New jewelry store on Main Street

The creation of jewelry is a mysterious, marvelous thing. It usually starts with a stone, which is formed under high pressures for long periods of time. Then the craftsman forms and shapes precious metals. Finally an artistic presentation yields a beautiful, valuable piece.

In a way, that’s what’s behind the Lakes Region’s newest jewelry store, All My Life Jewelers at 639 Main Street in Laconia.

Randy and Sue Bullerwell have taken years of experience, dating back to their childhood growing up in the Lake City. They’ve adapted skills they learned from their fathers and other craftsmen they’ve known. Now they’ve poured their hearts into a business. In some ways, it makes perfect sense for the Bullerwell’s new store to be at 639 Main Street, next door to Greenlaw's Music.

Years ago, Randy’s father worked as a jeweler and Sue’s father worked as a watchmaker at Page’s Treasure Shop. The store, which was a downtown landmark establishment for many years, was located directly in a building directly across the street from the new store. The structure was torn down to make room for the municipal parking lot.

“We met at Page’s in 1978,” Randy recalled. “I had just returned from jewelry school in Pennsylvania. I’m from a family of jewelers.”

Sue said her mother, who worked as a clerk at Page’s, and Randy’s father always took credit for bringing the young people together.

During their early years together, Randy worked at Page’s and several other jewelry stores in the area. Eventually he and Sue boughtthe Brown Jewelry Store in Portsmouth.

But when the couple began having children they decided that the retail business was too difficult to manage.

“When the kids were little, we moved home here to Laconia and began working out of our house,” Sue said. “People would come to stop at our home but it was by appointment only… This will be much easier for them.”

“We worked wholesale for several stores around the state,” Randy added.

But now that their children are grown, the Bullerwells thought it was time for a change.

“It’s time to get out of the basement and see the sunshine, see the world a little,” Randy joked.

Their new store is charming, a striking array of display counters, shelves and warm colors.

“That’s Sue,” Randy said, glancing around at the light, airy space. “She’s got a great sense of color.”

“And there’s new stock arriving daily,” Sue added.

As striking as the space is, the Bullerwells think that what will make their new business special is their emphasis on personal service, including repairs and restorations.

“I do repairs – everything from watch repairs to stringing of beads,” Randy said. “We do our repairs on the premises rather than sending them out so you’ll get quick service.

“And we do a lot of custom work like engraving,” Sue said. “We work in all kinds of metals – gold, silver, platinum…”

When you ask the Bullerwells where they got the name of their new store — All My Life Jewelers — the answer comes easy. “We’ve been doing this all our lives,” Randy smiled.

And as for the future?

“Well, my son is interested in watch making,” Randy said. “So it’ll be a jewelry store for a good, long time.”

All My Life Jewelers opens for business on Monday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 10.