Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
Fund Launched for Maryland Store Damaged in Flood
Craig Coyne Jewelers was one of the Ellicott City, Md. businesses severely damaged when six inches of rain fell in two hours and caused a flash flood Saturday.

Ellicott City, Md.--The community is coming together to help a Maryland jeweler whose store was severely damaged in a recent flash flood.
On Saturday, six inches of rain fell in just two hours in Ellicott City to create what the National Weather Service called an “off-the-charts” event--a flash flood that resulted in two deaths, many demolished businesses and about 120 swift-water rescues.
One of those businesses was Craig Coyne Jewelers on Main Street in downtown Ellicott City. Now, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise funds to help the business get back on its feet.
Lori Gadola from Kelim Jewelry Design is the one who started the fund. She met founder Sam Coyne when the store started carrying her line.
On the GoFundMe page she wrote, “(Sam) has been very generous to various community causes that involve health, hunger, education and domestic violence issues. I feel it is time the community gives back to help him during this very tough time.”
The jewelry store opened in 2000 but had just moved into its location on Main Street in 2013. Before moving in, the entire space was remodeled, a project that took six months to complete and $50,000 to finish the interior.
Now, just a few years later, all of that work has been undone.
Coyne told National Jeweler that he was able to get into the store on Wednesday for the first time since the flood for just 10 minutes to assess the damage.
“I don’t believe anything will be salvageable,” he said.

There’s a tree pinned to the front door inside that was forced over the back deck and through the back door into the store, silt that is “feet thick,” water marks that reach the ceiling and a buckled floor on the second level due to the force of the water, among other things.
According to Coyne, his biggest concern is how long it will take to get the business up and running again. Local officials currently are working on a plan, but there’s no telling how long it could be--months and years both are being thrown around, he added.
More immediately he is concerned about serving customers, which he can’t do until he gets into the vault. Though it’s intact and standing, with all customer jewelry secure inside, it can’t be opened. It requires two keys and a combination, but the keys washed away in the storm.
On the morning before the flood, the store’s server was taken to the first floor to cool down during the heat wave. The back-up hard-drive also was brought to the store and connected to conduct a back-up before opening Sunday, so it was lost in the flood as well.
Though they have a second drive off-premises, the team still will have to rebuild at least seven months of business, Coyne said.
When asked what the funds might be used for, Coyne said that it “really depends on timing.”
If they’re given access to the store soon, it will go toward clean up, freshening up and mold removal. If not, it could help pay the mortgage or the insurance deductible.
Meanwhile, businesses around the jeweler are being demolished. Coyne said that many of the small shops around him already were having trouble competing with e-commerce and he’s not sure how many of them will reopen now.
The Latest

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The organization also announced its board of directors.


Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.