| L.A. Daily News |
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| By Rick Coca
What better way to show your girlfriend a sign of your love than to literally show her a sign of your love?
Roberto Giliberti, 30, of Thousand Oaks did just that Tuesday when he plastered a billboard on Ventura Boulevard with the words, “Malia, will you marry me? Love, Roberto.” As loads of evening commuters drove through the busy thoroughfare – and with Malia Kim’s teary-eyed family looking on, Giliberti removed Kim’s blindfold, pointed to the huge red sign with white lettering just northeast of Lindley Avenue, dropped to one knee and proposed marriage. And after a surprised moment, Kim said … yes. “I had no idea,” Kim, 21, said after being whisked to the intersection in a limousine. “I was really shocked … I just thought we were going to dinner.” “Everybody will remember it,” said a jubilant and somewhat relieved Giliberti. “She’ll remember it, and that’s what important.” The pair have been dating for about two years and met while working together in Calabasas and Westlake Village, where Giliberti manages several restaurants and Kim, a student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, works as a waitress and bartender. At a dinner with friends a few months ago, the marriage question came up. A mutual friend said since he worked for a major jeweler, he might be able to help move the engagement process along. “Whenever I’d mention it,” Kim said about getting engaged, “(Giliberti would) say, “let’s wait, let’s wait.” Little did she know that Giliberti’s friend contacted him and suggested a billboard proposing marriage and his company, Robbins Bros. Jewelers, would pay for it. Tuesday’s event helped promote a service the company has in which men buying engagement rings can get advice and assistance from the company in how to best “op the question.” “(Giliberti) wanted to do something really special for her.” said Tracey Lyles, a Robbins Bros. spokeswoman “He wanted something to really ‘wow’ her.” It seems Kim – along with her family – has been wowing Giliberti all along. A native of Italy, Giliberti said his close-knit family has a lot in common with Kim’s who are half-Polynesian with Hawaiian roots. “She loves her family as much as I love mine,” he said. Kim’s father, Jeffrey Kim of Simi Valley, who witnessed the proposal along with his wife, Brenda, and several of their children, was elated, heaping loads of praise on his future son-in-law. “I knew he would do something big; I didn’t know it would be this big,” he said. “But now the real work begins.” “I have to plan the wedding.” |
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Archive for February, 2007
Not all billboards eyesores
Palladium – The Miracle Luxury Metal
Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store, is proud to be one of the first retailers in the country to introduce palladium as a metal of choice for engagement rings and wedding bands.
Every so often the jewelry industry is introduced to a new product or concept or reacquainted with a forgotten “oldie, but goodie” that truly changes the way jewelry is perceived, designed, crafted, and sold. We saw it a number of years ago with the reintroduction and revitalization of Platinum as a jewelry mainstay. Today, we are reintroduced to the wonders of Palladium.
WHAT IS PALLADIUM?
Palladium is part of the platinum group metals. It is hypo-allergenic and slightly harder than platinum, so it will wear similar to how platinum wears. It will take on a beautiful patina (satin finish) over time.
Palladium was used in jewelry during World War II when platinum was not available because Platinum was designated a strategic metal. (Note: at the time it was being used, no technology existed that allowed for effective casting of Palladium, therefore Palladium jewelry was stamped. Today’s technological advances allow for casting and as such, a range of designs limited only by what our minds can imagine).
Palladium is lighter than platinum (it is closer to the weight of 14kt gold), so for clients that don’t prefer the weight of platinum, they may enjoy a palladium piece. The lighter weight of Palladium also allows designers a greater degree of freedom when designing taller, thicker and more intricate designs. Out of all the platinum group metals palladium has the lowest specific gravity (it is less dense, and therefore is lighter in weight than platinum).
Our Palladium collections are made of the alloy 95% Palladium and 5% Ruthenium (another platinum group metal). Palladium is similar in appearance to platinum – steely white. It does not tarnish and it does not need to be rhodium finished.
Benefits of Palladium:
- Palladium is 30% less expensive than platinum, and similar in price to 18K
- Palludium doesn’t need to be rhodium finished, because it is very white, like platinum
- Palladium is hypo-allergenic, unlike white-gold
- It has the look of platinum, but is slightly lighter in weight. (it is closer to the weight of 14kt. gold)
Palladium is pure. It is 95% palladium and 5% ruthenium (another platinum group metal)
Palladium is natural. Palladium is mined from the ground…what you see is what you get.
Palladium is less dense. This means that palladium is lighter in weight than platinum and closer to the feel of 14K gold.
Palladium is hard. It is 12.6% harder than platinum. It will wear similar to platinum, will still show scratches, and will patina (takes on a satin or matte finish) over time.
Palladium is hypoallergenic. There are only two parts to this metal – palladium and ruthenium – and neither will cause skin irritations.
Palladium is whiter. Palladium won’t tarnish or fade in color over time. It does not need to be rhodium finished and is even whiter than platinum.
Adding a little sparkle to Super Bowl Sunday
WEBSTER — Diamonds are found more often at baseball fields than football games, but Sunday’s Super Bowl was an exception.Women from across the Houston area flocked to the Robbins Brothers engagement ring store in Webster to add a little sparkle to their Super Bowl Sunday.There may have been the typical chips, dip and sausage for the boyfriends who somehow found themselves at a jewelry store during the big game, but most women there said they showed up to escape from the normally male-centered celebration.That escape included chocolate-covered strawberries, free manicures and plenty of jewelry to ogle at.
“Sometimes it’s nice to be pampered instead of having to pamper others,” said League City resident Jessica Hooks, who said she snuck away from a party at her own house for a manicure.
Although Mindy Michal-erya said she normally spends her Super Bowls hanging out with friends, this year she didn’t have anything to do.
“I heard about this and it sounded cute,” she said. “I just said, ‘I’ll go.’ Why not?”
Michalerya said she wasn’t very interested in the teams playing this year, another enticement to attend the event.
“Football isn’t really the point of the Super Bowl to me,” she said. “It’s just an excuse for everyone to get together and hang out.”
Other women came as moral support for friends hoping to own an engagement ring soon.
Tracie Bine, who lives near Clear Lake, said a friend dragged her to the store so she could look at engagement rings without her boyfriend knowing.
But meanwhile, Bine got a manicure, snacked on the food and got some beauty samples.
“I guess I needed a manicure anyway,” she said. “And really, there’s never a bad time to look at diamonds.”
The party lasted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., so Bine said she had time to stop by before kickoff so she could see the game, too.
But Ande Mattei had other plans for during the game.
“I’ve always thought of the Super Bowl as a great day to go shopping,” she said. “The mall is usually pretty empty and there’s always great sales.”
Robbins Bros. Valentine’s Day Engagement and Proposal Survey Results
Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store® offers food for thought before you pop the question this Valentine’s Day
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2007 – When to propose? Where to propose? What about the ring? The questions are endless when you’re planning on popping the big question. As we enter February, the second most popular month to propose marriage (after December), we know these questions will be on the mind of many men. Steve Elliott Marketing Research recently conducted an online survey for Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store®, that could help many answer the former questions.*
Here are some interesting facts to consider before the big day:
- One to two percent of the U.S. population gets engaged each year. That adds up to about 4.5 million engagements.
- With Valentine’s Day fast approaching many men are making preparations to propose. But, perhaps they should consider waiting because 69 percent of women prefer that their proposal occur on a day that holds no significance to the world in order to make it special just for them.
- Planning on proposing on the big screen at the next NBA game? Try again. Majority of people would rather share that special moment in private.
- Ladies, remember as a young girl dreaming up the perfect wedding, including the color and style of your bridesmaids’ dresses? Well, the survey indicates that men don’t begin to think about their engagement or wedding until they’re of drinking age – after 21. Coincidence?
- “Will you marry me?” According to the survey, 59 percent of people would desire to hear these four words over “You’ve won the lottery!”
- Having trouble finding the perfect mate? Don’t fret, get your friends involved. More than 27 percent have met their fiance through a friend.
- Location, location, location. Choosing the location of a proposal is always a major decision. For those who live in cities near the water, you’re in luck because 35 percent of participants think the beach makes for an ideal proposal location.
- Which memory do you cherish most? The survey says 54 percent feel getting engaged is more unforgettable than one’s first kiss (24 percent).
- Lastly, when it comes to the engagement ring, 62 percent of women said just buy the one she wants. It makes for a much happier wife!
Robbins Bros. currently operates seven freestanding store locations in Southern California, three in Houston and one in Dallas, Texas. Expansion plans in Chicago are now underway. Robbins Bros. has been featured on Today, The Tyra Banks Show, Ellen, and Dr. Phil. For more information please visit http://www.robbinsbros.com or call 1-800-610-RING.
If you would like to schedule a tour of one of our locations or an interview with a Robbins Bros. representative, please contact Tracey Lyles at (818) 662-0357 x8286 or tlyles@robbinsbros.com.
* The engagement research was conducted by an independent national research firm (Steve Elliott Marketing Research) and responses were solicited from individuals who have recently entertained the idea of becoming engaged, have recently become engaged or who have recently been married. On an annual basis, 1 to 2 percent of the population in the United States becomes engaged. The responses in this survey make up a sample that is statistically accurate +/-6% at 95% confidence.
