Quinn’s Diamond Jewelers is a real gem. Not only does their jewelry sparkle and make you smile, Darrel Quinn, the store owner, greets every customer with a twinkle in his eye and a dazzling grin. He admittedly doesn’t take himself too seriously and loves telling tall tales and silly jokes.
One thing Quinn does take seriously, though, is the quality and selection of the jewelry he sells, the expertise he brings to the table, and the level of service. “I try to make everybody laugh,” Quinn said. “I found out I had colon cancer when I was 43. Then, Nancy, my wife and I, were living in Illinois where we had three big jewelry stores and 26 employees. When I got sick, we decided that life was too short, so we sold those stores and moved to Hilton Head. After four months, Nancy was bored with retirement and wanted a small store, so we opened our Wexford location. Now we have one store and two employees—us.”
Quinn is a master jeweler with more than 50 years’ experience in the industry. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a business degree, he earned a degree in jewelry repair as well as horology (the study of time) from Gem City College and a degree in diamonds and diamond grading from the Gemological Institute of America. Additionally, he gained valuable experience working in his parents’ store for many years.
According to Quinn, the jewelry industry, like many others, is changing. Twenty-five years ago, there were approximately 43,000 registered jewelers; today there are only about 9,000.
“In the past, we had tailors, shoe stores, etc., but not anymore,” he said. “Mom-and-pop stores are slowly dying because people buy from the internet, department stores, big box stores. The demand for the knowledge and education jewelers have is gone. The result is that people are buying inferior products that many times can’t be repaired or serviced. To get a quality product that you will be able to hand down for generations to come, you must buy from a registered, certified jeweler. At Quinn’s, you get that assurance.”
Service at Quinn’s is unmatched. Quinn educates each buyer to make sure they make an informed choice. As a master goldsmith, not only can he create custom pieces; he offers complimentary evaluations on repairs and uses current technology to keep your pieces in the best condition. And because he does everything onsite, express repair service is available. Quinn’s also offers customers an exceptional variety of styles and designs.
“Nancy has been in charge of our inventory for 47 years,” Quinn said. “Her taste and style are phenomenal, and the pieces she chooses for our store are one of a kind.”
Importantly, too, you can upgrade any diamond at a 100 percent trade if you trade up by 20 percent.
“Come see us,” Quinn said. “You’ll experience great quality, unique jewelry, and I promise to make you laugh while you’re here.”
To get a belly laugh or buy some sparkly jewels, visit Quinn’s at 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Village at Wexford, G-5, Hilton Head Island. For more information, call (843) 342-6663 or visit diamondland.com.