Weddings and guns? North Liberty jeweler offering unique promotion

An Eastern Iowa jeweler is offering guns to customers who buy an engagement ring before the end of October.

On Thursday, Jewelery By Harold in North Liberty will kick off the first "buy her a diamond and receive a free hunting rifle."

"Fun is more important than anything else, we try to put some fun in it," said Harold van Beek, who has owned his own business since last year.  "Hunting season is coming up, I thought this is cool, so let's do something for the boy who doesn't like to hunt for diamonds, but likes to hunt for deer."

Anyone who buys a diamond ring before Oct. 31 will receive a voucher to pick up a Remington 870 hunting rifle at Fin and Feather in Iowa City.

van Beek said he got the idea after seeing a jeweler in Georgia make a similar offer.  "We hope people know about the crazy jeweler in North Liberty that does crazy things," he said.

Customers are required to spend a minimum of $1999 on their ring to receive the rifle voucher.

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend," van Beek said.  "So say: I'm hunting deer, and here is a diamond ring, dear."