Brad's Designs and Jewelry creates custom pieces with an artist's vision - nwitimes.com
You don’t hear Brad Belush call himself an artist, but he creates things of beauty. Chat with him and you learn that custom jewelry isn’t just a nice ring or necklace to wear. It’s so much more.
At Brad’s Designs and Jewelry, custom jewelry becomes a meaningful piece, whether it’s one of his brand-new designs or an old family heirloom given new life with a contemporary touch.
“The connection to the person and their story is important,” he explains. “I’ve rebuilt rings that are 100 years old, so that hopefully the family can keep it for their children.” Brad calls that generational value—jewelry that’s intricately fashioned for artistic value.
It’s also exciting to create something new. Brad says, “I don’t say, ‘This is what I think you should do,’ unless the customer wants that guidance. I like to hear what the customer wants so we can figure out what’s best for them.”
He incorporates customers’ vision into a unique design. It may be an engagement ring that has to be truly special, so that “For the price of mall jewelry you let us design something exquisite.” Sometimes it’s jewelry that’s worn out and needs to be rebuilt, or a ring the customer wants to be accented for a newer look.
There is brand-new jewelry in Brad’s store, too—and it’s not the same thing you’ll see everywhere else. “I like it when customers see that I have something different, something they haven’t seen at a mall store, for instance, whether I made it or it’s something from a vendor,” he says.
Brad’s Designs and Jewelry also offers well-known product lines, including Bulova and Bering watches and Birkshire Hathaway’s Chrysalis. A new company, SteelX, offers items in an inexpensive category. Brad likes the free trade, handcrafted Indiri silver line from the island of Bali.
Brad has been in the business for 40 years, beginning with the manufacturing side, so that he understands precious metals and gems from the inside out. He moved to retail, and found his enjoyment in creating beautiful and unusual pieces. He’s been in the same Crown Point location for 27 years, and values the trust and confidence his customers have in him and in his experienced artistry.
Brad’s Designs and Jewelry does all repairs on site, and has a watchmaker on staff.
He sums it up: “Diamonds, gold, silver—in a handcrafted and unique piece, they become priceless.”
