Bonnie Brae Designer of Fine Jewelry

Bonnie Brae "Fine Jewelers" - and more specifically Vence DeHerrera - is a joke. This guy can sure talk the talk, but his claims of craftsmanship abilities are all lies. The store is near where I work, so I stopped in to have my husband's wedding ring re-sized and cleaned. We had mounted an antique diamond in a plain gold wedding band when we first got married, but have since moved all over the country and were looking for a new jeweler. We had 2 months before taking our anniversary trip, and Vence said it would be no problem. I went back 3 weeks later, and he told me he had been traveling and didn't get a chance to work on it yet... but assured me it would be ready in 2 more weeks. When I went back in 2 more weeks, he told me he had broken the diamond. I was in shock! He tried claiming that the stone was poor quality and things like that just happen, but he didn't know we had the ring appraised and the stone inspected just 6 months earlier (Thanks goodness for that). After several more times of stopping in to talk to him, he finally said he would "try" to find new diamond. We went on our vacation, and when we came home scheduled an appointment. At the store, Vence seemed so happy to see us... and it was because he had put in a NEW diamond and was trying to CHARGE us for it! We refused the ring, and finally had our lawyer intervene. We got back the mounting, but the diamond is gone... and I'm not even sure if it really was broken or if he just kept it for a keepsake.

My husband bought a very unique engagement ring and it was not part of a set. We went to Vence to design and create a wedding ring to go with my engagement ring. At the same time, I had him design a wedding ring for my husband to match my ring. He did a magnificent job. He even went to someone he knew to get a better diamond for my husband's ring. When I tried my set on, the wedding ring didn't quite fit and he spent almost an hour with us re-sizing my ring. The rings turned out breathtaking. He also gave me a gift, of earring jackets to wear with the diamond earrings I was going to wear on my wedding day. The rings were done on time and I still get compliments all the time on how beautiful they are. Vence is a true craftsman and renaissance man. I would recommend him to anyone, just remember, he is an artist. If you are a regimented person, a person by the clock, you are going to have to have some patience. But it will be worth it. The end result will be a one-of-a-kind piece of art.



Pamela Forgus

Vence DeHererra, owner and designer of Bonnie Brae Fine Jewelry, has a wedding set that belongs to me that he out right REFUSES to return to me -- nor will he nor has he paid me a single dime for the items, that include an exquisite 2 3/4 carat emerald-cut diamond! I've had to hire a lawyer and will soon file a police report for theft against him in the hopes I can get my jewelry back or that he will pay me the money he's promised me over and over again. But at this point, he won't even return my phone calls! Think twice about this jeweler and beware!