NEW! Shop for Over 25,000 Diamonds In our Website!

Visit our Shop for Loose Diamonds Search, accessed on the front of our website, where you can now search our entire expanded diamond inventory database for over 25,000 of our most select diamonds! Find exactly the personal diamond selections you want by cut, color, and clarity, and price. Then call us to see your selection, up close and under 10x magnification, of the most competitively priced diamonds in the Chicago area.

Call us toll free at 1-800-337-5184 or email Robert at robert@martinbinders.com for more information about these diamonds.

Interest Free Financing for the Holidays

Right now we are offering special 12-Month Interest Free Financing. We offer a Jewelry Advantage credit program, and you pay no interest with your timely monthly minimum payment for qualified customers. A great way to get the jewelry you love right now. Benefits of our in-store credit program include:

• The ability to reserve general purpose credit cards for everyday purchases or unplanned expenses.
• Quick in-store or online application, processing and credit decisions.
• No-interest option payment plans that allows you to pay for merchandise over time.
• An easy-to-use online bill payment option.

Come into our store for details of program and to qualify today!

Welcome to our Newest Designer, Pandora

FREE PANDORA Bracelet Giveaway and Trunk Show October 29th and 30th
You asked for this exciting new designer and now PANDORA is here!
Come into the store on Wednesday and Thursday and choose from our large selection of PANDORA Jewelry`s charms, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets and meet our local sales representative from PANDORA Jewelry.

Receive a FREE Bracelet with your $100 purchase -- a sterling silver PANDORA clip bracelet -- during these two days.
And, register to win a $100 in-store gift certificate.
Call us at 219.462.5931 for more information.
Trunk Show hours are 9:30 to 6 p.m.



Design your own PANDORA bracelet online; we have the charms in stock.

Our Preferred Sales Event Starts Monday!

Monday is the first day of our Preferred Customer Sales Event featuring door prizes, and terrific saving on selected jewelry and timepieces.
This unadvertised special event is for our preferred customers only, October 13th through October 25th. Come in early for best selection.

Images of Sierra Leone article quoting our owner Robert Flude

Images of Sierra Leone Volume 17-Issue 3-Summer 2008
Story and photos by Ric Taylor, a diamond dealer and friend of Martin Binder Jeweler who also recently travelled to Sierra Leone. Read the complete published article here.

"Conflict diamonds came to the attention of the jewelry industry in 1999 when rebels overran the capital of Sierra Leone and the stories of the atrocities they committed became known to the rest of the world. The stories of civilians with hands and legs amputated sparked the issue and prompted the Kimberley Process, a system created to stop the illegal smuggling of rough diamonds and deter the funding of weapons for the wars in Sierra Leone and Angola.

Although the situation in Sierra Leone is so difficult for its people, I did see relief organizations trying to help. There's a great need for better food, water and medical supplies, but I didn't see much evidence of improvement while I was there.

I do know that there are some individuals in the gem and jewelry industry who are trying to make a difference. Bob Flude, of Martin Binder Jewelers, in Valparaiso, Indiana, for example, is running a mining operation near Koidu. He pays his workers $3 a day and provides food and medical attention.
Flude said he originally went to Sierra Leone to establish his own supply of diamonds, but quickly became sympathetic to his workers' conditions. "An extra dollar a day doesn't cost me a lot more, but it does improve the lives of the miners," he said. "There is a great need."

Shhhhhh; You are invited to our Preferred Customer Event.

Upcoming Buying Trip

In our ever challenging quest to bring you the best prices on diamonds and diamond jewelry, our co-owner Robert Flude, is heading off to Mumbai india, where he will meet with diamond sightholders large diamond merchants Robert is making his third trip to India this year, where he will sort through and hand pick the best diamonds for exciting diamond values this holiday season.
If you have a special diamond in mind, contact Robert and he will help find your perfect diamond.

Also Robert just got back from his last trip to Asia, where he found some of the last Burmese rubies before the United States is prohibited from importing them. Also look for our selection of value priced diamond jewelry from one of our new Thailand companies, coming soon.

Special Jay Strongwater Event Going on Now!

When you purchase a collectible from Jay Strongwater, receive 50% off another Jay Strongwater item. Now is the time to add to or complete your Jay Strongwater collection; hurry in today for best selection!
Enjoy special savings on your favorite handmade giftware items by Jay Strongwater. We have a huge collection of these wonderful, whimsical pieces in stock, perfect for you to give as your next gift, all gift wrapped beautifully, of course.

Second item must be equal to or less than value of first Jay Strongwater item. No other promotions may be applied to this offer. Offer expires October 30, 2008 Valid in store only on Jay Strongwater only; may exclude certain items.

Downtown Movie Night Sponsor

Thanks everyone for attending the latest movie night last Friday night. Almost two hundred people brought their chairs, blankets and popcorn to watch Shrek on a beautiful outdoors evening. We are glad to sponsor community events like this and a great time was had by everyone young and old.

Back from the Jewelry Show

We are just back from the New York Jewelry Show where we were searching for some new and fresh designers for the store. Our favorite find is a beautiful new silver designer with contemporary collections that you will love. Featuring a fantastic bamboo theme, or honeycomb quilted collection, we think the updated silver styles will fit in well with your jewelry wardrobe. It was also so apparent that silver is still the forerunner in most designer's collections, and we will continue to see lots of sterling silver throughout fall and into the Holiday season.

Paid a visit to our favorite diamond vendors, including the Calla Cut engagement ring collection which is so beautiful for the Holiday season.

All in all, love New York, but it's good to be home.

August Birthstone is Peridot

Peridot is the birthstone for August birthdays.
The origin of the name "peridot" is uncertain. Olivine in general is a very abundant mineral, but gem quality peridot is rather rare.
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: basically an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green however depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow-green through olive green to brownish green.
Peridot crystals have been collected from some Pallasite meteorites.
Peridot olivine is the birthstone for August. See our large selection of peridot rings, necklaces, and earrings, either online or more in-store, all giftwrapped of course.