Local jeweler opening shop close to home

After taking a jewelry class during his senior year of high school in Newton, Jeff Roush figured out what he wanted to study in college.

He attended Gem City School of Horology in Quincy, Ill. and found jewelry making fun and easy, and decided to pursue it as a career.

“Most jewelry retail stores just sells the stuff, they don’t work on it, fix it, do anything to it. They send it out to jewelers that actually do the work and for years that’s been me. I had the largest shop in Des Moines for years and years,” Roush said. While in Des Moines, he owned The Jewelers Bench and custom design and repair jewelry shop. During his busiest times, he employed 12 other jewelers and did work for all of the local jewelry stores as well as stores all over Iowa.

“At Christmas time it would be crazy, I would maybe work on a 100 sizings a day,” Roush said. He also did work for Newton’s jewelers. “If anybody bought anything or did anything with Morgan’s Jewelers, which is the main jeweler here in town, I would have done the work anyway. They’ve already been doing business with me, they just didn’t realize that I was the guy behind the scenes,” Roush said.

Roush is now bringing his talents to his home and wants to work with the people of Newton for their jewelry needs.

“What I want to do here in Newton is just be of service to the local community. I will sell, make and create custom made products, just like I have for 30 some years,” Roush said. Working primarily with gold, silver and platinum, Roush will also take a look at costume jewelry to see if it can be repaired. He also does watch battery replacement and some repair. In his newly created shop, he has all of the tools, such as drills, cleaners and polishers, to repair jewelry as well as create custom pieces.

The Jewelers Bench is not a retail store, so there is no merchandise on hand to buy. Unique, custom pieces can be created, with customers picking out their stone from a selection that Roush has, as well as being a part of the design of the metal work.

With a proud look, Roush also tells how his son has followed in his footsteps and become a jeweler himself. Attending the same college as his dad, Roush’s son now works in Des Moines and is continuing the “family business.”

For more information or for business, call Roush at (641) 521-7701.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.