Moments in Time

The lowdown: Andrew Koppel doesn’t understand how people can walk into a chain jewelry store and talk to an impersonal salesman about diamonds, gems and everything in between. For the owner of Maurice’s Jewelers, buying jewelry is a special moment that deserves personal attention.
   “Every piece of jewelry that a person gets marks time. It stops time. You remember that moment forever,” Andrew says. “People will have a ring that their grandmother gave them. They’ll have a piece of jewelry that their mother wore all their life. Whether it’s an engagement ring or a birthday gift, it’s important moments in life, and it’s a wonderful, happy feeling to be a part of it.”
   The personal is also part of the business. Andrew’s mother, Leah, and three daughters—Erin Koppel Gonzalez, Kierstin Koppel Silva and Meaghan Koppel Pallone, who Andrew says grew up “mining diamonds out of my rug”—work at the store as well. They tell clients “bring your family to our family.”
   “We’re friends with everybody,” Andrew says, “and if they don’t know us, we’re friends when they leave.”
   The business is a continuation of a family legacy started by his father, Maurice, who opened his jewelry store in 1935 on Bird Road and 89th Avenue. After his father died, Andrew came back to the family business. Eventually, his daughters joined him. Erin and Meaghan work in inventory, marketing, advertising and behind-the-scenes work, and Kierstin works on the floor in sales. Their flagship store has been a Pinecrest staple since they moved there in 2011 from a location on 136th Street. Being a staple of the Pinecrest community has allowed them to grow with their customer list. One Pinecrest customer recently got an engagement ring for a woman with whom he went to Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
   “You get to see them when they’re getting graduation gifts to when they’re getting married and getting engagement rings themselves,” Kierstin says.
The details: For special occasions, Andrew recommends diamond seamless bands (pictured) set in 18-karat white gold, with shimmering diamonds ranging from 3 to 7 carats. (Other carat weights and custom designs are available.)
The price: From $6,000 to $17,000
Contact: Maurice’s Jewelers, 11865 S. Dixie Highway, Miami; 305.253.5740; mauricesjewelers.com