Jeremy Thayer, a native Floridian, came to Sarasota from Tampa Bay in the 1990s when he recognized the need for a high-end estate jewelry store here. Since Jeremy owned a gem cutting factory in Sri Lanka and manufactured jewelry in Asia in the 1980s, he knew the industry well. Having worked for many years selling strictly to the trade, his first retail venture was Thayer Jewelers on St. Armands Circle which quickly captured the luxury marketplace by selling heirloom-quality jewelry.
Six years ago, Jeremy reopened Thayer Jewelers on Main Street, recreating the fundamental values that were embodied in his St. Armands store, focusing on fine gems and jewelry that represented real value instead of illusion. Trends come and go, but the timeless, classic pieces he sells keep their value for generations. Earlier this year, Jeremy moved his store to beautiful South Palm Avenue, which opened this past April.
Though the store also creates and remakes pieces there, the majority of what he sells is fine estate jewelry. “The exquisite craftsmanship from years ago cannot be duplicated,” he explains. “A fabulous art deco bracelet we might sell for $25,000 would cost $100,000 in labor today, and even then, it would be difficult to find anyone who could do it.”
Ultimately, what makes Thayer Jewelers special is Jeremy himself. He studied at the Gemological Institute of America as well as the Asian Institute of Gemological Science, and he’s traveled the world for decades to source, grade, and value rough gems. Very few have his knowledge of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. Quite simply, he has an expertise few can match.
While wholesale dealers are as likely to buy from Jeremy as direct customers, “I love interacting with the end buyer,” he notes. “I enjoy educating them and watching them get real value as well as beauty.”
20 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
941.955.8820• thayerjewelers.com
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