CHICAGO — Joe Hakimian gestures toward the glittering rings sitting inside glass cases at his downtown jewelry shop, Hakimian Imports. There’s the rare-colored gems he picked up at estate sales, and a sparkling 8-carat diamond that covers the finger. He even had an 18k gold brooch shaped like a tennis racket for sale this week.

But perhaps one of the most unique rings that ever entered the doors of the nearly 50-year-old business is no longer in Hakimian’s possession. That’s because it’s back where it belongs — on the finger of the famous actress Lily Collins.

The star’s engagement ring was stolen about three years ago from a hotel in Los Angeles, but somehow it recently ended up at a trade show in New York, where Hakimian unknowingly bought it. As a big believer in “good karma,” he said he quickly returned the ring when he learned its origins.

“To give a family heirloom back felt amazing,” the 38-year-old Roscoe Village resident told the Tribune, adding “I’m glad to put a good face to (jewelers).”

Collins profusely thanked Hakimian, who goes by Joe the Jeweler, for his role in recovering the ring in an Instagram story last week. She encouraged her followers to “show some love” to Hakimian’s business in a separate post. Numerous celebrity and fashion publications and accounts shared the story.

“Having this home means SO much to us,” she wrote next to a selfie with the ring prominently displayed. “I’m still speechless it’s back on my finger.”

Collins is best known for her starring role on the Netflix show “Emily in Paris,” where she plays a marketing executive who moves to Paris from none other than Chicago. She married her husband, Charlie McDowell, in 2021 after getting engaged the previous year.

“I knew the second that I met him that I wanted to be his wife one day,” Collins said in an interview on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” about the engagement.

She went on to say that husband created the custom rose-cut diamond ring with Irene Neuwirth, a jewelry designer from L.A. She said she was “very surprised by it.”

“It’s exactly what I would have wanted, and he knew me so well obviously,” she said.

However, in May 2023, multiple jewelry items were stolen from a locker at a hotel in West Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. People Magazine reported the items — which included an engagement ring and wedding ring — belonged to Collins.

A spokesperson from the sheriff’s department said a person of interest was questioned at the time but no arrests were made.

While Hakimian said it’s impossible to trace the movements of the ring — stolen jewelry could initially be sold at a pawn shop, for example, and make its way through multiple owners, “slipping through the pipes” — he bought it at a trade show six months ago in New York.

Trade shows are a huge part of Hakimian’s business, he said. It’s how he acquires a sizable portion of his inventory. So he didn’t think much of the purchase at the time. He didn’t even know about the theft of Collins’ property.

He listed the 1.84-carat ring online, and about a month ago got a message from a friend of Collins’ family inquiring about the ring. He admits that he thought it was a scam at first, but he said the ring is “extremely unique” both in its square rose cut and design, so it couldn’t be confused for another.

He said he believes Collins had a private investigator searching for the ring, but that it’s still an impressive feat to have found it after multiple years. Hakimian said he was “shocked and blessed” to be a part of returning it.

He declined to reveal details of the conversations he had with her team and family, but said he’s a fan of Collins, calling her “extremely talented” and “super nice.” He’s currently watching Season 3 of “Emily in Paris” and is excited to watch her play Audrey Hepburn in an upcoming movie.

Her Instagram posts have also meant a bit of a boost to his business. He’s received lots of attention on social media, and on Thursday said he had an engagement ring appointment with new customers who heard about the recovery.

For Hakimian, one of his favorite parts of the business is selling engagement rings to couples. It “brings happiness” and represents a “big milestone” in people’s lives, he said. Hakimian’s father, Kamil, opened the store in 1979, and he said he always wanted to get into the family business.

Kamil Hakimian, 71, also said, while he didn’t know who Collins was at first — “that’s the younger generation” — he’s had a blast watching the profile of the store increase.

“It’s been very interesting,” he said, adding “We’ve sold to some celebrities before, but, no, we’ve never found a missing one.”

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