IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleIndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle Studio
Founder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
Green Lake Jewelry Works, which is turning 30 next year, is relocating later this month to a new location in Seattle.
Seattle—Green Lake Jewelry Works is kicking off its 30th anniversary celebration early with the opening of its new location in Seattle.
Set to open Nov. 20, the jeweler will relocate from its current Seattle location to a bigger space at Northgate Station.
The new 12,850-square-foot space is nearly double the size of its previous 7,500-square-foot location, and is located about a block away in a lifestyle center at the site of a former Simon mall.
In an interview with National Jeweler, founder Jim Tuttle shared why the jeweler decided to relocate and what makes the new space special.
“We were running out of space,” said Tuttle. “We’ve been in an unusually high growth mode for about five years now.”
The business, which first opened on Seattle’s Green Lake Drive in 1996, has seen growth nearly every year, except 2019, said Tuttle, and has posted double-digit growth since 2020, fueled in large part by custom design, the retailer’s specialty.
While custom jewelry has been growing in popularity for about two decades, he said, Green Lake Jewelry Works has been focused on custom from day one.
Word-of-mouth marketing has been crucial for its business, as was being an early adopter of online sales and not being afraid to share its jewelry creations.
“Everyone is always like, ‘Don’t [post] your stuff. People copy.’ We’re not going to make that again anyway,” said Tuttle.
The retailer crafts custom jewelry on site with its team of bench jewelers.
It employs about 90 people between its Seattle store and its other location in Bellevue, Washington.
The new Seattle store will employ about 65 people, with room to grow to 80 team members.
Related stories will be right here …
Set to open Nov. 20, the jeweler will relocate from its current Seattle location to a bigger space at Northgate Station.
The new 12,850-square-foot space is nearly double the size of its previous 7,500-square-foot location, and is located about a block away in a lifestyle center at the site of a former Simon mall.
In an interview with National Jeweler, founder Jim Tuttle shared why the jeweler decided to relocate and what makes the new space special.
“We were running out of space,” said Tuttle. “We’ve been in an unusually high growth mode for about five years now.”
The business, which first opened on Seattle’s Green Lake Drive in 1996, has seen growth nearly every year, except 2019, said Tuttle, and has posted double-digit growth since 2020, fueled in large part by custom design, the retailer’s specialty.
While custom jewelry has been growing in popularity for about two decades, he said, Green Lake Jewelry Works has been focused on custom from day one.
Word-of-mouth marketing has been crucial for its business, as was being an early adopter of online sales and not being afraid to share its jewelry creations.
“Everyone is always like, ‘Don’t [post] your stuff. People copy.’ We’re not going to make that again anyway,” said Tuttle.
The retailer crafts custom jewelry on site with its team of bench jewelers.
It employs about 90 people between its Seattle store and its other location in Bellevue, Washington.
The new Seattle store will employ about 65 people, with room to grow to 80 team members.
The space will feature 14 custom jewelry design stations, four private design rooms, and a gemstone bar that boasts one of the largest selections of Montana sapphires in the country.
Customers can browse through more than 30 display cases of gemstones and unique jewelry.
SEE: Take a Sneak Peek Inside the New Seattle Location
The new Green Lake Jewelry Works location will have 14 custom jewelry design stations.
A design highlight of the store is its hand-painted floors featuring designs painted by its employees.
The motifs on the floor are a great way to start a conversation about the importance of meaning in a jewelry piece, said founder Jim Tuttle.
The new Seattle location will hold its grand opening on Nov. 20.
Of all the features in the new location, the workshop is Tuttle’s favorite, outfitted with 32 work stations and two polishing rooms for custom work and repairs.
“I’m a bench jeweler from way back,” he said. “For me, that’s the heart of what we do.”
Visitors may be more impressed with the hand-painted floors.
For the last 25 years, Green Lake Jewelry Works stores have featured artwork painted by its employees from designers to jewelers to CAD modelers.
“We have a lot of very artistic people, and they’re on their hands and knees painting koi and dragons and bonsai trees and bumblebees,” said Tuttle, all motifs that can be incorporated into jewelry.
“They’re a conversation starter on why your piece should have meaning and how to add meaning to a piece of jewelry.”
From favorite flowers to Celtic knots, its jewelers can imbue meaning into a piece using a symbol that’s special to the wearer.
From the expansive workshop to the decorative floors, Tuttle wants to make a good impression on his customers.
“I want them to walk in and say ‘Okay, these people understand style and craftsmanship. I can trust them with my jewelry,’” he said.
Trust is a big deal, said Tuttle, especially when it comes to custom engagement rings.
“[They’re] trusting that we’re going to make it beautiful. They’re not picking something out of the case. They’re picking us to make them something,” he said.
In the artsy city of Seattle, jewelry shoppers have a bevy of options, from big-name retailers to independent creatives.
What sets Green Lake Jewelry Works apart, according to Tuttle, is its dedication to craftsmanship and creating unique, meaningful pieces.
“That turns a customer into an evangelist, versus a customer who got a great deal and loves their ring, but they could’ve gotten it anywhere,” he said.
“[Customers] go out of their way to tell people ‘Wow, this is special.’ Great reviews are the new word-of-mouth.”
As one may expect in Seattle, the new store will also have a full espresso bar.
The grand opening event will be held Nov. 20 at 401 NE Northgate Way, #915A, from 6 to 9 p.m.
“I’m a bench jeweler from way back,” he said. “For me, that’s the heart of what we do.”
Visitors may be more impressed with the hand-painted floors.
For the last 25 years, Green Lake Jewelry Works stores have featured artwork painted by its employees from designers to jewelers to CAD modelers.
“We have a lot of very artistic people, and they’re on their hands and knees painting koi and dragons and bonsai trees and bumblebees,” said Tuttle, all motifs that can be incorporated into jewelry.
“They’re a conversation starter on why your piece should have meaning and how to add meaning to a piece of jewelry.”
From favorite flowers to Celtic knots, its jewelers can imbue meaning into a piece using a symbol that’s special to the wearer.
From the expansive workshop to the decorative floors, Tuttle wants to make a good impression on his customers.
“I want them to walk in and say ‘Okay, these people understand style and craftsmanship. I can trust them with my jewelry,’” he said.
Trust is a big deal, said Tuttle, especially when it comes to custom engagement rings.
“[They’re] trusting that we’re going to make it beautiful. They’re not picking something out of the case. They’re picking us to make them something,” he said.
In the artsy city of Seattle, jewelry shoppers have a bevy of options, from big-name retailers to independent creatives.
What sets Green Lake Jewelry Works apart, according to Tuttle, is its dedication to craftsmanship and creating unique, meaningful pieces.
“That turns a customer into an evangelist, versus a customer who got a great deal and loves their ring, but they could’ve gotten it anywhere,” he said.
“[Customers] go out of their way to tell people ‘Wow, this is special.’ Great reviews are the new word-of-mouth.”
As one may expect in Seattle, the new store will also have a full espresso bar.
The grand opening event will be held Nov. 20 at 401 NE Northgate Way, #915A, from 6 to 9 p.m.
More on Independents
The Latest
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Etsy to Lay Off 12% of WorkforceEtsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.
Weekly QuizAug 07, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TrendsAug 07, 2026
Look Ahead with Syna’s Binoculars PendantThe “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.
CrimeAug 06, 2026
Lalique Museum to Remain Closed Following $5M HeistMuseum officials are looking to the public to help cover the “exceptional” costs involved in recovering from the July 5 smash-and-grab.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
Claire’s Revamps Piercing Services for Second Time in Three Years The overhaul includes enhanced employee safety training and trendy earring styles, including lab-grown diamond studs.
FinancialsAug 06, 2026
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 6%, Driven by High-Income ShoppersThe retailer said it had its biggest Mother’s Day ever, with strong demand for higher-priced jewelry.
TrendsAug 06, 2026
New Book on Handcrafted American Objects Highlights Jewelry“Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America” features historic and contemporary works, including a Diné squash blossom necklace.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
AJA East Coast Names Ani Khachian as First Female President-ElectThe Armenian Jewelers Association’s East Coast chapter has also elected its 2026–2027 board of directors.
MajorsAug 05, 2026
Private Equity Firm Wants to Buy 100+ JCPenney StoresOnyx Partners has submitted a second offer to buy the department stores after its first offer fell through last year.
MajorsAug 05, 2026
Bulgari Opens Store in San DiegoThe new space features a modern design that blends Bulgari’s Roman heritage with San Diego’s coastal spirit.
CrimeAug 04, 2026
Crew of Thieves Break Into Indiana Jeweler’s HomeFour men were charged in connection with the break-in and accused of stealing $365,000 in cash, jewelry, and designer goods.
MajorsAug 04, 2026
Pandora Hires Former Signet Board Member to Lead North American MarketAndré Branch has more than 25 years of experience with various brands, most recently serving as CEO of Ariana Grande’s cosmetics company.
MajorsAug 04, 2026
Sasha Primak Acquires GemlokNew York-based atelier Gemlok is best known for creating the innovative “bridge” setting that became popular in the bridal market.
CollectionsAug 04, 2026
Musician Carlos Santana Launches Jewelry BrandSantana Now's debut collection, “Unidad,” features symbolic motifs as well as pieces of wood from the Woodstock stage.
CrimeAug 03, 2026
Florida Man Gets 15 Years in Trio of Jewelry Store RobberiesThe 50-year-old man pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbing two jewelry stores and a pawn shop of more than $700,000 in merchandise.
WatchesAug 03, 2026
Citizen's New Spider-Man Watch Is a Collector’s DreamThe watch’s dial features an original design by Marvel comics illustrator Adam Kubert.
Lab-GrownAug 03, 2026
Chatham Releases First Men’s CollectionThe new collection of lab-grown diamond and colored gemstone jewelry provides a “fresh perspective” on the category, Chatham said.
TrendsAug 03, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Spinel vs. Peridot While some August babies are team peridot, the month's time-honored birthstone, others are team spinel, the newer alternative.
TrendsJul 31, 2026
These Pieces of the Week Are Sweet Edina Kiss’ “Popsicle” pendant and Karina Choudhrie’s “Ice Cream” charm satisfy that summer craving for a sweet piece of jewelry.
MajorsJul 31, 2026
Macy’s Iconic Red Shopping Bag Sign Torn DownThe massive billboard has been in the same spot on the department store’s Herald Square flagship store for decades.
SourcingJul 31, 2026
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Jumps 72%The miner’s ruby and emerald auctions brought in a combined $102.9 million.
SourcingJul 30, 2026
De Beers Sale in ‘Final, Most Challenging’ Phase, Anglo CEO SaysThe goal is for the De Beers sale to be finished by the second half of 2026, with the subsequent approvals process expected to take a year.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2026
JA Heads Back to Washington as New Wave of Tariffs Takes Effect David Bonaparte, along with Tim Haake and Ronnie VanderLinden, continue to lobby for tariff exemptions for diamonds, gemstones, and pearls.
