Ultra Gems is once again spreading holiday cheer with its 10th annual Christmas giveaway, offering participants the chance to win a piece of fine jewelry.
Owner John Iracane said the giveaway has become a fun and meaningful tradition — one that blends holiday spirit with community connection and small business promotion.
“This is our 10th year, and it just keeps getting bigger and better,” Iracane said. “It’s always fun because I not only get to market our family-run business, but also hear from friends and customers I don’t always get to talk to. It turns into a real reunion each year.”
This year’s winner will have their choice of a .75-carat diamond pendant set in 14k yellow gold or 1-carat diamond stud earrings set in 14k white gold.
To enter, participants are encouraged to interact with Ultra Gems’ social media posts. Each like earns one entry, each comment counts as two, and each share is worth three. The posts will highlight different pieces from the store’s jewelry inventory — not the giveaway items themselves — with entries accepted through December 22, when the winner will be drawn.
The longtime family business is located at 115 St. Ann Street and operates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Saturday appointments available. Iracane, who runs the store alongside longtime staff member Alexis Hood, said Ultra Gems was founded by his father, Joe Iracane, out of their living room nearly 50 years ago.
“Dad was a teacher at Owensboro High School and just started selling jewelry on the side. He couldn’t afford to advertise or open a big storefront, so he relied on word of mouth,” Iracane said. “That still holds true today — we keep a low overhead so we can pass those savings to the customer.”
While Ultra Gems may not have the flash of big-box stores, Iracane said the business has built a loyal, multi-generational customer base.
“We’ve had one family where we sold engagement rings to the grandparents, the parents, and then their children. That kind of loyalty means everything,” he said.
Iracane emphasized that Ultra Gems offers something for every budget, whether it’s a quarter-carat ring or a five-carat showpiece. The shop also now offers lab-grown diamonds, which are visually and structurally identical to natural diamonds but cost significantly less — sometimes 75 to 80 percent cheaper, he said.
“No matter the price, we try to treat every customer the same,” Iracane said. “This giveaway is just one more way for us to say thank you for supporting us all these years.”
For more information, visit the Ultra Gems Facebook or Instagram pages, or call 270-926-6077.
