Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Joint Venture Jewelry was founded by my parents, Donna and Lee Hankin, in Cary, North Carolina, in 1998. Nearly 30 years later, we’re still a family-owned business—but we’ve always done things a little differently. Rather than purchasing inventory outright, our entire collection is on consignment, allowing us to curate an ever-changing selection of vintage and estate jewelry filled with one-of-a-kind pieces that are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
After graduating from NC State University in 2011, I joined the business full-time and have been working alongside my parents ever since. Over the years, we’ve evolved to meet the changing needs of our clients while staying true to the consignment model that has always set us apart.
Today, we focus on providing a highly personalized, concierge-style jewelry experience. When clients visit our showroom, they won’t find rows of traditional display cases. Instead, we invite them to sit down, have a conversation, and let us curate a selection of pieces from our estate collection based on their style, occasion, and budget. Every appointment is designed to feel welcoming, personal, and relaxed—more like visiting family than shopping in a jewelry store.
Along with our estate and consignment collection, we offer custom jewelry design, heirloom redesigns, appraisals, and jewelry concierge services, helping clients celebrate life’s milestones while preserving meaningful pieces for future generations.
Looking ahead, 2028 will mark another exciting chapter as my husband, Jorden, and I take over the business while my parents begin a well-earned retirement. It’s an incredible privilege to continue building on the legacy they’ve created while bringing our own vision for the future of Joint Venture Jewelry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Running a small family business has never been a smooth road—but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Working with family comes with its own unique challenges. We don’t always separate business from personal life, and there are moments when emotions and opinions collide. At the same time, that’s also our greatest strength. We genuinely care about each other, our team, and our clients, and that passion is what has allowed us to build lasting relationships over nearly three decades.
Like many small businesses, we’ve also had to navigate economic uncertainty. Jewelry is a luxury purchase, so consumer confidence certainly impacts our industry. But one thing we’ve learned is that while trends and markets may change, life’s biggest moments don’t. People still fall in love, celebrate anniversaries, welcome new babies, honor loved ones, and mark milestones. Jewelry has been part of those celebrations for centuries, and it’s a meaningful purchase that often transcends the economy.
We’ve adapted by focusing on exceptional service, unique estate pieces, and helping clients find something truly special at a value they can’t find elsewhere. That combination has helped us weather the ups and downs and continue growing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Joint Venture Jewelry?
Joint Venture Jewelry has never been a traditional jewelry store, and that’s exactly how we like it. Our specialty is vintage and estate jewelry, with an ever-changing collection of one-of-a-kind pieces available exclusively through consignment. Every ring, necklace, bracelet, and pair of earrings has a story, and we love helping our clients become part of that story’s next chapter.
What really sets us apart is the experience. We don’t have long rows of showcases or a high-pressure sales environment. Instead, we take a concierge approach to jewelry. Every client sits down with us, we learn about what they’re looking for, and we thoughtfully curate pieces from our collection that fit their style, occasion, and budget. Whether someone is searching for an engagement ring, a meaningful anniversary gift, or a piece to celebrate a personal milestone, we want the experience to feel relaxed, personal, and memorable.
One area that’s become especially meaningful to us is what we call our heirloom jewelry services. So many people inherit jewelry that’s incredibly sentimental but doesn’t quite fit their style or lifestyle. Rather than letting those pieces sit in a jewelry box, we help families reimagine them. Sometimes that means restoring an antique to its original beauty, and other times it means creating an entirely new custom piece that can be worn and loved every day. We also offer appraisals, consignment, and custom jewelry design, making us a trusted resource for clients at every stage of a piece’s journey.
If there’s one thing I hope people know about our brand, it’s that we’re relationship-driven. We aren’t trying to sell someone a piece of jewelry and never see them again. We want to be the jeweler people think of when they get engaged, celebrate anniversaries, welcome children, redesign family heirlooms, or eventually pass those treasures on to the next generation. Being part of those milestones is something we never take for granted, and it’s what makes this business so rewarding.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I absolutely love living in Cary and the Triangle. Although I was born in Pennsylvania, this has been home since my parents moved our family here and opened Joint Venture Jewelry in 1998. They were looking for a warmer climate and a place to put down roots, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions they ever made.
What I love most is the incredible sense of community. The Triangle has grown so much over the years, bringing together people from all over the country and the world. It’s a wonderful blend of cultures, ideas, and backgrounds, and I think that’s part of what makes this area so special.
My husband, Jorden, and I are now raising our two daughters, Emery (2½) and Harlow (4 months), here, and I truly believe it’s one of the best places in the country to raise a family. Between the parks, greenways, local businesses, great schools, and the genuine sense of community, it’s hard to imagine calling anywhere else home.
We’re also huge Hurricanes fans—go Canes!—and we’re excited about the possibility of Major League Baseball coming to Raleigh. We love seeing our region continue to grow while still maintaining the friendly, welcoming spirit that made us fall in love with it in the first place.
As for what I like least? Honestly, if I had to pick something, it would be our public transportation. The Triangle has experienced incredible growth over the past few decades, and I think expanding public transit will be an important part of supporting that growth. Better regional transportation would make it even easier to connect our communities, support local businesses, and improve quality of life. But that’s a small tradeoff for living in a place with so much opportunity, diversity, and such a strong sense of community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jointventurejewelry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jointventurenc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jointventurejewelry
