As we wave farewell to 2018, we once again have to say goodbye to a lot of good jewelers.

In 2017, around 700 jewelry stores closed, and the total for 2018 will likely end up in that ballpark. The good news is that last year we also saw a jump in the number of jewelers entering the industry—although that number is still far less than the number of stores exiting. It’s also possible that many new jewelry businesses are operating under the radar.

Below is a list of over 100 jewelry stores that announced they were closing in 2018. Just as every store is unique, so are their reasons for closing. Some griped about business—particularly competition from the internet and high rents. But the majority simply said it was time to retire or they needed a rest from the daily grind of running a store. “I do enjoy designing, making, and repairing fine jewelry,” said one. “I just don’t want to do it every day anymore.” Some aren’t leaving entirely, opting to sell by appointment or online. For more information on a particular retailer, click the source link that accompanies each listing.

The information below has been primarily compiled from local news accounts. If anything has changed, or you have something to add, or you want a store added to the list, please send me an email.

Many of these jewelers are pillars of their communities. They are the kind of genteel neighborhood businesses that stress relationships and local involvement. Those are hard to find these days. At least eight of them were open for more than a century. One lasted more than two centuries. Some were the oldest stores in their towns. They will be hard to replace.

So let’s take a moment to tip our hats—or lift a glass—to all these jewelers who served their communities, and this industry, for so long.

We salute you.

 

Alabama

Claude Moore Jeweler, Mobile (source)

Friedman’s Fine Jewelry, Mobile (source)

 

California

Blacy’s Fine Jewelry, Los Gatos (source)

Bram’s Jewelry, Palm Springs (source)

Diamond Source, Los Gatos (source)

Harold Stevens Diamond and Jewelry Studio, San Diego (source)

Kevin Main Jewelry, San Luis Obispo (source)

Legacy Jewelry Co., La Quinta (source)

Marshalls Jewelers, San Luis Obispo (source)

Millbrae Jewelers, Millbrae (source)

Randolph Jewelers, Placerville (source)

 

Colorado

DeVinny Jewelers, Montrose (source)

Purvis Jewelers, Lakewood (source)

 

Connecticut

J. Albert Johnson Jewelers, Fairfield (source)

Shaw Jewelers, Fairfield (source)

 

Delaware

House of Watches, Wilmington (source)

Minster’s Jewelers, Newark (source)

 

Florida

Meadows’ Jewelers, Pensacola (source)

 

Georgia

Greg Cook’s Fine Jewelry and Diamonds, Carrollton (source)

 

Hawaii

J.S. Kuge & Sons, Wailuku (source)

 

Illinois

Anderson Jewelers, Taylorville (source)

Chavez Jewelry, Chicago (source)

Oak Park Jewelers, Oak Park (source)

 

Indiana

Granson Jewelers, Kokomo (source)

Harry Gaunt Jewelers, Indianapolis (source)

Sanders Jewelers, Richmond (source)

 

Iowa

Berg Jewelry, Storm Lake (source)

Ishman Jewelry, Elkader (source)

 

Kansas

Scott’s Diamond Designs, Overland Park (source)

 

Louisiana

Carol’s Classic Jewelers, Baton Rouge (source)

 

Maine

Village Jeweler, Gardiner (source)

 

Maryland

Berman’s Jewelers, Ellicott City (source)

W. R. Chance Diamond Jewelers, Annapolis (source)

 

Massachusetts

Adams Jewelry, Northampton (source)

Cooper Jewelers, Woburn (source)

Monahan & Co., Harwich (source)

 

Michigan

Ace Diamond Jewelers, Dearborn (source)

DiMaggio Fine Art & Jewelry, Lathrup Village (source)

Metals in Time, Royal Oak (source). This store is looking for a new location.

 

Minnesota

Bergstrom Jewelers, St. Louis Park (source)

Dave Peters Jewelers, Fergus Falls (source)

Hoff Diamonds, Burnsville (source)

Lindblom Jewelers, Wayzata (source)

 

Missouri

Mavrik Fine Jewelry, Kirkwood (source)

 

Montana

Wheeler Jewelry, Kalispell (source)

Yogo Sapphire Jewelry, Great Falls (source)

 

New Jersey

Frederic Goodman Jewelers, Montclair and Summit (source)

Roberta’s Jewelry, Hamburg (source)

 

New Mexico

Evans’ Jewelers, Clovis (source)

Freytag & Farrar Jewelers, Farmington (source)

 

New York

Achenbach’s Jewelers, Glens Falls (source)

Arthur Weeks and Son Jewelers, Peekskill (source)

B and A Jewelers, Staten Island (source)

Bong’s Jewelers, Corning (source)

Criss’ Jewelry, Elmira (source)

Lights Jewelers, Plattsburgh (source)

Michael’s Jewelers and Music Center, Utica (source)

Rose Jewelers, Southampton (source)

Skillin’s Jewelers, Norwich (source)

Yaseen’s Jewelers, Niagara Falls (source)

 

North Carolina

John Laughter Jewelry, Asheville and Waynesville (source)

Jones and Jones Jewelers, Yadkinville (source)

Leonard’s Jewelers, Mount Airy (source)

Love’s Jewelry & Gifts, Brevard (source—pictured at top)

Shelley’s Jewelry, Hendersonville (source)

Spectrum Fine Jewelry, Wilmington (source)

Treasures on the Lake, Cornelius (source)

 

North Dakota

Knowles Jewelry, Minot (source) Update: This store has new owners, will remain open. 

Olson Jewelers, Wahpeton (source)

 

Ohio

Capestrain Jewelers, Canton (source)

James A. Bertsch Jeweler & Gifts, Sandusky (source)

N.J. Thomas Jewelers, Westlake (source)

Rickey C. Tanno Jewelers, Cleveland (source)

 

Oregon

Jones & Jones Jewelers, Portland (source)

Mid-Valley Gems & Jewelry, Albany (source)

Ruud’s Jewelers, Oregon City (source)

Zamora Jewelers, Newport (source)

 

Pennsylvania

Diamond Design Jewelers of Wexford, Wexford (source)

Goldstock Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, Pittsburgh (source)

Jeron Diamond Jewelers & Gemologists, Meadville (source)

Joseph D. Doubet, Media (source)

Mollie B. Jewelers, Harrisburg (source)

Moyer Jewelers, State College (source)

Orris Jewelers, Bradford (source)

Whitemarsh Jewelers, Conshohocken (source)

 

South Carolina

Carolina Jewelers, Orangeburg (source)

Just For You Jewelers, Greer (source)

Paradise Jewelers, Greenville (source)

Skatell’s Jewelers, Greenville (source)

 

South Dakota

Raymond’s Jewelers, Sioux Falls (source)

 

Tennessee

Jack Yacoubian Jewelers, Franklin (source)

Littlefield’s Jewelry, Memphis (source)

 

Texas

Duncan & Boyd Jewelers, Amarillo (source)

Gems of the Hill Country, Ingram (source)

The Green Bull Fine Jewellery Couture, Boerne (source)

Hoovers Jewelry, Mt. Pleasant (source)

Powers Jewelry, Lubbock (source)

Pasadena Gold and Jewelry, Pasadena (source)

Shannon Fine Jewelry, Houston (source)

.
Vermont

Armstrong Jewelers, Bennington (source)

Fire & Metal Goldsmiths, Burlington (source)

 

Virginia

Bress Pawn Shop, Norfolk (source)

Goldbar Jewelers, Virginia Beach (source)

Hi-Ho Silver, Newport News (source)

 

Washington

Dodson’s Jewelry, Spokane (source)

Garland Jewelers, Renton (source)

Hartley Jewelers, West Olympia (source)

 

Wisconsin

Studio 247 Fine Jewelry, Appleton (source)

 

Wyoming

Chisholm’s Jewelry, Lander (source)

Lee’s Jewelry, Torrington (source)

 

After reading so many of these stories, the word that keeps recurring is bittersweet.

“I’m going to miss it,” Diane Kerr of Jeron Diamond Jewelers & Gemologists told her local newspaper. “I’ll miss my customers and helping these young guys get engaged.… The babies come in and grow up and become customers. We’ve been doing this awhile. I’ll miss the people.”

And the people will probably miss these jewelers, too.

Here’s to all these retiring owners, as well as those still fighting it out. We wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2019.

(Image via: Facebook)

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