It could be snowing diamonds

COEUR d’ALENE — They’re praying for snow at Clark’s Diamond Jewelers. 

To be specific, they’re praying for at least 4 inches of snow Jan. 11 at Spokane International Airport.

“We want it to happen,” said Dan Clark on Tuesday. “We want it to happen more than anybody.”

If it does, all purchases made at the Sherman Avenue jewelry store through Dec. 31 will be refunded. In other words, it could be the Christmas that diamonds were free, as if delivered by Santa himself.

It’s all part of Clark’s “Let It Snow” campaign that’s added a sales boost, excitement and hopeful customers to the holidays over the years.

“We're all in this together,” Clark said. “The more you spend, the more you can get back. It's fun, something different to do.”

It’s not even tied to a crazy long shot that could never happen in a billion years. It has snowed the necessary amount twice before and could happen again.

Meteorologist Randy Mann said Jan. 11 is in the middle of a cycle that is favorable for moisture, but thanks to El Niño, the odds are lower for snow because it could be too warm.

“However, we’ve seen big snows during El Niño years, so I would say it’s about a 30% chance of 4 inches of snow,” Mann said. 

The record in Spokane for that date is 6.8 inches, he added.

Dan Clark said people start asking in the fall if Clark’s will be bringing back the Let It Snow promotion for Christmas.

He’s glad to say yes.

There’s still plenty of time to do your shopping and visit after Dec. 25 as well and get in on the fun.

“There's quite a bit of shopping the week after Christmas,” Clark said.

He’s heard of other stores offering similar deals in years past. One in California offered refunds if a certain amount of rain fell, while one in Wyoming based the giveaway on recorded sustained winds.

At Clark's, more than three-quarters of a million dollars has been refunded in the two years when enough snow has fallen, with refunds from $25 to $30,000.

Clark said, while the Let It Snow campaign has become their signature event, he’s hopeful the chance to receive free diamonds is not the only reason to shop at Clark’s Diamond Jewelers, an independent store that has been around since 1907 and is still at its original location, 307 Sherman Ave.

“Service, quality and value have something to do with it,” he said.

Clark’s is insured for the campaign, but getting that insurance has sometimes been a challenge.

He noted that after they hit the snow mark for the first time in 2015, insurance companies wouldn’t talk to him.

One year, an insurance company wanted the benchmark to be 8 inches of snow on the sidewalk fronting Clark’s. 

They’re covered again this year, so bring it on. The Spokane airport, for the third year, will be the measuring site, because it has the nearest official weather station.

“We'll be looking for snow on the 11th,” Clark said.