Avery in the News

James Avery Opens First Colorado Jewelry Store

Founder of 50-year-old nationally recognized jeweler returns to Colorado after launching design career at University of Colorado at Boulder in 1950

KERRVILLE, Texas – July 22, 2005 — James Avery Craftsman, a 50-year-old, family-owned jeweler based in the Texas Hill Country, today announced the opening of the company’s first Colorado store. With stores in Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma, the new 2,345 square foot store is located in Park Meadows and will bring the company's store total to 39 nationwide.

James Avery, founder, chairman and CEO of the company, first learned to design jewelry in 1950 at the University of Colorado at Boulder and today, at 84, is still pivotal in creating the unique and handcrafted designs that are the trademark of the company which was ranked as one of the nation’s top 50 jewelers in 2004 by National Jeweler. In fact, Avery continues to take an active role in creating many of the new and unique jewelry lines Denver residents will now see at the new store.

James Avery differs from many other high quality jewelers in that the company designs, creates, markets and sells its own jewelry line from its headquarters in Kerrville and five jewelry workshops located throughout Texas. With annual sales at approximately $85 million, the company employs more than 1,300 nationally. Whether the focus is on designing the retail store architecture or the latest piece of jewelry, everyone at James Avery works diligently to maintain fine detailing and simple design that is true to the original spirit of the company.

"We are eager to become a part of the Denver community," said James Avery. "With more than 14,000 loyal customers already living in Colorado, we believe Denver is a perfect fit for our designs. Residents will appreciate the spirit reflected in the new store's architectural design, and also in our four founding values: simplicity, integrity, meaning and universality to ensure a special experience for our customers."

James Avery jewelry includes high quality, hand-crafted designs in silver, 14- and 18- karat gold and gemstones. The Denver store will offer a wide variety of James Avery classic and contemporary collections, including the Hammered Sunburst, Oval Onyx Collection, La Prima Vera Cross, Sorrento Ring and Gentle Wave Cuff Bracelet. The Denver store will also incorporate art and furnishings from regional Colorado artisans.

"We are more than thrilled to welcome James Avery to Park Meadows and to Colorado," said Pamela Schenck – General Manager of Park Meadows. “We want to provide our customers with a world-class retail experience and look forward to seeing the company’s growing success in Denver.”

To celebrate its opening, James Avery will partner with The Children’s Hospital of Denver to host an invitation-only pre-opening event on Thursday, July 21, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at its new retail location in Park Meadows on the first floor. James Avery will also hold a public Grand Opening event on Thursday, August 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. James Avery plans to donate 100 percent of the jewelry sale proceeds from both evenings to The Children’s Hospital Foundation.

About James Avery

James Avery, a family-owned jeweler in the Texas Hill Country, offers high quality, hand-crafted jewelry in sterling silver, white, 14- and 18-karat gold and gemstones. Based in Kerrville, Texas, James Avery maintains 1,100 designs and 14,000 separate metal combinations of jewelry in the active product line. Each piece is originated by skilled men and women who hand-craft jewelry in the James Avery design studio on the Kerrville campus. Each is then crafted at one of five hill country workshops. By the end of 2005, James Avery will operate 40 stores in Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma and Colorado. James Avery jewelry is available at retail stores, through mail order and on the internet at www.jamesavery.com.