Bench Jeweler Memes

37 Describing Smells, New Jewelry Store Concept & HOT TAKE: Martin Rapaport is Wrong

Episode 37 is all over the place… in the best possible way. Brad & Dusty kick things off with the usual bench jeweler chaos before diving nose-first into one of the weirdest topics yet: the smells of the jewelry industry. We attempt to describe a scent that every jeweler instantly recognizes… but can never properly explain. Then things get completely out of hand when we brainstorm a new jewelry store concept inspired by “Dick’s Last Resort” — where jewelers finally get to say what they’re REALLY thinking to customers. Brutal honesty? Yes.  Sarcastic? Of course! Nothing is off limits. Eventually, we steer the ship back toward reality and break down comments from Martin Rapaport regarding lab-grown diamonds. We discuss why we (and so many retail jewelers) are tired of being talked down to from the “ivory towers” of the diamond trade. BONUS: Stick around until the end of the episode to hear the brand new BJ Mandrel single, “One Beautiful Week,” officially releasing May 23rd! Follow us on Instagram & YouTube @benchjewelermemes // Want to support the page & podcast? https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes [https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes]

36: Special Guest "Step-Daddy" Ron Joins the Show & We Talk Shop, Continuing Education & Retirement

Episode 36 is a special one! We’re joined by longtime supporter and fellow bench jeweler, Ron — better known around here as “Step-Daddy Ron.” From supporting our nonsense since day one to officially becoming the temporary namesake of our “studio” (yes… welcome to Step-Daddy Ron Studios), Ron was an absolute blast to hang with. We spend the episode talking shop, bench jeweler life, continuing education and jewelry classes, the future of the, retirement, and plenty of random side tangents along the way. Just a fun, laid-back conversation with someone who truly gets the industry — and gets our sense of humor. Honestly one of the most relaxed and enjoyable episodes we’ve done in a while. Grab a drink, pull up a bench chair, and come hang out with us! Follow us on Instagram & YouTube @benchjewelermemes // Want to support the page & podcast? https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes [https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes]

35: Client Interrupts Recording, "Free" Merch(?) & Reading One Star Jeweler Reviews

On this episode, Brad and Dusty dive headfirst into some absolutely unhinged one-star jewelry store reviews… and yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds. We read.  We react. We laugh. But before we get there, we get rudely interrupted by a client who apparently doesn’t realize the shop is CLOSED during recording...LOL  AND — we drop a big announcement on how you can “win” some “free” exclusive merch… but only for this episode!  It’s chaotic. It’s ridiculous. It’s very on brand. Follow us on Instagram & YouTube @benchjewelermemes // Want to support the page & podcast? https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes [https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes]

34: Brads Birthday, Dusty Ruins a Joke in Real Time, Bringing Jewelers Together, Client Stories & Unsolicited Advice

Just one of those episodes where Brad & Dusty go completely off script...except now, we have even more time to kill. This week we bounce all over the place - Brads birthday, uniting the jeweler community, random (and questionable) client stories, and why bench jeweler physically cannot stop themselves from giving unsolicited advice. All in all, just another ADHD-style episode. Buckle Up! Follow us on Instagram & YouTube @benchjewelermemes // Want to support the page & podcast? https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes [https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes]

#33 Guest, Chuck Koehler: Standing Bench Jeweler, Columnist, Easy Solder User & Ten Dollar Battery Changer!

We’ve got one of our most anticipated guests on the show—Chuck Koehler. Chuck is a bench jeweler and jewelry store owner with over four decades of experience in the jewelry industry, and a longtime columnist for Southern Jewelry News. He’s seen just about everything at the bench—and he’s got opinions to match. In this episode, we dive into Chuck’s journey through the trade, throw back to a reference from Episode 5, and break down real bench topics like the differences between easy, medium, and hard solder, how to approach jewelry repair pricing, and what actually goes into running a successful shop. We also get into Chuck’s unexpected work in the entertainment industry, plus plenty of stories, insights, and unfiltered takes along the way. If you’re a bench jeweler, jewelry professional, or just curious about the trade—this one’s packed with experience you don’t want to miss. Follow us on Instagram & YouTube @benchjewelermemes // Want to support the page & podcast? https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes [https://buymeacoffee.com/benchjewelermemes]