Cole’s Jewelers is back, with familiar faces behind the counter.
The mother-daughter team of Debbie Hunt and Libby Rogers — with lots of help from husband Richard Rogers — re-opened the longtime Sequim downtown business at the familiar location of 117 E. Washington St. in June.
Cole’s Jewelers has been a staple of the community for 57 years, and the duo plan to keep it open “forever,” Hunt said.
“We’re not going anywhere.”
The store is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Rogers noted, “Shopping and custom design appointments are available for those pressing moments where an item or design is needed outside of our normal business hours.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / “Aquamarines are great,” says Libby Rogers, showing one of the rings for sale at Cole’s, which she re-opened in June with her mother Debbie Hunt, designer and manager under the last owners. Rogers and Hunt say that in their store there is a piece for everyone, “from $10-$10,000,” and they welcome people to come in, browse and have a cup of coffee.
This is the third iteration of Cole’s since it was founded by the Cole family. The Tuttles owned the store from the mid-1990s to the end of their retirement sale on Dec. 24, 2021, according to Hunt and Rogers.
Hunt said, “Cole’s, under the Tuttles, was integrity, compassion and community service.”
Said Rogers, “It is an iconic business that meant so much to so many, and we don’t want to see that part of history fade away. We feel privileged to be able to carry on in the same tradition.”
Cole’s specializes in jewelry inspection, jewelry repair, watchband adjustments and batteries, appraisals, buying and selling estate jewelry, buying gold and silver, custom design by Hunt and the sale of fine jewelry.
“Cole’s is known for high quality and genuine gemstones,” said Hunt, emphasizing that they never sell synthetic gems and do their best to make sure the diamonds in their jewelry are “sourced ethically.”
Libby Rogers holds an organizer she designed which is for sale at Cole’s Jewelry. Rogers is a graphic designer as well as businesswoman, and her touch can be seen in the sign and around the store.
Cole’s will continue to sell the work of familiar vendors such as Dowdy Opals, Denny Wong, Allison-Kaufman and Italgem, as well as estate jewelry.
“We have a little bit of everything,” Rogers said, “[There’s] something for everyone, from $10 to $10,000.”
She said gift certificates are available.
As long-time customers know, Hunt is no stranger to Cole’s. She was employed there for 17 years — the last five as manager — before the Tuttles retired.
Hunt is a jewelry designer, ready to help people with custom requests. She said she was taught by a second-generation master jeweler, David Hyde.
“He taught me everything I know,” she said.
Hyde helped Hunt transfer her artistic talent to jewelry design.
Rogers said she was excited to bring her mother’s other art work into Cole’s; they sell her pen and ink drawings and will have her paintings on the wall for decoration and sale.
“It’s always been my dream to have an avenue to sell my mom’s art,” she said.
“My mother’s art is very personal. When she creates something, whether it be for a family member or a commissioned client, she pours her heart into every piece.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / New co-owner of Cole’s Jewelry, Debbie Hunt, smiles at her daughter from her her work desk. Hunt worked at Cole’s Jewelry for 17 years before the previous owners retired last year.
“Her art is engaging, due to its intricacy and detail, which evokes a renewed sense of wonder for me.
“I can look at some of her pen and inks and find hidden details that I didn’t see when previously admiring the piece.”
Said Hunt, “Libby is a designer; she designed our business cards and sign.”
Further examples of Rogers’ work are available for sale at the store in the form of an organizer and journals. (For examples of her work, see salttocedar.com.)
Jewelry buying or selling, the pair said, is a very personal experience.
“It’s so much more than jewelry: it’s about trust,” Hunt said, about being a local jeweler.
“Jewelry is 99 percent emotional,” she said, detailing the loving occasions attached to jewelry, such as gift-giving.
“There is loving behind it — even when buying for self.”
Debbie Hunt shares a painting she made that will decorate the walls and be for sale at the new iteration of Cole’s Jewelers. She and her daughter re-opened the business at 117 E. Washington St. this June. The pair will run Cole’s with the same values it has been in the past, but with a few new elements such as Hunt’s art.
Rogers said that, when they buy estate jewelry, there is much emotion behind the pieces.
“We handle it with loving care,” she said.
“Everyone’s jewelry is important,” Hunt added. “No matter the monetary value … you can’t put a price on grandma’s ring.”
In addition to the other small changes in decor, the duo have put in a coffee bar, “so people can sit and be comfortable,” said Rogers.
“You don’t have to buy jewelry to come in and say hi,” they said. “Stop in and have a cup of coffee and hang out.”
Cole’s Jewelers
Location: 117 E. Washington St.
Hours/days: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
Phone: 360-683-3833
On the web: colesjewelerssequim.com
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / A Ceylon sapphire, two carat, set in 18 carat yellow gold with diamonds is an example of a ring sold at Cole’s Jewelers, which Debbie Hunt and Libby Rogers re-opened this June on 117 E. Washington St.
