SourcingOct 19, 2026
Jewelry Design Competition Show Airs in Thailand"The Secret Gems" features eight Thai jewelry brands paired with a team of young craftspeople who create jewelry together to win challenges.
EditorsMay 28, 2013
Working to make it OK
“It’s funny what you find out about Oklahomans,” jeweler Tim Lewis told me on the phone last Thursday. “Tragedy happens. We get up, dust ourselves off, thank God and go on.”
His prayers were answered.
Lewis said as the storm approached that afternoon they turned the store’s flat-screen TV to the news.
The meteorologist on the local ABC affiliate, for whom the jeweler just made an engagement ring, began naming specific businesses that lay in the tornado’s path at that point. Lewis Jewelers was among them.
“He just threw out my name. I am sure it’s because he knows me,” Lewis said.
But when the mile-and-a-half wide, EF5 tornado touched down at little past 3 p.m., it veered just north of the store. Lewis’ home was spared as well, as were the homes of his 16 employees.
The jeweler did lose a slightly under-insured warehouse full of production equipment but is counting his blessings nonetheless.
“I am fine. I am blessed guy,” he said. “If that (the loss of the warehouse) is the price I have to pay, that’s nothing.”
Other people in Moore were not so lucky, a fact of which Lewis is very aware, as is his brother and store co-owner Glenn Lewis. Twenty-four people lost their lives and many more were left homeless.
(If the name Glenn Lewis sounds familiar, it’s with good reason. He’s been the mayor for this Oklahoma City suburb of about 55,000 for 19 years and through four major tornadoes, and has been all over the media for the last week, including being photographed with President Obama when he came to survey the damage.)
Tim Lewis said that one of the areas the tornado destroyed was a lower-income neighborhood, prompting the store to start collecting money for those who were under-insured or have no insurance at all.
“A lot of those people need help,” he said.
Lewis isn’t the only local jeweler willing to lend a hand. Via another jeweler’s share on Facebook, I learned about Oklahoma jeweler Meigs
Jewelry donating proceeds from the sale of this $49 Oklahoma pin to storm victims.When I called another jewelry store in Moore last week, Diamond Dee-Lite, an answering machine picked up and told callers that the store would be happy to clean or check their jewelry and also would work to reunite people with their jewelry
by posting pictures of found pieces on their website.
“Anything we can do, we will be here to help,” the message stated. “Thank you.”
Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the Lewis Jewelers fund for tornado victims can make out a check to:
Tornado Relief Fund
c/o Lewis Jewelers
2705 S. I-35 Service Road
Moore, OK 73160
“You are put on this earth for lots of reasons but this might be another good purpose for me right now, to see if we can help somebody,” Lewis said.
“Anything we can do, we will be here to help,” the message stated. “Thank you.”
Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the Lewis Jewelers fund for tornado victims can make out a check to:
Tornado Relief Fund
c/o Lewis Jewelers
2705 S. I-35 Service Road
Moore, OK 73160
“You are put on this earth for lots of reasons but this might be another good purpose for me right now, to see if we can help somebody,” Lewis said.
More on Editors
The Latest
CollectionsOct 19, 2026
John Hardy Enters the Medallion Chat With Talisman Collection The brand’s “Modern Talisman” capsule collection introduces pendants inspired by the mythology, natural world, and spiritual ethos of Bali.
IndependentsOct 19, 2026
The Stories of 5 Jewelers Celebrating Their Centennials in 2026Independent jewelers from New Mexico to New Jersey answer the question: What has kept your store in business for 100 years?
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
MajorsOct 19, 2026
The Knot to Acquire Rival Wedding Planning Platform ZolaThe pending acquisition is an “exciting opportunity” for wedding vendors to grow their business, said The Knot Worldwide’s CEO.
Weekly QuizOct 15, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysOct 16, 2026
How Inflation, Gas Prices Will Affect Holiday Sales The NRF is expecting holiday sales to increase this year, but consumers and retailers alike are facing Grinch-like headwinds.
CollectionsOct 16, 2026
Christina Puchi’s Earrings Hold the UniverseOur Piece of the Week gathers the planets, represented by a variety of colored gemstones, in a pair of 14-karat yellow gold earrings.
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.
IndependentsOct 16, 2026
Reeds Jewelers Expands, Relocates FlagshipThe New York-based jeweler is moving its Amherst flagship store to a larger location in nearby Snyder.
MajorsOct 16, 2026
Katy Chen Appointed Executive Vice President of Graff USA Chen, who worked at Cartier and Tiffany & Co., will lead retail sales and operations for the luxury jeweler’s 11 U.S. stores.
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
WatchesOct 15, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb’s New Movado Watches Are Made for Your Wrist StackMovado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
Events & AwardsOct 14, 2026
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference Releases 2026 ProgramThis year’s sessions feature leading voices from human rights, legal, and conservation organizations.
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.
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.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
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.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
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.
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.
