John Darakjian, an Armenian immigrant, embodied the American dream when he built Darakjian Jewelers on four principles: hard work, customer service, honesty and integrity.
On October 14, 1964 Darakjian, known as JD, opened his first store in the landmark Metropolitan Building in downtown Detroit.
“You can’t sacrifice business for time; you have to sacrifice time for business,” Darakjian said. “The harder you work, the better your life will be.”
Work Pays Off
A true family man, JD raised his two sons while building his business and brand. Darakjian Jewelers expanded and opened a state-of-the-art jewelry store in Southfield where he trained dozens of employees and built a solid reputation in the area.
His reputation continued to flourish and in 2013, Darakjian Jewelers opened their new flagship store in Birmingham.
JD’s sons Ara and Armen Darakjian now run the family-owned business, and have helped thousands of couples make the best choices in engagement rings, from selecting high-end brands like Michael M, to purchasing loose stones and creating the exact style they wanted.
Customer Eric Ormanian was pleasantly surprised when he went to Darakjian Jewelers in search of an engagement ring for his bride-to-be Andrea.
“When I first walked into the store, I thought it would be way out of my budget,” Ormanian said. “It’s so beautiful.”
Ormanian told Armen Darkjian how much he could spend.
“He reassured me that he could stay in my budget with no problem,” Ormanian said. “He created something based on a high-end designer ring we had seen in other stores and it was perfect at a quarter of the price. It was way above and beyond what I thought I would get. He also told me he would upgrade my diamond if I wanted to do that later, and buy back my original diamond for the price I paid. The service was spectacular.”
Armen Darkjian said if he knows the customer’s budget, “we can often create exactly what they want. It’s not that difficult when you have a jeweler who is knowledgeable and willing to walk you through the process.”
See the Stone Before You Buy
Buying a diamond in person is the surest way to get the selection and security in your purchase.
“Every diamond is completely different,” Armen said. “I can show you three diamonds, graded exactly the same and they’ll all look unique.
Every single one will shine and sparkle differently. You won’t get the most beautiful diamond if you don’t see it in-person.”
Armen tells his customers to seek out the best professional jeweler, like
Darakjian Jewelers, to help navigate the myriad of engagement ring
options within their specific budget.
“You need someone who knows what’s available and what can be custom-created for you,” Armen continued. “We listen to you and are able to show you a variety of designs, based on what you like. Some brides come in to Darakjian and they’ve been looking for months. Once they tell us their budget and show us the designs they like, we’re able to help them find (or make) the perfect ring – one that they’re both happy with.”
Today, Darakjian Jewelers is known throughout the United States and
Europe for its high quality jewelry and extraordinary customer service.
“We’ve become ambassadors of the most prestigious brands of watches and jewelry in the world, while maintaining our roots as a service-oriented local business,” he said. “In store and online, we help our guests daily to celebrate and commemorate the important moments of their lives.”
Darakjian Jewelers is committed to serving and generously giving back to the community.
Eric and Andrea Ormanian purchased their engagement ring at Darakjian Jewelers. Photo Credit: Gary Lusk
STORE HOURS
Monday-Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: Closed
