Ginger Graf of Graf's Antiques and Jewelry is pictured in her store in downtown Gladewater Friday Feb. 10, 2017. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

GLADEWATER – Custom jewelry designer Ginger Graf is on the front lines of love, not just on Valentine’s Day, but all year long.

The Gladewater independent jeweler enjoys matching people to accessories, but part of her passion is resurrecting vintage pieces for a new generation to enjoy.

She is a romantic at heart, drawn to uncommon selections, especially in wedding and engagement rings, to ensure each piece is different from the next.

The result amounts to counters overflowing with an eclectic mix of styles and periods, from mid-century to Victorian and also modern on display in her shop, Graf’s Antiques & Jewelry, 119 S. Main St.

“Vintage is huge,” she said. “A lot of young people will come in looking specifically for vintage. A lot of girls, when they come in, say, ‘I want something different.'”

Helping a couple find the perfect piece of jewelry seems to be both an honor and a serious responsibility.

“When it’s given in love, it could be an item they’ll have for 50 years or more, and that’s exciting,” she said. “It’s a very special moment.”

OLD IS NEW AGAIN

There are apparently several reasons why today’s brides are interested in old school jewelry.

One is craftsmanship – many feature specialized features, such as sturdy prongs and intricate detailing.

Another is appearance – beautiful designs in limited quantities.

“A lot of times the quality of the diamonds in older stuff is higher,” Ms. Graf said. “A lot of modern jewelry is made with lesser stones to reach a certain price point.”

There was a time in history when only the elites in society could afford to purchase jewelry, which was handcrafted with care and strict attention to detail and materials.

Today, however, there are a lot of choices on the retail market for even the smallest budget, the jeweler said.

Consequently, demand for certain heirloom pieces is high.

“I just sold everything from the 1800s to one person,” she said. “It’s very popular.”

Ms. Graf said she’s always on the hunt for old and newer selections, but admits she’s ultra picky about outside buying sources, preferring to do business primarily with dealers.

Part of her business model centers on working with private sellers, such as customers who inherit jewelry and are uncertain about whether to keep or sell.

Antique jewelry does not appeal to everyone’s tastes, but family pieces can often be recreated and enjoyed in a completely different form, Ms. Graf said.

She points to custom work that transformed a vintage watch – sans the moving parts – into a sparkling pendant.

“We do a lot with family pieces,” she said, citing the satisfaction of helping people identify items of sentimental value. “When I have people bring in stuff for repair, like a tiny little ring that belonged to their grandmother, it reminds me of how much it (jewelry) means to people.”

LOVE IN THE AIR

Some sweethearts have big dreams, but a small budget.

Ms. Graf keeps an assortment of specially priced wedding bands on hand to serve the needs of even the most cash strapped young loves.

“If a couple comes in and they have only $20 to spend on a wedding ring, we’ll find them something,” she said, pulling out a box brimming with modest selections. “We try them on until they find something they like.”

She actually has several boxes of loose jewelry on hand for customers to try out, and some customers come in just to try stuff on. Some pieces can be viewed on the store’s Facebook page.    

“It’s fun to play in jewelry,” said employee Sydney, who asked that her last name be withheld. “Our customers really enjoy it … it makes me smile just to be here.”

The idea of examining and trying on jewelry should be a fun experience, Ms. Graf said, citing the satisfaction of spending time in her workshop, creating inventory for the store.

Her interest in adornments is rooted in childhood.

She started tinkering with trinkets in middle school, creating elaborate, handcrafted beaded jewelry to sell in the locker room after gym class.

Those dreaded exercise classes may be long over, but the passion for pretty accessories is still alive and well.

Seven years ago, she bought out a Gladewater antiques store, started adding custom jewelry to the inventory and the rest, as they say, is history.

“It was adding one piece at a time,” she said. “It just kind of grew.”

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