MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
IndependentsMay 21, 2019
A Jewelry Store That Opened in 1832 Is Closing
Cornwell Jewelers is located in Athens, a small town in southeast Ohio that’s home to Ohio University.
Cornwell Jewelers is located on Court Street in Athens, Ohio, home to Ohio University. It will close this summer after 187 years in business. Pictured above is a 1967 Cadillac the Cornwell family bought in 2007 and painted purple to attract customers.
Athens, Ohio—As a kid, Kris Cornwell liked getting jewelry as a gift but didn’t frequent her family’s Athens, Ohio jewelry store, save for some afternoons spent eating pizza in the back of the shop.
She and her sister would “go uptown”—local vernacular for visiting the town’s main drag, Court Street—to shop and catch a matinee before popping into her grandfather’s store with a slice.
Cornwell said she never really considered jewelry as a career, staying local to go to college—she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s from Ohio University, the heartbeat of this small southeast Ohio town—and majoring in education.
But when she completed her master’s in 1994, there came a request: Her mom, Connie Cornwell, asked her to put in a few months at the jewelry store that her family still owned but, at that time, employed no family members.
Cornwell initially said no but eventually relented.
“Probably, I’m a people-pleaser,” she allows. “They asked me and it’s hard to say ‘no’ to your parents when they’ve done so much for you.”
She started working at Cornwell Jewelers in August 1994, learning under the longtime manager until October, when that longtime manager suddenly quit and “really left me kind of holding the bag,” Cornwell said.
She wasn’t going to walk out on a business that, at that point in time, had been in her family for 150-plus years. So she stayed, eventually earning her registered jeweler (RJ) certification from the American Gem Society and attending more than a half-dozen Conclave events in order to learn about the business.
She called the knowledge gained at those annual events a “pivotal part” of her career, a career that was supposed to last about six months but has spanned 25 years.
John Cornwell opened Cornwell Jewelers in 1832, one year after he arrived in Athens to go to college. (Ohio University was founded in 1804 and is the oldest college in Ohio.)
It celebrates its 187th birthday this year and bills itself as the country’s second-oldest family-owned jewelry store.
Kris Cornwell represents the sixth generation involved in the operation of the store, and moved it from South Court Street to its current location, 77 N. Court St., in 2002. The building, she said, dates to the early 1900s and originally was a Pure Oil gas station.
Cornwell was adamant about keeping the store on Court Street, which is lined with college book stores, restaurants and more than its fair share of bars, but chose to move it to a freestanding building that included a parking lot.
Seventeen years later, she knows she needs to move again to survive but just doesn’t want to start all over again, for what she described as a “perfect storm” of reasons.
She and her sister would “go uptown”—local vernacular for visiting the town’s main drag, Court Street—to shop and catch a matinee before popping into her grandfather’s store with a slice.
Cornwell said she never really considered jewelry as a career, staying local to go to college—she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s from Ohio University, the heartbeat of this small southeast Ohio town—and majoring in education.
But when she completed her master’s in 1994, there came a request: Her mom, Connie Cornwell, asked her to put in a few months at the jewelry store that her family still owned but, at that time, employed no family members.
Cornwell initially said no but eventually relented.
“Probably, I’m a people-pleaser,” she allows. “They asked me and it’s hard to say ‘no’ to your parents when they’ve done so much for you.”
She started working at Cornwell Jewelers in August 1994, learning under the longtime manager until October, when that longtime manager suddenly quit and “really left me kind of holding the bag,” Cornwell said.
She wasn’t going to walk out on a business that, at that point in time, had been in her family for 150-plus years. So she stayed, eventually earning her registered jeweler (RJ) certification from the American Gem Society and attending more than a half-dozen Conclave events in order to learn about the business.
She called the knowledge gained at those annual events a “pivotal part” of her career, a career that was supposed to last about six months but has spanned 25 years.
John Cornwell opened Cornwell Jewelers in 1832, one year after he arrived in Athens to go to college. (Ohio University was founded in 1804 and is the oldest college in Ohio.)
It celebrates its 187th birthday this year and bills itself as the country’s second-oldest family-owned jewelry store.
Kris Cornwell represents the sixth generation involved in the operation of the store, and moved it from South Court Street to its current location, 77 N. Court St., in 2002. The building, she said, dates to the early 1900s and originally was a Pure Oil gas station.
Cornwell was adamant about keeping the store on Court Street, which is lined with college book stores, restaurants and more than its fair share of bars, but chose to move it to a freestanding building that included a parking lot.
Seventeen years later, she knows she needs to move again to survive but just doesn’t want to start all over again, for what she described as a “perfect storm” of reasons.
Kris Cornwell in her jewelry store with daughters Ava (left) and HaydenFirst, the business has changed.
There is competition from online sellers, which, Cornwell says, has her working harder than ever to stay on top of things and has cut into the business the store does with OU’s 23,000 undergrads.
There also has been a shift in the brick-and-mortar makeup of Court Street.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Many retail shops that cater to local residents (meaning non-students) have closed or moved to other parts of Athens as the main drag has become more student-centric, and more congested when school is in session. “Coming to Court Street is much more of a challenge than it used to be,” she said.
She knows she would have to move her store off Court Street, where it has been since its founding, to continue but just can’t picture the store anywhere else.
Secondly, three of the five daughters she and her husband have combined are getting ready to leave Athens, which made her reconsider her future, particularly in terms of time and stress.
She also suffered two personal losses last summer that took a toll.
In August, longtime employee Eric Coon, who retired from the store a couple years ago, died suddenly of a heart attack. The following day, she lost her brother-in-law to cancer.
“I love my store but I’ve come to a crossroads and have had to make a really hard decision. I still get upset when customers are sad—it makes me sad,” Cornwell said, her voice breaking. “But I know it’s right and I know I don’t have it in me to move and open another location.
“I don’t want to start again.”
The going-out-of-business sale at Cornwell Jewelers began in late April with postcards mailed to VIP customers to let them know the store would be shutting down.
Cornwell said it will continue through mid-summer or until all the merchandise is sold.
More on Independents
The Latest
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
Weekly QuizOct 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
CrimeOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
