PORT ANGELES — Diamonds — not to mention those other glimmering gemstones — have been a girl’s best friend for Consuelo White.
But after 40 years of being business partners with sparkling jewelry, she’s decided it’s time to call it quits.
This month, after four decades of making and selling jewelry, White will close The Clay Bezel Jewelers at 216 E. Fifth St. in Port Angeles — either when her inventory runs out or Dec. 31, whichever comes first.
It was her love of jewelry that led her and her husband, Greg White, to open White Pottery & Jewelry — the precursor to The Clay Bezel Jewelers — in 1969.
‘Loved jewelry’
“I loved jewelry — loved buying it — so my husband finally said that he wasn’t going to buy me any more,” White said.
“So I decided that I maybe could make my own, and started taking some classes at Peninsula College.
“Eventually, I was teaching jewelry-making classes for years at the night school.”
After decades of selling, buying, making and wearing jewelry, her passion for all that glitters is still strong, she said.
“Jewelry, fashion, it all goes hand in hand,” she said.
“I love going to museums — and have been to some of the top museums in the world — to see all the wonderful and beautiful things that man has created.
“It has been a great profession.
“I’ve worked the bench; I’ve done gemology.
“I think I have a better understanding of all of the facets of jewelry than most in this profession.”
White said she is ready for more adventures.
“Retiring is something I’ve been thinking about for about three years — more maybe,” she said.
“It is just a time in my life where I want to have more leisure time and not work so hard all the time.
Read, travel
“I have been very busy, and of course the economy has hit us all, but that really isn’t the reason why. I just didn’t want to be so busy anymore.
“I’d like to read a book.
“I’d like to live in India for a while.
“I hope that is still the plan.”
White, who has a graduate degree in gemology and is certified with the Gemological Institute of America, said she and her husband outgrew the original tiny storefront and opened the current location in 1990.
While doing appraisal work and purchasing unusual pieces, the couple has traveled all over the world.
“This has opened up a lot of doors for me around the world.
“I have met a lot of interesting people.”
Inventory sales have begun at the shop and will continue throughout the month.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
