By Deb Risden
Marie Jewelers opened its doors in Peyton in early February, bringing not only some traditional jewelry store products and services, but also a wide range of local art, unique jewelry and custom jewelry pieces.
Janelle McNeil and Hollie Arrington, Colorado natives, opened the store with a desire to bring art and jewelry together. Arrington said, “Art and jewelry has always gone together throughout the ages, and we wanted to make sure we brought that back.” The store currently features five artists showing different genres: painting, metal work and handmade leather accessories, along with jewelry. Some of the artisans do custom work.
McNeil is a third-generation jeweler with 20 years experience. Her grandparents and mother had a store in Colorado Springs.
Arrington has been working in the jewelry field for 10 years. “I got started after graduating college when I had no direction on what I wanted to do,” Arrington said. “Janelle’s mom gave me an opportunity to work part-time in her store. She decided my high level of interest was at an apprentice level, and she took me under her wing.” She worked with McNeil for three years prior to opening their store in Peyton.
McNeil lives in the Falcon area with her husband and one child; Arrington lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two children, with plans to move to the Falcon area in the near future. Both owners are from Colorado Springs.
The store offers a full line of products and services to include ring resizing, re-pronging, new settings, repairs, earring post/back replacements, watch band adjustments, cleaning and polishing, engraving and many more. Arrington said they have a laser welder onsite. “We are able to do a little bit more of an intricate repair and can work on platinum and stainless steel pieces,” Arrington said.
Marie Jewelers offers appraisal services. “I am a diamond graduate, so it allows me to investigate the stones that are in pieces and get an accurate grading on them,” Arrington said. “Because I’m a jeweler, I know what it takes to make that piece so I can get a true value on what that piece would cost to replace.”
Custom jewelry is a specialty for the store. Arrington said they focus on the customer’s needs. McNeil uses computer-aided design (CAD) to design whatever a customer wants. Customers can bring in their own stones, including heirloom gemstones. “We see it through from design to casting to stone setting to finishing — all in-house,” Arrington said. The process from beginning to end can take about six weeks. “We truly allow our customers to become the artists through our design abilities,” she said.
The store offers wedding and engagement rings in their showcase for purchase as well as custom design.
“We have a longstanding history in the community and are committed to the industry and the area. We treat every piece as if it were one of our own and every customer as if they are part of our legacy,” Arrington said. “We are really excited to be able to service the community, and we look forward to having people in and showing them around our showroom and studio.”
The store is located at 7675 McLaughlin Rd. (near Safeway) and is open Tuesdays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.A full list of services can be found at https://mariejewelers.jewelershowcase.com.
Customers enjoy the February grand opening of Marie Jewelers; people seen in the photo, from left to right: Betsy Haverkorn, Dwight Haverkorn, Debbie Spector, Hollie Arrington, Regina Spriggs (front at the jewelry case), Tricia McNeil, Donald McNeil, Donny McNeil.
