Longtime Arkansas Independent Newton’s Jewelers to Close
The store’s retirement sale is slated to begin Thursday.
George H. Newton Sr. opened the first Newton’s Jewelers in 1914 in McAlester, Oklahoma. He’d moved to McAlester from Camden, Arkansas, to build his business.
There, he married and had five children, four of whom (all sons) followed him into the family business, opening stores in Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa and Arkansas.
William “Bill” Newton, the youngest of the four sons, opened the Arkansas Newton’s Jewelers store in the early 1940s. He owned it until he died in 2001 and passed it on to his son, Kelly Newton.
Today, Kelly runs Newton’s Jewelers alongside his wife, Marilyn Newton, and their three daughters, Sara, Jennifer and Lucy.
When, earlier this year, Kelly made the difficult decision that retirement would be best, the tight-knit family followed suit.
“It’s kind of all or none,” he said.
Newton’s Jewelers has been a Jewelers of America member since 1978, and logged decades as an American Gem Society member store and an Official Rolex Jeweler.
In 2019, Kelly won the AGS’s Robert M. Shipley Award, presented annually to an AGS member to recognize their years of service and honor their commitment to the fine jewelry industry.
The store’s retirement/liquidation sale is slated to open to the general public Thursday.
Inventory is being marked down up to 70 percent off, with Kelly noting the store is “opening the vaults” and will be selling pieces even the most loyal customers haven’t seen. (Rolex watches are excluded from the sale.)
The store spread the word of its closing via social media, with a number of its followers lamenting the loss of a longtime local business that was an integral part of the community.
“Congrats on retirement. But, dang, I hate to see an iconic business close up shop,” one commenter wrote on Instagram, while another said, “I can’t ‘like’ this! The store has been a fixture in our community, but it’s your family we all love! Praying for many blessings for all of your sweet family.”
A commenter on Facebook wrote, “I can’t imagine Ft. Smith without Newton’s Jewelry. Wishing you all the best.”
The affection is mutual.
“I’ve loved the business my whole life; it’s who we are,” Kelly said. “Our community has just been amazing. They built us and we gave back.
“It’s kind of been a love affair for us all these years. I hate for that to end, but all good things must come to an end.”
The Latest
One lucky winner will receive a “Lizzie” diamond bracelet.
The Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program will guide retail jewelry entrepreneurs through an eight-month educational curriculum.
Ten chosen designers will receive mentorship and participate in a design contest for the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
From protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Dana J. Lorberg brings 35 years of experience in finance, technology, and strategy to the role.
The suspects are said to have been involved in the armed robberies of four jewelry stores across three Midwest states.
The new designs blend Creative Director Reed Krakoff’s aesthetic with the brand’s Balinese roots.
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
The artwork, titled “Pristine,” was raffled off at the Canadian Jewellers Association’s recent summit.
The new store features a custom design studio and a bridal salon.
Designer Rosanne Karmes has created a collection to coincide with the release of the movie musical, which is expected to be a blockbuster.
The retailer said it will file the necessary paperwork to regain compliance as soon as it is able.
Whether you’re calming the jittery gentleman in seat 13B or selling a diamond ring to a hesitant customer, an empathetic approach is best.
The gala includes a red carpet, music from DJ Renata, an awards program, and “mystery boxes.”
The trade show, in its third year, will take place in late September at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
The jeweler shared her change of heart on lab-grown diamonds and why she keeps them separate from natural diamonds in her business ventures.
The 2025 Gem Awards are scheduled to take place March 14 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Grosz had served as Assael’s senior vice president and creative director since 2017.
“Love and Celebration” is the jeweler’s first in-house collection featuring engagement rings, wedding bands, and celebration rings.
A more positive view of the labor market contributed to the strongest monthly gain since March 2021.
The funds will be distributed to schools in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Jennifer Mulvihill, the first woman to lead JSA in the organization’s 141-year history, takes over for the retiring John Kennedy.
This year’s festivities include more than 100 experiences, such as designer showcases, panel discussions, and even a treasure hunt.
The GMT-Master “Pepsi” that belonged to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is one of two Apollo-flown Rolex watches ever sold at auction.
The ads star brand ambassadors Chloe and Halle Bailey and Pamela Anderson.
The company combined two sights in Q3 due to the slowdown in demand, and said it is moving up the dates for sights 9 and 10 in Q4.
The jewelry designer discussed how she got into the jewelry industry, what she keeps in her favorite locket, and the future of her brand.