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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Americus Diamond offers the perfect gift for any occasion
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FAIRFIELD — Americus Diamond in Fairfield is going strong after more than four decades in business.
The jewelry shop at the corner of Main Street and Burlington Avenue was started by Jim VanWinkle in 1981, who added Christopher Kufner to the business a few years later. Kufner bought the business in 1990, and together with his wife, Kim, the two have turned Americus Diamond into one of the premier jewelry outlets in Southeast Iowa, routinely attracting customers from outside the county.
Christopher said that 64 percent of their business comes from residents of the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridor. Not only that, but Americus Diamond has been around long enough and has maintained such a good reputation that it is selling to the grandchildren of its customers from four decades ago.
The business sells and repairs jewelry, and even makes its own jewelry in its shop, which includes 3,500 molds for rings and pendants. Americus Diamond can help customers who need to have their rings resized, cleaned or who need to remount their diamond. The holidays normally bring good business, but Christopher and Kim said that couples often purchase gifts to celebrate their anniversaries, which occur throughout the year. For those looking for a less expensive alternative to diamonds, the business has beautiful, real gemstones and metals.
Before purchasing a piece of jewelry at Americus Diamond, customers can view their diamonds under a microscope. Kim said she enjoys teaching customers the basics of how diamonds are graded.
“If you haven’t seen a diamond under the microscope, you haven’t really seen it at all,” Kim said.
A newer part of the business that the Kufners started some years ago is the art gallery on the west side of the building. Both Christopher and Kim are artists with their own style and favorite themes. Kim likes to paint flowers, while Christopher likes to paint landscapes.
“We get customers from all over because of the university,” Christopher said.
Kim said they’ve sold their works of art to people in many other states and even to people from other countries.
