First Post

We Have Closed Our Brick and Mortar store After 122 Years in Business on January 18, 2019, Our Webstore will remain open!

Peekskill, NY - When Arthur Weeks opened his jewelry store “Arthur Weeks Jewelers” in 1896, Peekskill was just a small, bustling village on the Hudson River. Flash forward to today, the family-run jeweler has spent 122 years, and four generations, on the corner of South and Division Streets.

However, after more than a century in business, the independent jeweler will be closing a piece of history in downtown Peekskill.  

 “This has been one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make,” said Arthur’s great-grandson John who now runs the store. “ My family and I decided that this was the right time for us to retire and to close the store.”

As an independent jeweler, Arthur Weeks & Son sets themselves apart from the bigger chain stores with a unique style of jewelry hard to find anywhere else.  They also have fine traditional jewelry such as diamond anniversary rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets and a beautiful selection of colored stone jewelry, pearls, watches and sterling silver jewelry.  There will be jewelry in price ranges that everyone can afford. 

Jewelry business a family affair

John Weeks remembers he and his brother coming to work on Saturdays with their dad. “We would do the odd jobs, clean the jewelry and jewelry cases. We would do anything that needed to be done,” remembers John.  Eventually, he also began to do small repairs and then selling on the floor and realized how much he enjoyed the jewelry business and decided to make it a career.

“It has been extremely gratifying to be able to work along-side my mom, dad and grandfather.  Not many people are lucky enough to experience that,” said John.  

Treating customers with respect

Something else John will miss is the day to day interactions with customers. “Our relationship with our customers is based on trust. They know when they walk through our front door that they will be treated honestly and fairly,” said Weeks. He and his family have developed friendships over the years and have now found themselves helping multiple generations of the same family. 

“We get to share in the joyous occasions of our customers’ lives.  There is no better feeling than that,” said Weeks.

Giving back

The family has always felt that giving back to the community was very important. They have donated to many charitable causes over the years: schools, scouting, little leagues and local food pantries just to name few. John also is a member of the Peekskill Rotary club and currently serves on the Foundation Board and on the board of Jim Witt’s Hope for Youth Foundation, which raises money for local children’s charities.  He also serves on both the advisory board of the Peekskill-area Salvation Army, and the Hillside Cemetery Association

The store’s legacy

As he reflects back on the past 122 years, John says it’s a bit surreal that this chapter in his family’s history is closing. He is proud of the family business and hopes its impact on the community will always be remembered favorably.

“I will always remember my grandfather sharing with me two of his rules of retail:  Treat your customers as you wish to be treated and be honest with them. If you follow these rules you will be successful in business and in life.”

Whether from the Greek island Topazios or the sanskrit “tapas” meaning heat or fire, Topaz has been prized for several thousand years.  In fact, all yellow gems in antiquity were called Topaz including citrine (yellow) and smoky (brown) quartz, even though they are different minerals. A silicate mineral, Topaz comes in a range of colors, including yellow, pink, purple, orange, and the many popular blue tones, but the most valued color of topaz is the reddish orange color called Imperial Topaz after the Russian Czars of the 1800s. With the advent of irradiation and heat treatment in the 20th century, a full spectrum of blue topaz has gained popularity and is readily available. Brazil is the largest producer of Topaz, followed by Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, Scotland, Japan, Sri Lanka and the United States.

Topaz is reputed to be one of the most powerful gemstones with a range of attributes, including increased understanding, strengthened breathing, enhanced creativity, balanced emotions, restored energy and more.

From the Latin word for yellow, Citrine, the other birthstone for November, is one of the many varieties of crystalline quartz.  As noted above, they are frequently confused with Topaz, as their color range is nearly identical, from pastel yellow to dark brownish orange.  With a seemingly endless supply, Citrine is one of the more affordable gemstones.  Citrine is found most frequently in Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain.

Citrine also has a range of attributes, including greater or increased hearing and promoting success, abundance, and clear thinking.

Arthur Weeks and Son Jewelers carries a large collection of Topaz and Citrine jewelry both online and in our store.  From beautiful Rings to sparkling Earrings and gorgeous Pendants, we have something for everyone in a price range for every budget.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact us.