Today we’d like to introduce you to Roderick Watterson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Roderick. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. In South Africa, it was mandatory that the male citizens participated in 2-year military service. When the military service was completed, I responded to an ad in the newspaper for a company looking to hire diamond cutting apprentices. After responding to the ad, they said the position had already been filled, however, that I could come in for the interview and the would put me on file. Two weeks later, I received a call from the company telling me the other person they had hired had a criminal record after they ran his background check. They told me that job was mine and I could start immediately. From that day forward, I knew that the diamond business was meant to be. I began and completed my three-year diamond cutting apprenticeship and I finished top of my class. My foreman in South Africa relocated to the United States of America. Before he had left, he spoke with me about joining him in America once he got established. Three years later, he called me and told me at the moment he did not have enough work for me to join him however, he recommended another company that was looking for a diamond cutter. I got in contact with the company and they said they needed my specialties promptly. Within one month, me and my wife relocated to the USA with only $2000 and 3 suitcases and my wife’s comforter that she did not want to leave behind. Not realizing the seasonal changes in the USA we arrived in Dallas in shorts and t-shirts in the middle of winter.
I worked as a diamond cutter for the next 5 years with a salary of $431 a week. Being a diamond cutter, I learned all aspects of diamond cutting from the rough diamond to the finished product. I eventually started my own diamond cutting business and established relationships with the top diamond importers and dealers all over the nation and eventually opened up Diamond Exchange Dallas. The goal of Diamond Exchange Dallas was to offer the biggest and nicest diamonds directly from the diamond cutters to the public without the markups of traditional jewelry stores.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In every business, you will face challenges and you need to endure them. It took me 10 years to obtain my US citizenship. When I first came to America, we did not have a lot of capital and did not have any established relationships and no family to fall back on. I had to become creditworthy in the US diamond industry in order for dealers to trust me with their diamonds to cut. I had to work long enough to obtain the capital to purchase the diamond cutting equipment I needed to start my own diamond cutting business. When starting Diamond Exchange Dallas, we had to become a reputable local diamond jewelry store among some big name jewelers in Dallas. We became successful one customer at a time with treating them with honesty and integrity which I believe is actually lacking in this business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Diamond Exchange Dallas story. Tell us more about the business.
Diamond Exchange Dallas is a wholesale diamond dealer that specializes in buying and selling diamonds and engagement rings. We are known for our integrity in the diamond jewelry industry and our exceptional service. Jewelry stores in the past were able to take advantage of customers due to their lack of knowledge on diamonds. With the internet customers have become very informed on the different aspects of diamonds including cut, clarity, color, and carat size. People come to Diamond Exchange Dallas after doing their research and reading our 200+ 5 stars Google reviews. Our best customers are the ones that have already done their research and have shopped around and know exactly what they are looking for. The expensive part of an engagement ring purchase is the center diamond. We are able to get our customers the biggest and nicest diamond for their particular budget. We have hundreds of engagement ring settings to choose from and we also make custom jewelry. At Diamond Exchange, we still physically cut loose diamonds on-site and we sell direct. You will avoid all of the crazy markups with traditional jewelry stores.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe the harder you work the luckier you get.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5757 Alpha Rd #502
Dallas, TX 75240 - Website: https://diamondexchangedallas.com
- Phone: 214-755-1806
- Email: roderick@diamondexchangedallas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diamondexchangedallas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondExchangeDallas/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DallasDiamondEx
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/diamond-exchange-dallas-dallas
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTEcj7zWz03-zVNhYhDC77A
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