Allen's Jewelry Services opens in St. Albans - Charleston Gazette-Mail
Phillip Allen was only 18 years old when he found his life's calling. Thirty-two years later, he still doesn't consider it work.
Allen's livelihood is jewelry repair and restoration served up with generous portions of customer service, honesty and friendliness.
On Nov. 4, Allen and his wife, Angie, opened Allen's Jewelry Services at 316 B St., Suite 104, St. Albans.
It's a one-stop headquarters for anything having to do with jewelry.
"We are a full-service jeweler; we service your jewelry whether it was bought here or not. We do sizing, repair work, custom design -- anything that you can imagine that would pertain to jewelry. We also provide a jewelry appraisal service," Allen said.
Allen's Jewelry Services can also provide stone replacements and watch batteries.
Additionally, Allen's Jewelry carries a nice line of new jewelry -- everything from bracelets, to rings, to necklaces and earrings.
Allen's Jewelry Services also buys gold, silver and platinum.
Allen was 18 when he got started. His first job was at Lilly's Jewelers, where his mother, Bernice, worked. At the time, Lilly's Jewelers had 10 stores throughout the state.
Les Lilly, the company owner, invited the young Allen to come to the home office in Beckley.
"He wanted to see if I could learn the trade," Allen said. "I stayed the weekend, and they put me to work Monday morning."
The job was a good fit for Allen, who has the gift of steady hands and sharp eyesight.
"I've always had a knack for tinkering with little, small things. It just comes natural to me -- it was what I was meant to do. In three days, I was a jeweler."
After training in Beckley, Allen went to work at the Lilly's Jewelers location in the Dunbar Plaza, where he worked for eight years.
That was followed by a stint at the Lilly's Jewelers in the Charleston Town Center, where his mother had worked.
"I worked there for another five years," he said.
After working for Lilly's Jewelers, Allen did jewelry repair on a contract basis with area jewelry stores, which were phasing out their in-house jewelers.
"Nobody hired jewelers anymore on staff -- they just contracted the work out. So, I went to work as a contractor and bought my tools and equipment."
One of his first clients as a contractor was Reed's Jewelers, which, at the time, had four stores throughout West Virginia.
"I had to agree to travel and work one day a week at each one of those stores," Allen said. "I was a traveling jeweler."
At each store, "I'd do a week's worth of work in one day."
Although Allen now has his own shop, he still works as a contract jeweler for seven area jewelry stores.
But "I'm married to this location now," he said with a laugh.
Having his own jewelry store was a life-long dream.
"This is what I've dreamed of and worked for for the last 32 years. I've always dreamed of having my own shop and to run it my way."
Allen's approach to business focuses on trustworthiness, customer service and providing the kind of expertise that comes from more than three decades in the jewelry business.
Most of Allen's work is repairing and restoring jewelry made with gold, silver and platinum.
"The repair and restoration of jewelry is what I enjoy most. I like to take something that is old and worn and take it back to its original glory," he said.
Jewelry repair is becoming a lost art, he said.
"The trade has been lost; there are very few people like me around anymore."
In fact, when customers visit Allen's Jewelry Services, they can watch him work. His repair area is out in the open, behind the counter.
"We're completely transparent. For a ring sizing, people can sit right here and watch. They can wait 10 or 15 minutes, and have their rings polished, sized and have repair done right here, and it doesn't leave your sight."
Joining Allen in the store are his wife, Angie, and mother, Bernice Allen. They take care of the retail merchandise in the store.
There are cases of new jewelry for sale at reasonable prices.
"We sell everything from loose diamonds to sterling silver and gemstones," Allen said.
A popular line is the Wind & Fire collection of bracelets. Each bracelet has a charm on it that reflects theme or a meaning.
"They're stackable or expandable bracelets," Allen said. "All of their materials are recycled materials."
"They're a very affordable gift item," Bernice Allen said.
Allen's Jewelry Services is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, call 304-729-8063, or visit Allen's Jewelry Services on Facebook.
