ColumnistsOct 01, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Vendor Success Starts With Self-ReflectionSmith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.
IndependentsJan 09, 2018
Frances G. Loose, Owner of Tuel Jewelers, Dies at 86
She bought the Charlottesville, Virginia jewelry store in 1975 and ran it alongside her daughters.
Charlottesville, Va.--Frances Elizabeth Gibson Loose, who bought Tuel Jewelers in 1975 and operated it with her two daughters for decades, died Friday. She was 86.
Born Frances Elizabeth Gibson on June 13, 1931, in Charlottesville, Virginia, she was the daughter of Nellie Mary and Arthur Gibson.
She graduated high school in 1950 and went to night school for bookkeeping at Jefferson Business School.
She worked the candy counter at McCrory’s Five and Dime and did sales and fashion merchandising at Diana Shops before landing a job in 1953 as the bookkeeper at Tuel Jewelers, the Charlottesville store that watchmaker and jeweler Roy P. Tuel opened in 1945. Though hired to keep the books, she soon began assisting the watchmakers with materials and fitting parts.
Loose learned the business from the ground up, and in 1975, she bought the store and ran it with her daughters, Mary and Frieda, and, later, her grandsons Hunter and Tyler.
She engraved and restrung pearls until she broke her wrist and waited on customers at Tuel Jewelers until Parkinson’s disease prevented her from walking on her own. Yet she still came to work every day, dressed for business and with a smile on her face, greeting customers from her desk.
Outside of the jewelry industry, Loose was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Credit Women International, the Apple Harvest Festival (now the Dogwood Festival), the Albemarle Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Downtown Business Association and the Downtown Business Alliance.
Tuel Jewelers remained closed Monday and Tuesday and is set to reopen Wednesday. The store’s answering machine tell customers that: “We plan on serving you for many years to come.”
Loose is survived by two daughters, Mary Loose DeViney (John) and Frieda Loose-Wagner (Michael); two grandsons, Hunter and Tyler; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Hermann, who died last year; three brothers, William, Luther and Verley Gibson; and one sister, Louise Haney.
Services took place Monday in Charlottesville and Keswick.
In addition to flowers, contributions can be made in Loose’s
name to Grace Episcopal Church-Cismont, P.O. Box 43, Keswick, Virginia 22947.
More on Independents
The Latest
EditorsOct 01, 2025
Playing Favorites: The Best Jewelry From VicenzaoroAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.
SurveysOct 01, 2025
Consumer Confidence Hits 5-Month Low in September Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.
FinancialsOct 01, 2025
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Falls 47%Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.
Weekly QuizSep 25, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsSep 30, 2025
Pandora CEO to Retire in 2026, Hand Reins to CMO Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.
CrimeSep 30, 2025
2 Suspects Charged in $300K Sleight-of-Hand Jewelry Store ScamTwo men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
CollectionsSep 30, 2025
Billie Eilish, Finneas Partner with John HardyThe “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.
TrendsSep 29, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Ear FocusMove over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Mark Henry Jewelry to Debut in CanadaThe New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.
MajorsSep 29, 2025
Overnight Releases New Bridal CatalogThe “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.
SurveysSep 26, 2025
Online Shopping, Influencers to Drive Holiday Spending, Mastercard SaysHoliday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.
Events & AwardsSep 26, 2025
Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.
TrendsSep 26, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kwit Jewelry’s Square Signet Pinky RingThe red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.
Policies & IssuesSep 25, 2025
JA CEO Provides Tariff Update Following Annual Fly-InA trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.
SourcingSep 25, 2025
2 African Countries Aim to Take Stake in De Beers Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2025
Kira Jewels Expands Lab-Grown Diamond ProductionThe manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.
IndependentsSep 25, 2025
Alex Moss’ New Flagship Brings Bold Jewels to SoHoThe jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.
WatchesSep 25, 2025
Wilson & Son Jewelers Donates to the Horological Society of New YorkThe Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.
Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
Tariffs Throw Diamond Trade Into DisarrayThe 50 percent tariffs on diamonds shipped from India to the U.S. have pushed midstream manufacturers to the edge.
SourcingSep 24, 2025
De Beers Adopts New Strategies to Drive Natural Diamond Demand in IndiaDe Beers’ refreshed, multipronged approach, which includes generic promotions and retail partnerships, is delivering positive dividends.
Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
For Jewelry Manufacturers, Higher Tariffs Create Long-Term WorriesThey are trying to balance the need to sustain well-established relationships with the pressure higher tariffs have put on margins.
SourcingSep 24, 2025
A Helping Hand: An Effort to Boost Inclusivity in the IndustryJewelry manufacturer Jewelex has partnered with JOSH, an industry training center, on a program for people with disabilities.
CollectionsSep 24, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Goes Back in Time With First Estate CollectionThe collection includes pieces dating back to the Victorian and Art Deco periods as well as mid-century and late 20th-century designs.
Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
Diamonds Do Good Names Marcus ter Haar as President-ElectHe previously served as co-chair of the nonprofit’s beneficiary committee.
CollectionsSep 24, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s New Jane Goodall Collection Calls for PeaceIts second collaboration with the conservationist features jewelry with dove and olive branch motifs.
