JONATHAN CASTNER
Classic Facets Celebrates 25 Years
of Recycling Happiness
After 25 years in business,
Classic Facets owner Mikki
Rainey deserved a celebration,
particularly since her store’s
April anniversary just happens
to fall on her birthday.
“We had a little party, and then I went home
and went to bed,” says Rainey, chortling.
This is the laughter of a woman who has seen it
all as a local business owner – booms, busts,
elation and heartbreak – and has come out on the
other side loving her line of work more than ever.
“I have the best job,” she enthuses. “I used to
sell consignment clothing; now I sell diamonds.
It’s a lot easier to lift a tiny bag of diamonds!”
Out pours that infectious laugh again.
This is a rags-to-riches story – literally. Classic
Facets started as a second-hand clothing store
named BG Raggs. Located on Walnut Street in
Boulder, the shop didn’t attract much foot traffic.
But its setting wasn’t the only thing holding it
back. When Rainey bought the store in 1985,
reinvention was the first item on her to-do list.
“It was a very conservative store at the time,”
explains Rainey. “And I am absolutely not a
conservative person.” Nor was the era. These
were the big hair, big drama ’80s, and Rainey had
a gut feeling that glitz was going to be the next
big thing. She asked her mother – a Buffalo, N.Y.,
resident and garage sale pro – to seek out some
rhinestones from the ’50s. When the baubles
arrived, they were more popular than Rainey
anticipated. Customers not only snapped them up,
they started bringing in their own costume jewelry
for consignment. That was the beginning of the
end of the clothing part of the business.
10 MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010 CAMERA BUSINESS PLUS.
By Lulu Tupper
One name change and two moves later, and
Classic Facets had become the antique and vintage
jeweler on Pearl Street that locals continue to
flock to today. The store is bursting with
treasures: more than 20,000 pieces from
consignors in 37 states and 10 countries. A
portion of the inventory harkens back to the
store’s rhinestone origins, but the majority of it is
fine jewelry from the 1700s through the 1950s.
Every piece has a story of its own, having been
passed down through generations. Each one is
also authentic, having been approved by Rainey
as well as her store manager, who is a gemologist
and certified appraiser of antique jewelry.
“I turn down about 99 percent of what I see,”
says Rainey. “At least once a week, somebody
comes in with their grandma’s antique diamond
ring. And I have to tell them, ‘Maybe it’s your
grandma’s, but it’s not antique and it’s not a
diamond.’ People don’t realize that grandmas go
shopping ... a lot of times at QVC.”
Classic Facets only accepts genuinely old jewelry
in ready-to-sell condition. Having paperwork for a
piece is a plus, says Rainey, but everything is
independently graded on the premises regardless.
“And I have to like it,” she adds with a grin. “The
No. 1 question is, ‘Is it pretty?’”
This combination of authenticity and aesthetics
drives Classic Facets’ success. It is the most
popular source of antique diamond engagement
rings in the region. It is home to a slew of cameos,
pearls and gems of every color and size. It
showcases filigree, Victorian, Georgian,
Edwardian and Art Deco items, as well as some
that defy category.
“We recycle not just jewelry, but happiness,”
says Rainey. “Jewelry represents happy times.”
One of Rainey’s current favorites is a piece of hair
jewelry – a watch chain that’s to be worn across the
tummy, made from a combination of a man’s wife
and daughter’s hair. Hanging from the band is a rock
crystal fob and a two-sided locket with a picture of
his wife and daughter. Rainey acknowledges that
something so unusual may never sell, but she’s
enchanted by the premise of hair jewelry in general
and this piece in particular.
“People would brush their hair, 100 strokes
every night, and then they would put it in a
special container. When they had enough, they
would make something to give as a gift,” she
explains. “It was a very special gift because it was
a part of you, very symbolic. I love that idea.”
Gift giving is a large part of the jewelry
business, of course, and the Classic Facets staff
work hard to facilitate the process. The shop is
stocked with notepads that read, “Dear Honey,
Just go to Classic Facets and get,” followed by a
blank list from 1 to 5, number 5 being
“Anything.” Those little pieces of paper come
back time and time again, says Rainey. Though
she also advocates instant gratification.
“Everybody needs a ‘to me, from me’ present,”
she asserts. “I always tell women to buy their own
jewelry. There are no strings attached.”
Then she laughs and laughs.
Classic Facets is located at 942 Pearl St. in
Boulder. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday
10 a.m.-ish to 5:30 p.m.-ish and Sunday noon-ish to
5 p.m.-ish (“This isn’t some corporate firm,” quips
Rainey.). For more information, visit
www.classicfacets.com, e-mail info@classicfacets.com
or call 303.938.8851.