We preview the latest models from the iconic watchmaker.
Rolex’s founding philosophy of innovation and excellence is more present than ever.
Picks for the jewelry and watch lovers on your list.
The Kanas City metro area may have its share of long-existing businesses, but Drenon is distinctive for being among the most celebrated names. A family enterprise dating back to 1945, Savanna Mckamey, 28, co-runs the store with her father, Steve Frisch, today and is the fourth generation of Drenon to come into the fold.
“Our legacy is what makes us unique and keeps us going today,” Mckamey says. “It’s because we are a family who are equally invested in our prosperity. We all have to equally benefit or lose.” As a mother of two young children, Mckamey is hopeful that one day they’ll follow her path and join Drenon to keep it an ever-enduring name. Below, she shares her perspective on why Drenon continues to thrive.
How is drenon different from other family jewelry stores?
fireplace where you can relax and watch TV if you want. We also have a coffee bar, where we make you great cappuccinos and even pour you champagne. People love our chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies, especially when Rhonda bakes them.
My dad always says, "We don't exist without customers who become friends," and I think that's what sets us apart. We often know our customers’ names before they walk in the door. When they come in, it's like catching up with an old friend rather than a business transaction. We ask about their children, grandchildren, vacations and how the new restaurant was that they told us they were going to try the last time they were in.
They are not a number. They are people with lives and faces. The jewelry purchase is just an extra perk.
In your opinion, what's the secret behind your enduring legacy?
Over the last 79 years, we have come a long way from a little repair shop in a small strip center to an 8,000-square-foot store selling some of the most desirable brands in the industry. However, we haven't gone corporate or forgotten our roots. We treat every customer with kindness and respect, regardless of how big or small the transaction is.
Though our store is beautiful and upscale, we still create an inviting environment. We have really comfortable couches in front of the
How do you continue to draw a repeat clientele, and how do you attract new customers?
Our service, selections, and setting continue to bring people back. For attracting new customers, we exist almost solely off referrals. We do very little marketing, yet we continue to grow year after year. Each time we sell one engagement ring, there is a potential for 10 or 20 more engagement ring sales to come as a result of the relationship we established with the initial customer.
Many brands you carry have been a hallmark of drenon for many years, but you also have a very successful custom business. Why do so many people come to you for custom?
The majority of jewelry stores in the U.S. outsource their customs. Though we can do that, we have something even better- our awardwinning custom jeweler, Kelly. He has been with us since 1980 and is able to do every step of the custom process in-house. He starts by creating a CAD of the piece. It can take several hours to get all of the details and proportions just right. Then he moves on to printing the 3D wax. From there, the 3D print is invested into a flask and put in a kiln exceeding very high temperatures over 1,000 degrees overnight. By the next morning, it's ready to be casted. Our customers love this part because they are able to watch if they want! They are always fascinated and excited to see their piece being built right in front of their eyes! Lastly, he sets all of the stones and polishes the piece to perfection! There are many CAD designers, diamond setters, or polishers in the world, but it is very rare to find a jeweler that can do every single step of the process! We are blessed to have Kelly and our customers love him!
With kind regards, Savanna Mckamey
Rolex has brought a fresh new look to some of its most iconic models achieving a harmonious balance of functionality and aesthetics.
From its creation by Hans Wilsdorf more than a century ago, Rolex’s philosophy of innovation and excellence is more present than ever.
THE FOUR GENERATIONS OF DRENON JEWELRY
The Drenon Story, from 1945. How a close knit and enterprising family built Drenon Jewelry into what it is today.
More women are buying their own jewelry, and getting exactly what they want! Selections from our new Bassali Collection
Congratulations to our Drenon Jewelry couples who found their engagement rings with us.
Finding “the one” for you. We review engagement rings as unique and individual as you are.
Drenon Jewelry Associates share their personal picks for the best pieces to give the jewelry and watch lovers on your list.
Hamilton introduces their Khaki Field Murph in a new, more wearable 38mm size.
In 1945, Loren “Mike” Drenon dreamed of leaving behind his job as a watchtower guard at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant and opening his own jewelry store. He had a love for watches that started three years prior when he taught himself how to fix his own broken watch. Over time, he began repairing other people’s watches and realized that there was an opportunity to turn this hobby into a business. However, this idea infuriated his wife, Pansy. At that time, they had a young daughter, Karen, to provide for and Pansy was afraid they would lose all they had chasing his dream. Much to her dismay, Mike took their $500 life savings and opened Drenon Jewelry in November of 1945. He built his own showcases in his living room and carried his merchandise back and forth in a shoebox daily.
Mike and Pansy Drenon spent several decades in that little strip center on Independence Avenue in the shopping district of Fairmount in Independence, MO. They became a pillar of the community and played a major role in the development of Fairmount in the 1950’s and 1960’s. They were able to maintain a modest lifestyle and achieve the “American Dream” of opening their own business that would eventually be passed down for generations to come. Mike passed away in 1994 at the age of 79 and Pansy in 2001 at the age of 87. They would never believe how far Drenon Jewelry has come since their humble beginnings in 1945. Just to think…it all started with $500 and a shoebox!
As a little girl, Karen, the only child of Mike and Pansy Drenon, spent many summers, holidays, and long nights at her parent’s jewelry store. She never had a love for the jewelry industry and knew she wanted to create her own path outside of the family business when she got older. She married her husband, Frankie Frisch, in 1959 and together they had three children, Rhonda, Michael, and Steve. After years of being a homemaker, Karen began climbing the corporate ladder at Children’s Mercy Hospital throughout the 1970’s and she loved it. However, a wrench was thrown in her plans when her father asked her to take over the family business in 1978. Pansy had suffered a heart attack that left her unable to work for a while, so Mike needed his daughter to step in.
After much consideration, Frankie and Karen Frisch reluctantly became the new owners of Drenon Jewelry in 1978. To her surprise, Karen quickly fell in love with her new career and the business began to grow. They hired Kelly, a recent graduate of Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, in 1980 and Michelle, another graduate, in 1993. They soon outgrew their little showroom in Fairmount, so they relocated to Lee’s Summit Road in 1999. It was there that business really began to boom, partnering with many well-known jewelry designers and watch brands. Their biggest accomplishment came in 2004 when they became an Official Rolex Jeweler. Under Karen and Frankie’s leadership, they took Drenon Jewelry from a small mom & pop shop to one of the most respectable jewelry stores in the Kansas City area.
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The first generation makes it, the second generation maintains it, and the third generation destroys it.” Thankfully, this has not been the case for Drenon Jewelry. The oldest child of Karen and Frankie Frisch, Rhonda, got her start in the business as a teenager decorating the windows of the original store in Fairmount. She would eventually open her own children’s boutique right next door called Precious Years. Rhonda was also a highly sought-after photographer, becoming one of the most well-known and awarded children’s photographers in the area during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Even as her own businesses took off, she always remained involved with the family jewelry store. Most recently, she has used her creative talents to grow Drenon Jewelry’s custom department. She specializes in taking heirloom pieces that might be out of style and designing them into something new and beautiful for customers to love!
Rhonda’s brother, Steve, started in the store at the age of 7. Even at such a young age, it was clear to everyone that Steve was a gifted salesman. He always knew that he wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps of running the family business one day. Over the years, he learned every aspect of the business from day-to-day operations to repairing jewelry on the bench to grading diamonds and doing insurance appraisals. However, there was no question that Steve’s true giftset was in sales. He had an incredible ability to get people laughing and feeling comfortable, which resulted in him developing a huge following that continues to grow each day. Though Steve’s impact on Drenon Jewelry dates back over five decades, he officially became the third-generation owner in 2009, alongside his wife, Cheryl. As new owners, they had the dream of taking the business to new heights and were able to execute that dream by moving to a new, 8,000 square foot building in 2018. Since that move six years ago, the business has continued to thrive, and Drenon Jewelry has experienced unprecedented growth year after year.
Karen and Frankie’s children Rhonda and Steve started working in the store as kids, and had a dream of moving the business to a new 8,000-square-foot location, that they accomplished in 2018.
Dara, the oldest of three daughters born to Rhonda and Gary Wilks, has been around the family business for as long as she can remember. One of her very first memories was walking the sidewalks of the Fairmount store with her Uncle Michael at three years old. She spent much of her childhood cleaning the toilets and the glass showcases until she officially joined the staff in 2006. She has worn many hats during her 18-year career from sales to merchandising to bookkeeping. Dara is also a wife and mother to three girls, Lainey, Loren, and Lillie. Her middle daughter, Loren, was even named after Drenon Jewelry’s founder! Dara’s girls already have a love for jewelry, and she would love to see one of them follow in her footsteps of working for the family business one day!
Steve’s oldest child, Savanna, never wanted to be a part of Drenon Jewelry. Much like her grandmother, Karen, she was very independent and wanted to carve her own path. While in college studying to become an elementary school teacher, Drenon found itself short-staffed during the Christmas season. Steve asked Savanna to help for a few weeks while on Winter Break. That was seven years ago, and she never left! Savanna surprised herself when she developed a love for the jewelry industry and a passion for carrying on her family’s legacy. Similarly to her father, Savanna is a gifted saleswoman, but management of the day-to-day operations is what she really loves to do. Savanna is married with two young children, Eloise and Cameron. You will often find her babies toddling around the jewelry store, which the customers love! She is excited to carry on the Drenon name into the next generation!
More women are buying their own jewelry, and getting exactly what they want! Here’s what’s new, and some best-sellers from our Bassali Collection.
It used to be that if a woman wanted a piece of jewelry she had to wait until someone gifted her with it. It could be for her birthday, or Valentine’s Day, for her graduation or her anniversary.
These days women aren’t waiting anymore. “If I see it and I want it, I buy it,” says a lawyer in Rio de Janeiro, typical of the thinking today. And the occasion for treating herself may be a promotion or simply because, as one editor in Tokyo says, “I work hard and I deserve it.” According to a study conducted by the marketresearch firm Mintel of jewelry purchases in the U.S., more than half of the women surveyed who purchased jewelry did so to treat themselves.
One reason behind the shift is that more women are working, making their own money and feeling they can spend it how they see fit. In fact, according to Forbes.com, women now control over $20 trillion in annual consumer spending globally. They are transforming the marketplace, and that includes jewelry.
executive buying a piece of diamond jewelry that cost in the six figures, while another jeweler in Atlanta said her female customers buying for themselves usually spend a couple of thousand dollars. As with all jewelry purchases, the amount spent is based on income, so as more women rise the corporate ladder and earn higher salaries, the money spent on fine jewelry increases as well.
Many women see the purchase of fine jewelry as an investment, as much of a part of their financial portfolio as buying stocks, bonds or real estate.
And many woman find justification for an expensive jewelry purchase in the realization that they can always pass along a valuable piece as part of their inheritance.
Says one New York City mother, “I have two daughters and I’ve picked out the pieces they will inherit. Some belonged to my mother.”
And they aren’t buying trinkets. One jeweler we interviewed in Pittsburgh reported a female
But perhaps a Parisian fashion designer we spoke to expressed it best when she gave what she considers the most compelling reason for a woman to buy jewelry for herself: “You’ll get exactly the jewelry that you want.”
Who says your wedding band has to match your engagement ring? Or that couples must wear similar bands? Or that you even have to limit yourself to one band? Today there are so many ways to express your undying love that the simple gold band has come a long way. While it all starts with the engagement ring, a perfect union isn't required when pairing it with a wedding band, says Amanda Gizzi, a trend watcher for Jewelers of America. You can think outside the box and try different styles. The key is harmony. The rings should complement one another.
The same advice holds for the guys. Whether looking for something simple and understated or something with a little more character, choose what feels like you.
"The band represents who you are as an individual and also who you are as a couple," Gizzi says. "They don't have to be the same. Something as simple as engraving the insides can tie them together."
Here are just some of the possibilities you'll find at Drenon Jewelry.
Engagement rings as unique and individual as you are.
There has never been a better time to be an engagement ring shopper. There are so many dazzling designs to choose from you are sure to find “the one” that best expresses your uniqueness — in addition to you and your partner’s special love story. To help guide you through a sea of settings we turned to experts who keep watch on wedding jewelry trends, Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for Jewelers of America and Severine Ferrari, founder of Engagement 101. Here’s what to know to find the ring that is perfect for you.
Solitaires Stand The Test Of Time
The beauty of a round single center stone never grows old — it’s still the leading shape, classic and timeless. And because the shape doesn’t have any sharp angles, it’s less prone to chipping.
❥ To make it more personal: Stack it. Putting a band above and below the solitaire elevates it, especially if your bands incorporate a special meaning about you and your partner, such as birthstones or different size diamonds.
A halo of small pave diamonds surrounding the center stone gives even the smallest ring a lot more shine, which is why halos continue to be a popular feature in engagement ring settings.
❥ To make it more personal: Instead of framing the stone with a halo of tiny diamonds, couples are opting to include halos and accent gems with notable meaning, such as birthstones, under the setting where only the wearer can feel their presence but everyone else will be able to see the enhanced brilliance of such hidden details. The trend also includes etching dates and messages into the inside of the ring.
Fancy-shape diamonds — pears, trapezoids, marquise, cushion and portrait cuts — defy tradition and automatically express their individuality.
❥ To make it more personal: Any of these cuts can look especially amazing turned on their sides in an east-west setting.
The popular elongated shape is not only flattering to the finger, it too, is chip resistant. The larger surface area makes the stone appear larger, with its facets throwing off a lot of sparkle.
❥ To make it more personal: Set it on its side in a unique and eye-turning stunning east-west setting.
Look For New Spins On Three-Stone Settings
Traditional and timeless, three stone rings with matching diamonds will always be a bride’s favorite.
❥ To make it more personal: Three stone rings don’t always have to feature matching stones. Accents are another way to express uniqueness. Now trending, center stones being flanked by two smaller stones, sometimes diamonds in different shapes or even colored gemstones.
While diamonds still rule when it comes to engagement rings, some brides are opting to incorporate color gemstones into their rings. Sapphires are the most popular and durable stones next to diamonds
❥ To make it more personal: Choose sapphires in a lighter blue hue. Or if your taste runs to ruby red or emerald green, think of adding them as accent stones since neither is as durable as a diamond or sapphire.
The toi et moi setting, symbolizing two lovers sitting side by side, is far from a passing fad. The romantic design with matching stones dates back centuries.
❥ To make it more personal: Choose stones in different shapes or one diamond and one gemstone.
While you can’t go wrong with gold (yellow or white) or platinum, know that platinum is the most durable metal, followed by yellow gold. White gold may require some maintenance to keep its sheen. And all three metals are skin friendly.
❥ To make it more personal: Two-tone settings are trending, often with a platinum crown to make the stone more secure and appear as sparkly-white as possible.
Stacking Bands Are as Popular as Ever
Adding to a stack is a wonderful way to commemorate an anniversary, birthday or other special occasion. And rearranging and playing with stacks is a great way to keep your look unique and fresh.
❥ To make it more personal: Consider a band with more swerves, curves and a little more of an organic shape. It’s a fresh, new look that can give you the illusion of stacking without needing to pile on more.
“The Rolex Oyster Perpetual YachtMaster 42 in RLX titanium, a particularly strong but light-weight alloy. It’s fitted on an Oyster bracelet with a bidirectional rotating bezel with a Cerachrom insert in matte black ceramic. This new addition to the Rolex Yacht-Master line is one of my favorites.”
-Steve
“My pick for this year is the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky Dweller. It combines a dual time zone function as well as an innovative annual calendar. It’s a distinctive timepiece of revolutionary design that blends technological sophistication and ease of use, the ultimate watch for world travelers.” -Jose
THE DRENON TEAM share their personal picks for the best pieces to give the jewelry and watch lovers on your list.
“I think stackable rings make the perfect gift because they come in all different price-points and you can add more to your set in the future!” -Dara
“I love the diamond pave dog tag pendant from Gabriel & Co this year! It’s super trendy with the paperclip chain and you get a lot of look for the money!”
-Savanna
“My favorite gift this year is the stackable Bujukan bracelets from Gabriel & Co. Personally, I have loved stacking bracelets for years and am excited to see this becoming such a trend!” -Rhonda
“I think diamond studs are the best Christmas gift. They are a staple every woman should have in her jewelry box!”
-Karen
“The Tissot PRX is a great gift idea for Christmas this year! Everyone is loving this watch and it’s a fantastic price!" -Evan
“I collect butterflies, so it’s no surprise that I am picking the White Gold Butterfly Ring from Simon G! The whole butterfly collection is so beautiful and unique, which is why it’s one of our best-sellers!”
-Michelle
“Our Tantalum Rings are increasingly popular as a modern and sophisticated option for wedding bands. Tantalum, a rare, hard, blue-gray metal, is valued for its resistance to corrosion and scratching, making it an excellent choice for a long-lasting ring. Its weight is comparable to platinum, giving it a substantial feel that many find appealing. Due to its hypoallergenic properties, tantalum is also a suitable alternative for individuals with sensitive skin or allergies to other metals.” -Kelly
Hamilton introduces their Khaki Field Murph Watch with all-new options.
There are watches that have gained iconic status for their appearances in Hollywood movies. Good examples are the Rolex Submariner (Dr. No) and the Hamilton Ventura (Men in Black). The tradition continued in 2014 when Christopher Nolan’s megahit Interstellar opened. The film producers asked Hamilton to create two prototype watches for the movie. One, a Khaki Field model, was worn by Jessica Chastain, who was playing the character Murph. Using the watch, she communicates in Morse code with Matthew McConaughey’s character across dimensions of time and space in the universe.
A legion of Interstellar Murph followers was born. So in 2019, by popular demand, Hamilton launched the 42mm Khaki Automatic Field Murph.
This year Hamilton has updated things with a new, more wearable 38mm Murph. It’s available in a polished stainless steel bracelet with deployment clasp or a raised leather strap with alligator finish.
The new model sports a highly accurate H-10 caliber Swiss ETA movement with an impressive 80-hour power reserve and an exhibition caseback. The updated dial is simple and easy to read, with SuperLumaNova® on the outer numerals and vintage-look cathedral hands.
Pioneering, practical and precise and affordable, Hamilton uses a unique combination of Swiss precision and American spirit to create distinctive, versatile watches for aficionados and style-conscious individuals alike.
Tech Specs
Movement: COSC certified ETA H-10 caliber
Functions : Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Case: Steel Fine-Brushed/Polished with exhibition caseback
Bezel: Polished Bezel
Water resistance: 100m
Power reserve: 80 hours
Strap options: Folding stainless ste el bracelet or leather strap
Size: 38mm
