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Don’s Jewelry keeps long tradition of excellence
Don's Jewelry employee Susan Fritz (right) helps Judy Coleman search for just the right necklace at the store on Washington's square. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Don's Jewelry Owner Karen Kuhlman assess the grade of a diamond using the store's microscope. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Chance Brown uses a laser welder to repair a ring with white gold at Don's Jewelry in Washington, Iowa. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
WASHINGTON — For over a century, a storefront on the east side of Washington’s square — nestled currently between a chiropractor’s office and an art studio — has sold and repaired jewelry for the community.
In 1897, it did so under the name Lemmon’s Jewelry. That business eventually sold, and was renamed Logan’s Jewelry, before being purchased by business partner Don Brown in 1999, who re-branded it under the same naming convention as Don’s Jewelry.
Today, the business is owned by Karen Kuhlman, Brown’s daughter. She said the establishment’s long-held, outstanding reputation made it possible to keep a high-end jewelry shop running in the small town of Washington.
"People are looking for somewhere they can go that they feel like they can trust,“ Kuhlman said. ”We’ve been here, established, for long enough that we’ve kind of built up that brand for allowing people to come to us, and know who they’re working with. So they’re willing to trust us with their important jewelry.“
The trust is well-earned. Not only does Don’s boast a high standard of quality, it also maintains impressive discretion with its clients. Kuhlman said her own husband even bought their engagement rings through the store, without her finding out until after the fact.
The owner said it was an honor to work with peoples’ most symbolically valuable possessions like wedding rings and anniversary gifts.
While it might seem like a high-pressure line of work, Kuhlman said she instead embraced the job’s positive impact.
“I’ve been doing it a long time, so it’s more that I’m excited for the client,” she said. “It’s such an important moment.”
Most important of all, she said, was helping customers through whatever nerves they have.
“I want to be able to provide options, so you can make the best decision for you,” she said. “If you need to think about it, that’s totally fine, it’s not like we’re going anywhere … It’s a big moment in someone’s life, and you want to make sure you’re getting everything right.”
Most people walk into the store with an idea already in mind of what they want. In those cases, Kuhlman said staff took pride in their ability to bring the vision to life, with custom jobs and extensive knowledge of their industry’s trends.
Often, buyers will even change their minds in the process.
“Maybe when they first get engaged, they try on one style and they think that’s it, and then it gets six months out from the wedding and the trends have changed,” Kuhlman said. “There might be a different style in the case, that we didn’t the first time they came in. So it can happen.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
