Gipprich Jewelers keeps sentimental value alive with repairs, custom work

Feb. 27—The story behind a piece of jewelry is often more precious than the precious metals it's made of— a fact that Richard Gipprich never forgets when he does his work.

The vice president and co-owner of Gipprich Jewelers, Shillington, said he enjoys modifying jewelry with sentimental value.

Gipprich runs the store alongside his sister Amy Gipprich, president and co-owner.

"People will come to us, and they'll have something that was handed down to them by a great-grandfather or grandfather, great-aunt," Gipprich said. "They'll try to sell it... I'll try to talk them out of it — if they sell it, they sell the history, the meaning. So I like to maybe refurbish or change something that means a lot to somebody."

Besides jewelry repair services, the store sells handcrafted and custom pieces and offers a selection of jewelry from vendors.

Gipprich's grandfather, Walter J. Gipprich, founded Gipprich Jewelers in 1945 in a storefront on Franklin Street in Reading.

He said his grandfather operated with a sympathy toward people who didn't always have much money to spend.

"Ladies used to come in and they'd want jewelry but couldn't afford it," Gipprich said. "What my grandfather would do is take a button off their coat and make a ring out of it."

It was a simple gesture, but it made a world of difference for customers, Gipprich said.

"It made them feel better about themselves and their situation," Gipprich said.

That ethos is something Gipprich Jewelers has kept alive over the decades, he said.

"We mostly sell items to people who want fair prices and don't want to spend an exorbitant amount — well priced, quality pieces," Gipprich said.

Gipprich noted that the business moved from Reading to its current location on Lancaster Avenue around 1963.

He said he spent a lot of time in the store as a kid, watching his relatives work and absorbing their passion for the craft.

His father, Walter P. Gipprich, worked alongside his grandfather.

Gipprich's father was an only child, unlike Richard and Amy, who spent their childhood with 10 other siblings in Shillington in the 1960s.

"We had one bathroom...you can imagine the chaos that entailed on days where everyone had to get to school," Gipprich said.

Growing up with such a prominent family at a time when the Shillington area was still being established made it easy for the Gippriches to develop a strong rapport with the community.

"Everyone knows at least one Gipprich," Gipprich said. "We sort of have a reputation of being friendly, kind and fair in business."

Another quality that sets Gipprich apart is their ability to customize pieces to suit nearly any customer preference, according to Gipprich.

"If we don't have it in stock, we're going to help you design what you need," Gipprich said.

Having a laser welder in the store has opened a world of possibilities when it comes to crafting and modifying jewelry, Gipprich said.

"With this machine, we can pretty much do anything," Gipprich said.

Gipprich noted that the store also has four full-time goldsmiths on staff, including lead goldsmith Billy Griffin, a 50-year industry veteran who specializes in jewelry repairs.

"If we're known for anything, we're known for our repairs," Gipprich said. "Our lead goldsmith has been doing this since he was 18. In my opinion, he's one of the best repair people in this area."

Gipprich's expertise in repairs even attracted the attention of Whitey Kurowski, who played major league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gipprich said one of his most notable memories on the job was working on Kurowski's World Series rings.

The store also offers watch repair and battery replacement services, Gipprich said.

Gipprich also employs his sister Cathy Yeager, who handles customer service.

Several other of the 12 Gipprich siblings also have served on the staff over the years.

"Through the years, we've had a brother who was a manager, brothers who worked repair services," Gipprich said. "This is a business that is ingrained in us."

Gipprich said that while he would like to keep the business family owned for a fourth generation, neither of his two children are involved in the store.

"We have lots of nieces and nephews who might be of interest to carry on the legacy," Gipprich said. "That's goal number one, to find somebody who would make Gipprich a fourth-generation (family-owned business)."

More information

What: Gipprich Jewelers

Address: 103 W. Lancaster Ave., Shillington

Phone: 610-777-7034

Website: gipprich.com

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.