Mark Diamond’s Jewelers

Jan 2

In their own words

“We have a wall dedicated to people that get engaged and married, and older people who are getting remarried. We hang their pictures up there. It’s just a family atmosphere in here—it’s my second living room.”

-Ellen Diamond

Jason’s Interview with Ellen

Jason

We're back on Meet the Jewelers and today we're talking to Ellen Diamond from Mark Diamond’s Jewelers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rumor has it her nickname is Mama Diamonds. How did you get into the industry and how'd you get the name Mama Diamonds?

Ellen

When you live long enough, you get to be called a lot of things. Mama Diamonds seems to stick around the store. My father was a jeweler in Fort Worth. My mother was the baby of ten kids when he married her. They all split up and everybody went into the jewelry and/or pawn business in Fort Worth, Austin, Tyler, Kilgore, all over Texas. I cut my teeth working in the backroom doing credit collections. I made phone calls and direct mail. I could do gift wrap. I started out gift wrapping, sewing charms. From the bottom up.

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Three weeks before I graduated from college, I had met a man by the name of Mark Diamond. He was working at General Dynamics in Fort Worth. We knew the minute we met, we needed to be together. We got married in 1969. By 1973, we had a baby and we’re in business in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I knew we were in the right place at the right time, marrying a man whose name was Diamond. He was part engineer, part artist. I was on the sales floor while he’d fix something for somebody. We were in the right place at the right time when we went into business. We sell engagement rings. We special order. We custom design. My husband passed away, three and a half years ago. We have this whole wall dedicated to our people that get engaged and married.

We make it fun because when you’re jewelry shopping, you can become intimidated. I have been in business for sixty years.

Jason
Let's talk about some of the key staff members you have.

Ellen
Well, I'm very biased. Of course, they're amazing. My daughter, the third generation. Before Mark passed away, we did change and make her the CEO. She's the President and I'm the Vice President. And Joe is our Secretary and he's buying into the business. He has been with us fourteen years. My husband's real name was Mark Diamond and therefore, we want to keep the name Mark Diamond’s Jewelers alive and well in New Mexico.

Jason
Are there some pieces that honor him?

Ellen
Years ago, his designs were contemporary. And now I see that the engagement rings in today's market are so different. The wedding bands are very unique. They're not traditional, they have little stones that have been added. It's really interesting to me.

Jason
Why can people trust you?

Ellen
I was taught at a very young age by my father, if you do not know an answer, you look at someone straight in the face and you tell them, “I do not know, but I will find out and I will let you know.” You never tap dance around anything. If they don't want me, the older lady, to wait on them, I will take them and introduce them to a younger person that might click with them more.

We’re not in a mall, we have fun. It's like a second living room. We want you to feel comfortable and tell us your story of how you met each other, how you met.

Jason
One of the few jewelry stores across the country that carry Tacori, an amazing bridal brand.

Ellen
Absolutely. Twenty-five years.

Jason
I know you do a lot for the community and you give back. Tell us a few charitable organizations that you want our team to know about.

Ellen
Unfortunately, we personally experienced cancer in our family. We are big supporters of the American Cancer Society. We have donated to Marking Strides for Cancer. We are supporting our local police. The policemen are so good to us. We support Presbyterian Hospital. We have been donors for years.