Time travel with me back to 2020. It’s late Fall & I have settled on New Year’s Eve to propose to my long-time girlfriend under a starry night in front of the Washington Monument in DC.

By this time, I had only casually googled “Engagement rings” or “Best way to buy jewelry”. New Year’s was quickly approaching, and you could say I was prettyyyy much starting from scratch. I was a tad stressed to say the least…

But then I came to the realization that I should treat this process much like I do for any major life decision; have genuine conversations with people. I do this so I can gain a bit of wisdom, insight, perspective and maybe even a recommendation.

One name kept coming up in conversation: Calvin Broyles Jewelers

The fact that so many folks, who have no vested interest, mentioned this company and that they were a West Virginia small business, gave me confidence I was on the right track.

I headed over to their South Charleston showroom and walked in the door, not really knowing what to expect, but ready to get started.

I was greeted by Mark Broyles, 3rd generation jeweler and passionate West Virginian. After a few minutes of conversation, I instantly felt at ease. You see, Mark did not launch me into a pricing analysis or overwhelm me with ring options upon walking in the door. He first wanted to get to know me and my future fiancée, asking where we were from, how we met, what she was like, what style and feelings I wanted to capture, etc.

Jewelry shopping at Calvin Broyles allowed me to feel comfortable and truly enjoy the experience.

The last thing you want when making such a big decision is to feel rushed or pressured like you’re on a used car lot during a holiday sale… No, Mark was the exact opposite of that; a compassionate, experienced professional, sharing his knowledge of fine jewelry with me.

Over the next several weeks I went back and forth to the showroom, eagerly meeting with Mark each time. If he found something eye catching before our next meeting, he’d shoot me a quick text or email. I could tell how excited he was to take care of me and deliver the best possible product. Mark helped me understand the “4 C’s of diamonds”, (Cut, Color, Clarity, & Carat). And an equally important 5th one…Cost.

By the end of the Calvin Broyles jewelry selection process, Mark and I felt like friends! I told him about my career in wealth management, Mountaineer Media, and my family.  

We ended up creating a truly magnificent ring. All the credit to Mark for being so patient and implementing the feedback I was giving him. The final design perfectly captured my burning love for my future-fiancée, but also represents who she is as a person. Pure class & elegance.

The sky over DC darkened on December 31st, 2020, as we headed towards the Lincoln and Washington monument.

If you remember, there was a real sense of eagerness to put 2020 behind us all after a tough stretch of months with the pandemic, but I had one final thing to accomplish before we embarked on a new year.

As we were overlooking the reflection pool, I took a knee and pulled out the masterpiece that had been burning a hole in my pocket all evening and asked the love of my life to marry me.

Anddddddd she said YES!

My fiancée absolutely loves the ring that Calvin Broyles helped me provide. I was so excited and proud to give her this ring because it really does capture how special she is to me.

Months after working with Mark, Mountaineer Media proudly welcomed Calvin Broyles as one of our West Virginia Small Business partners. Their values of honesty, integrity, quality, and personal service make them an excellent fit for our West Virginia advocacy group. We are honored to help share their story with our online community.

If you are in the market for quality diamonds, earrings, watches, necklaces and more, I highly encourage you to stop in one of Calvin Broyles’s three locations: South Charleston, Teays Valley or Beckley.

Founded in 1947 and as West Virginia’s only 3rd generation family-owned and operated jewelry business, they continue to honor their tradition of utmost security, confidence and guidance when providing jewelry for all occasions.

So, thank you Calvin Broyles for creating such a special piece of jewelry for my fiancée and I, but also thank you for representing the very best of West Virginia values.

To learn more about Calvin Broyles and to browse their latest selection, you can visit their website or stop in and see them.

Make sure to mention Mountaineer Media sent you!