An enduring gem

E.H. Delamont Jeweler Ltd. has been a family business in Cranbrook, B.C., for over 50 years

Gordon Delamont is the owner/operator of E.H. Delamont Jeweler Ltd., founded by his father, Edward, in 1947. — Marie Milner photo

“Jewelry is very personal,” said Gord Delamont, owner/operator of E.H. Delamont Jeweler Ltd. in Cranbrook, B.C. “When someone finds a piece of jewelry they like, they won’t usually find the identical item anywhere else, even online, so we’re not really experiencing ‘showrooming’ as a problem.”

Delamont’s father, Edward, was an injured Second World War veteran who retrained as a watchmaker and bought an existing jewelry store from Henry Wilson in 1947. After working in the store with their father for a good number of years, Delamont and his brother took over the business in 1986 and moved it from 10th Avenue to its present location on Baker Street in downtown Cranbrook.

Sharing the good times

Delamont said he and all of his staff appreciate being part of happy occasions that prompt celebrations and gift giving.

“We get to see people at their very best, when they’re excited and optimistic. That rubs off on everybody,” Delamont said. “We love to see people in love. It may be old-fashioned, but it’s what makes the world go round.”

A staff that sparkles

Delamont credits his hard-working staff with his business's success. As a smaller retailer, Delamont and his staff provide great customer service—they size rings, repair watches and are knowledgeable about the metals, stones and designers they sell.

Over the years Delamont has employed eight of his nieces and several nephews as well as young friends of the family. He said that their enthusiasm has made his job a pleasure.

“My nieces used to just love it when I told them they should try on rings and things when they weren’t busy,” said Delamont. “I wanted them to get familiar with the stock, like my long-term staff are, and love all of the pieces. I don’t expect the youngsters to stay here forever—I think it’s healthy for them to move on and continue their education.”

An expert in the trade

Delamont trained as a watchmaker for three years at George Brown College in Toronto, then worked under the Gemological Institute of America. It took him five or six years of correspondence to become a certified gemologist, and he undergoes annual examinations to make sure he keeps up with the changes.

“There is lots to know about the techniques that can make a low-value stone look like a high-value one,” he said, “sometimes for fraudulent purposes. Sapphires and rubies are treated a lot, and it happens in places like Thailand and Sri Lanka, where the stones are mined. Some of the treatments are very difficult to detect, so you have to know lots about stones from different locations in the world—about colour and impurities, for example.”

Delamont believes that despite the novelty of the online marketplace, people like the personal service and the feeling of confidence that they have when they buy something of value from a legitimate person in their own community.