FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
IndependentsMar 15, 2018
Jewelry Industry Veteran and Retailer Robert Corey Dies
He founded Robert’s Jewelry Store with his wife in Madawaska, Maine in 1955.
Robert Corey, founder of Robert’s Jewelry Store in Maine, died Feb. 11 at the age of 90. He’s pictured here at his grandson, Joe Corey’s, wedding in 2014.
Waterville, Maine--Robert Corey, who founded Robert’s Jewelry Store with his wife, died Feb. 11 in Fort Kent, Maine. He was 90 years old.
Corey and his wife, Enid, started Robert’s Jewelry Store in Madawaska, Maine in 1955. The store is currently owned and operated by his son, Robert. Corey also was the father of Jeff and Jim Corey, the current owners of Day’s Jewelers, a seven-store chain in Maine and New Hampshire.
Corey started his life-long career in the jewelry business at the age of 11, working for Day’s Jewelers when it was owned by the Davidson family in Portland, Maine.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps. at the age of 17 and served as a military policeman stationed in Japan after World War II.
After he finished his military service, Corey returned to Portland and at the age of 19 was put in charge of opening and managing a Day’s Jewelers in Caribou, Maine. It was one of 22 Day’s stores located in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont at the time. (In 1988 his sons Jeff and Jim and Jeff’s wife Kathy purchased Day’s Jewelers.)
It was there he met his future wife, Enid Marie Sleeper, and the two were married in 1950.
In 1955, the two moved to Madawaska, where they opened Robert’s Jewelry Store.
This presented an interesting challenge for the couple given that, at the time, French was the predominant language in northern Main and the two spoke only English. But it was often said, according to Corey’s family and friends, that he “possessed a magical quality of being able to communicate with his eyes.”
Robert and Enid raised their seven children in Madawaska, where the family grew up working together in the jewelry store.
Corey loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their summer home on Long Lake in Sinclair, Maine. He also loved his hunting trips with friends as well as his final trip to the Arctic with his sons and grandsons.
Corey was a devout Catholic “who was very much in touch with his heart,” his family said, and often sang and recited poetry.
He will be missed for his wit and humor, and for his ability to always find goodness and kindness in life and in people, they added.
He also was passionate about the industry and how jewelry symbolized special moments in life.
Corey and his wife, Enid, started Robert’s Jewelry Store in Madawaska, Maine in 1955. The store is currently owned and operated by his son, Robert. Corey also was the father of Jeff and Jim Corey, the current owners of Day’s Jewelers, a seven-store chain in Maine and New Hampshire.
Corey started his life-long career in the jewelry business at the age of 11, working for Day’s Jewelers when it was owned by the Davidson family in Portland, Maine.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps. at the age of 17 and served as a military policeman stationed in Japan after World War II.
After he finished his military service, Corey returned to Portland and at the age of 19 was put in charge of opening and managing a Day’s Jewelers in Caribou, Maine. It was one of 22 Day’s stores located in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont at the time. (In 1988 his sons Jeff and Jim and Jeff’s wife Kathy purchased Day’s Jewelers.)
It was there he met his future wife, Enid Marie Sleeper, and the two were married in 1950.
In 1955, the two moved to Madawaska, where they opened Robert’s Jewelry Store.
This presented an interesting challenge for the couple given that, at the time, French was the predominant language in northern Main and the two spoke only English. But it was often said, according to Corey’s family and friends, that he “possessed a magical quality of being able to communicate with his eyes.”
Robert and Enid raised their seven children in Madawaska, where the family grew up working together in the jewelry store.
Corey loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their summer home on Long Lake in Sinclair, Maine. He also loved his hunting trips with friends as well as his final trip to the Arctic with his sons and grandsons.
Corey was a devout Catholic “who was very much in touch with his heart,” his family said, and often sang and recited poetry.
He will be missed for his wit and humor, and for his ability to always find goodness and kindness in life and in people, they added.
He also was passionate about the industry and how jewelry symbolized special moments in life.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Enid Marie, and their seven children: Jeff and his wife, Kathy; Jolene and her husband, James Cleland; Jean and her husband, David Foster; Jayne Johnston; Robert and his wife, Sylvie; James and his fiancée, Amy Schmidt; Anne and her husband, Douglas Cyr; as well as 14 grandchildren.
More on Independents
The Latest
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
Columbia Gem House Launches Winza Sapphires, RubiesThe new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2025
Bethenny Frankel to Give Keynote at CBG’s Experience ShowThe Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.
EditorsAug 11, 2025
The Colors Expected to Be On-Trend in a Couple YearsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
