Jacob Mercari specializes in expertly crafted diamond engagement rings and custom jewellery; made in Toronto. Choose from our large selection of premium diamond engagement ring styles, or allow us to offer you the ultimate custom design experience. All materials are ethically sourced. We offer a friendly and open one-on-one environment with no sales pressure. Other offerings include naturally mined and lab-grown diamonds. Our goal is to better inform customers and offer the best quality jewellery possible. Buying an engagement ring shouldn’t be stressful. Jacob Mercari takes the stress out of the jewellery-buying experience.
Tell us about yourself?
I landed in this business by default, one could say. My father is in the diamond business, and I was naturally curious about the industry. After university, I spent six months in Israel learning the diamond business. I worked in a factory cutting diamonds from their natural rough form into a finished, polished product. After that, I spent six months in Antwerp, Belgium. I took courses related to the trade, and I worked for one of the largest diamond manufacturers, sorting the diamonds into various colour grades and clarity grades. It was an excellent learning experience. I made great friends and learned a lot about the jewellery business. I returned to Toronto and worked in my father’s diamond wholesale business. I have always had the desire to help customers directly. So, after working for my father, I decided to start my own business with a focus on dealing with customers directly.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Take time to smell the roses. I spend a lot of time focusing on all aspects of the business to make sure things are running smoothly. I think sometimes I get lost in the work and forget to take time to enjoy the process. I have started to pay more attention to the true enjoyment that comes from my work and helping customers. I feel very blessed to be in my position. When I remind myself of this, it gives me a renewed sense of accomplishment and focus.
What problem does your business solve?
The jewellery business is a trust business. By this, I mean it is tough to find a jeweller who has the customer’s true interests at heart. I am deeply committed to my customers. They deserve to be properly educated. They deserve to be treated fairly, and they deserve a top-quality product at a fair price.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
I saw an opportunity to utilize my knowledge and experience to better serve retail customers. There are many facets to running a business. I like to learn new things. I like to know exactly how things work, and I always try to find ways to do better. The variety of tasks keeps things interesting, and I have learnt a tremendous amount in a relatively short period of time. I think it is good to keep pushing oneself to improve. I am given the opportunity daily to learn and iterate. It is the most fun I have ever had working!
What is your magic sauce?
Our magic sauce is simple: the customer comes first. We are open, honest and transparent. We do not put pressure on our customers. We strive to make the highest quality custom engagement rings and wedding bands. We are always trying to improve and do better.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
The next five years should be very interesting. We want to continue building our brand in order to reach more customers and offer them the best possible service. We want to continue learning and studying various jewellery manufacturing techniques in order to stay ahead of the curve.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
I would say the biggest challenge was to find the right people to work with. A company is only as great as the people it employs. It is important to find people with the same values, goals, and attention to detail. I prefer quality over quantity. I am always looking for new people or processes that can help give a better overall customer experience.
How can people get involved?
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or requests. We are more than happy to give you honest advice and a proper diamond education. We offer zoom appointments and in-person meetings at our office located in downtown Toronto. You can reach us at 416-861-8204 or visit us at www.jacobmercari.com.