday!

[skatingfan]

JillyM,

If you go to Heather Winfield's page there is a section of how to contact Michelle. :)

[Kara]

I think a quarter karat might be a little small. Were those the ones Jenny ended up thinking WERE too small(on the other recent thread)?

Can we afford a half karat? That's not gauty. Her diamond ones looked A LOT bigger than a quarter, don't you think? How big of a difference is there between 14 and 18 karat gold? I say 18 if it's really important or whatever, but if not, maybe we should make sure we get stones that aren't obviously teency-tiny. Subtle is good, but if they're too small they'll just look, well, too small:) ...or like we could barely "eek it out" to get rubies at all...as though we should've gotten something less expensive so it the gift would've been visible to the naked eye;) . Anyway, I say as big as we can get for good quality, and 14 karat if we need to in order to get nicer sized rubies. Afterall, most gold is 14K...at least as far as I know, that's acceptable gold.

Either time frame is good, but I favor two different days. This is for her worlds win, and the person who said that she'd get 2 things at 2 different instances is right on. S/he convinced me to vote for now AND on her b-day.

Also on the other recent thread, what's this about sending all our names again? Are we doing that? I just thought we wouldn't need to since the earrings are from the same people (and only those people?) who posted messages on that really long thread. I thought we'd say "form your friends at MKF who sent you the book of messages" or whatever. I'm kinda confused about that whole thing, so if anyone wants to enlighten me, it would be appreciated:) , thanks!

[skatingfan]

Mk diamond earrings looks large, but I think diamonds look good in large size. Rubies IMO can be
smaller and still look stunningly good. :)

[Jenny]

Kara -- we can't afford 1/2 carat, but they will be a little bigger than 1/4 carat.

As for sending our names, I wish I had thought to tell everybody last time to include their gender/age/location, but I didn't do that and most people did not include that info in their message to Michelle. So, I thought it would be cool for Michelle to see how diverse all her fans are by including a little list, but I'm not sure we'll have time to compile something like that for this gift. We'll have to save that for another time. Also, you are right that the messages we already sent are her "card" for the earrings, but the gift is from everyone at MKF, not just people who wrote a message last time (since some people are new, missed that thread, etc).

Hope that clears things up a bit!

[Googoo]

What's wrong with 14 K gold? I thought that was like, the best kind and 18K wasn't as good? Someone please educate my jewelry ignorant mind. :) :)

[skatingfan]

Googoo,
I have zero knowledge about jewelry, but 24K Au is the purest of Au. So 18K has higher percentage gold than 14K.
Which one is better depends on what you like, 18K obviously is more expensive than 14K, and 24 K is most expensive.:)

[michellesmom]

Also, jewelry with higher gold content (K), is softer and shinier (more yellow).

[Kara]

Skatingfan - Yeah, that's true about rubies being able to be smaller than diamonds...and actually better if they're not as big. I see what you mean. I still think only a QUARTER karat is a little small, though, so maybe if Jenny could get the ones that are just a LITTLE bigger that would be perfect!

Oh, Jenny, when you take the picture, do you think that you could hold them up to your ear so we can see the size? I think that seeing them in a box or whatever might not give us enough perspective to accurately guage their size. That probably sounds like an odd request, but I'm so excited about this that I'd REALLY like to see them as clearly as possible so I can picture them in my mind. Thanks:) !

[Cherie]

I was just wondering if there's been any updates on the Ruby earrings. I haven't heard anything in a while. Michelle's birthday is coming up soon.