Outing the Old can make for a Better New Year February 25, 1999 – Posted in: Press

Guest Author: TOBINA KAHN
Published: February 25, 1999
Skyline News

Inherited jewels are often sold to pay for a more promising future.

When Champagne bottles are uncorked and “Auld Lang Syne” ushers the New Year in, many will pull their loved ones in for the last kiss of the century- and the first of the new millennium. While the turning of every year fosters expectations of and hope for change, this year anticipates a beginning and a realization of a new era, another century of growth with all its highs and lows.

However, a certain amount of nostalgia has already set in. Mixed among the New Year paraphernalia and celebration plans, there are books of photographs highlighting the past century, video collections and even a U.S. line o stamps featuring every decade since 1900. We are in fact sorting through the memories at the same time we plan for the future. As always we are faced with the dilemma of what to keep- the most valuable mementos, the hardest learned lesions- and what to let go.

Looking back, there is much to applaud and cherish. It is not hard to revel in the past. Looking forward though, we see that many of our problems and concerns follow us into the years to come. Will baby boomers have enough money to comfortably retire? Will heath care costs continue to plague older Americans? And, in the worst case scenario, what can we do to ensure a more stable future for ourselves? For nearly half a century, The House of Kahn Estate Jewelers in both Chicago, Illinois and Palm Beach, Florida, has helped individuals meet the ever increasing cost of living and secure a brighter future. We meet many people who need to cash in on investments because we pay the highest prices for antique and estate jewels.

With the recent boom in technology stocks, including the successes of IBM, AOL and Yahoo!, many businessmen and professionals parted with little used family jewels in order to take advantage of this valuable opportunity. Equally, we have bought pieces from parents and grandparents who believe that their children’s education is their primary and most important investment.

Weighing the possibilities of the future against the keepsakes of the past is often a difficult task. However, as most jeweled pieces remain in the safe deposit boxes or go years unworn, many chose to let go of those items, so that they can more confidently and securely move forward in life.

As we look over the past century we must take stock of the memories, lessons and mementos. We must also ready ourselves for the years ahead. I hope we embrace the future with the same courage as the women joining the work force in the 40’s, the same adventurous spirit as Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, and the same unquenchable desire for a better future.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.