After nearly 40 years in business, Designer’s Touch Jewelry has found a new home in Wellington’s Village Green Center. The new space is bright and welcoming with large windows displaying a wide array of jewelry and watches waiting with smiling staff.
The company has settled nicely into the space next to the new Starbucks store and immediately across from Trader Joe’s.
“My parents started this company 40 years ago in Broward County at an outdoor flea market — outside with one table selling tiny bracelets and charms,” owner Nancy Guritzky recalled. “It’s a family business, and we have loyal customers who have come to us for years and years. They followed us up to Wellington.”
Until recently, Designer’s Touch Jewelry was located further north in the Wellington Reserve plaza. Over a 13-year span, the old store became surrounded by mostly medical offices. The new location is more retail friendly.
“We became a destination,” co-owner Harry Yorke said. “People didn’t find us by wandering by, and we were stable, but not growing. I saw this space was going to be available. I saw the opportunity, reacted and called immediately. Our lease was even coming up — it was almost magical.”
The family business includes three generations working in the store, and they are proud to have watched their customers’ families grow, too. “We specialize in engagement rings and wedding bands, so we see a lot of beautiful events,” Guritzky said. “We see engagements and weddings, and then those customers come back for baby gifts. Then the babies grow up, and we have generations. Now we have the kids and grandkids of customers visiting.”
In addition to thousands of engagement rings to select from, the store also stocks watches by brands like Michele and Citizen, to name a few. Customers looking to get appraisals for insurance purposes, or to sell their old gold and estate jewelry, are also welcome at the multi-service location.
“We have Wellington’s largest selection of engagement rings, but I think our service is what brings people back,” Yorke said. “We are warm and real. People come in to a nice store and sometimes feel intimidated by the look, but realize we are regular people and become comfortable.”
That comfort level is critical to how the company does business. With two full-time jewelers on site seven days a week, repairs are made in house whenever possible. The owners even had a window installed so customers can watch their precious heirlooms being repaired. Items are not taken away to a back room or out of sight.
“If somebody wants to get a diamond set, and they want to watch because of trust issues, they can sit with the jeweler and watch,” Guritzky said. “We do all custom work too — taking outdated jewelry and gold to make something new. We also buy old gold and give much better prices than a pawn shop, so people trust us with that, too.”
Guritzky’s sister and Harry Yorke’s wife, Ellen Yorke, is a jewelry designer who also works in the family business. Yorke takes the feedback from customers to make detailed drawings that are next formed into a wax casting. Designer’s Touch does everything from the casting, to stone setting to making brand-new, one-of-a-kind, pieces.
Founder Sharon Berman moved to Florida from New York and started the business as an economic necessity. Keeping the store as an inviting and happy place remains an important part of her legacy.
“It was so hot, but money was needed for basic bills. I could only economize so much,” recalled Berman of the store’s humble beginnings four decades ago. “Now I love it here. I love coming to the store in the morning.”
Part of that welcome for customers includes coffee and free steam cleaning of jewelry, whether it was purchased at the store or not.
Designer’s Touch Jewelry is celebrating the recent move with a four-day grand opening event. From Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28, from noon to closing each day, special deals on select jewelry and watches will be offered just in time for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. In addition, drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be offered, along with a raffle drawing that will be broadcast live on Facebook.
“What makes our place special is we offer a wide range of items — not just high end, not just low end,” Guritzky said. “We have something for everybody.”
The new Designer’s Touch location is at 2891 S. State Road 7, Suite 120, in Wellington. Business hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Special appointments can also be made in advance by calling (561) 790-6220. For more information, visit www.designerstouchjewelry.com.
Congratulations on your new space! Been using Designers Touch since 1996! Amazing people and beautiful pieces! Best of luck in your new store!