{"id":82850,"date":"2020-06-15T12:22:49","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T17:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/?page_id=82850"},"modified":"2021-07-26T15:42:13","modified_gmt":"2021-07-26T20:42:13","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;900&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joel and Avi started Olympian Diamonds in 1991 out of an office measuring about 15 by 6 feet, not counting the doorway. They had a fax machine, an old safe the size of a washing machine, shuttered windows facing the other side of the building, and they were good to go. As the company grew over the years, they never forgot their humble beginnings. Customer satisfaction has always been at the focal point of the company\u2019s strategy. It\u2019s the main facet of the company and it always will be. We answered our own phones then, and we still personally take care of every call, e-mail, and Facebook Message now.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;82858&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;four-three&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;82857&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;four-three&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;900&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]In 1995, we moved to our present location in downtown Chicago, facing Lake Michigan with a bird\u2019s eye view of Millennium Park. It has become a treasured landmark in Jeweler\u2019s Row and Olympian has established its reputation for personal service, great values, and sensitivity to their customers\u2019 needs. Two years later, we annexed the office next door and migrated to computer systems.<\/p>\n<p>Now that the stage was set, Olympian just needed its crown jewel, and in 2001, they found one. Her name was Aleah Siegel Arundale. A scion of a Michigan jewelry family dating back five generations, Aleah had just graduated with honors from Loyola University and was ready to continue her family legacy.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Some people might consider selling diamonds to be a skill or even an artform. For Aleah, it\u2019s more like a natural instinct. Selling diamonds on the road taught her endless jewelry selling tips, which she shares in a 12,000 member strong (and extremely loved) weekly newsletter. She is a regular contributor to every major jewelry magazine.<\/p>\n<p>Aleah\u2019s creativity and generosity is only matched by her legendary dedication to helping retail jewelers. Her motto is: \u201cLet\u2019s help each other shine\u201d, and her endless love of retail jewelers led her to create the largest group of retail jewelers in America: a Facebook group called \u201cJewelers Helping Jewelers\u201d. JHJ connects 15,000 jewelers in real time, 24\/7.<\/p>\n<p>In 2010, we saw a growing need in the market for larger diamonds at lower costs. That\u2019s when we opened our sister company, Advanced Enhanced Diamonds. Advanced Enhanced offers quality natural diamonds that are fracture filled to give them an extra luster at considerably lower prices.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, We gave birth to another business, Chicago Jewelry Buyers, where we offer to buy diamonds from around Chicagoland for competitive prices.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1592258467064{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Joel Jacobson[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]Joel is a native Chicagoan, and his uncle was actually a pioneering member of the diamond Bourse in Israel. Joel studied mechanical engineering and earned an MBA in Chicago and began his career working in the aircraft and nuclear power industries before embarking on his path as a diamond dealer. His engineering background gives him a deep appreciation of the geometry of diamonds, and his MBA helps ensure that our jeweler\u2019s financial interests are always kept foremost in all Olympian decisions. Joel\u2019s wife is an artist and graphic designer who looks after their four sons, two daughters and grandkids with great flair.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_right&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;83583&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;60&#8243; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1592258467064{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Avi Malotek[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]Avi was also born in Chicago. He is a man whose loyalty is unwavering, as attested by his lifelong love of the White Sox. He graduated college with a specialty in political science, and remains a voracious reader of books about history and politics- which makes him fun to talk to and also means he knows something about and is interested in every locale he talks to. Avi worked in retail sales before joining the diamond industry, where he honed his commitment to customer service as the defining value of a successful business, and the defining value of Olympian Diamonds. Avi\u2019s wife is an attorney who currently specializes in family: specifically their twin sons and two daughters.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_right&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;83308&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;60&#8243; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1592258467064{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Aleah Arundale[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]Some people might consider selling diamonds to be a skill or even an artform. For Aleah, it\u2019s more like a natural instinct. Aleah Arundale is a 3rd generation GIA Graduate Gemologist, a 5th generation jeweler turned loose diamond wholesaler. Selling diamonds on the road taught her endless jewelry selling tips, which she shares in a 12,000 member strong (and extremely loved) weekly newsletter. She is a regular contributor to every major jewelry magazine.<\/p>\n<p>Aleah\u2019s creativity and generosity is only matched by her legendary dedication to helping retail jewelers. Her motto is: \u201cLet\u2019s help each other shine\u201d, and her endless love of retail jewelers led her to create the largest group of retail jewelers in America: a Facebook group called \u201cJewelers Helping Jewelers\u201d. JHJ connects 15,000 jewelers in real time, 24\/7.<\/p>\n<p>Sign up for her Jewelry Sales Tips Newsletter by e-mailing her at Aleah@olympiandiamonds.com or calling 800-882-8900. \u201cWe are all in this jewelry business together, let\u2019s help each other shine!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aleah\u2019s husband is a patent attorney who enjoys camping out and craft beer, when he is not helping keep up with their young son and daughter.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_right&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;82920&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;four-three&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading]So what does it take to make a great diamond company?[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]There may not be a definite recipe, but we think it helps that members of Olympian have many interests. Call us and you may be speaking to someone who: Brews his own beer; DJ\u2019s in his spare time; Completed a University Honors program in dance (ballet, modern, jazz, tap. And she also enjoys singing and acting!); Papercuts in his spare time; Enjoys soccer when he is not boxing!; Is an interior design student, who also enjoys cooking and travel; Enjoys ultimate Frisbee; Cares for her friend\u2019s dogs; Is a pastry chef; Raises chickens in a Chicago back yard; Guy who bakes and incredible sour dough bread\u2026[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Our Story - Olympian Diamonds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn all about the history of Olympian Diamonds and what makes us your dealer of choice for loose diamonds.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/our-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our Story - Olympian Diamonds\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn all about the history of Olympian Diamonds and what makes us your dealer of choice for loose diamonds.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/our-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Olympian Diamonds\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-07-26T20:42:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/\",\"name\":\"Olympian Diamonds\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/our-story\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/our-story\/\",\"name\":\"Our Story - Olympian Diamonds\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-15T17:22:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-07-26T20:42:13+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn all about the history of Olympian Diamonds and what makes us your dealer of choice for loose diamonds.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/our-story\/\"]}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82850"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82850\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olympiandiamonds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}