Clay Today Staff
ORANGE PARK – There’s a jewelry craftsman in this town who does incredible work with precious metals – platinum, gold and silver. In truth, he is an artisan.
Jim Dumas has been a master jeweler for 35 years, but he goes far beyond that. He creates work from scratch as well and repairs pieces. He has even named his shop, "Master Jeweler."
"I’ll make jewelry in your college colors, whether it’s earrings with University of Florida orange and blue colors, Florida State’s garnet and gold, or any other school." He can make things in Jacksonville Jaguars teal as well.
For years he worked as a jeweler at Underwood Jewelers in Jacksonville, and now he works for himself creating high-end jewelry and offering service. He is a master jeweler, and is unique in the profession. He is virtually alone in creating fine golf jewelry.
He uses the lost wax process whereby he makes a mold in a base metal, puts wax around it, then pours molten precious metal into the mold.
He showed a ring he had just finished for a customer.
"He brought in the metal and diamonds, and I was able to make the ring."
It cost $1,200.
Another pair of pieces he custom-made was for a woman who owns a Ford Thunderbird.
"It’ll be a teal-colored ring when it’s finished," he said.
You’ve heard the story about the duffer who gets so angry he wraps his iron around a tree?
That notion makes a fine bracelet, he points out.
"I’ll clean and inspect jewelry for free," he said. If it needs repairs he’ll point it out and do so for the customer.
He also installs watch batteries for $4.95, "but only 99 cents if it’s with any jewelry repair, ring sizing, chain solder and so on," he said. He also gives out a card to all his customers good for one year for the 99-cent battery installation.
"My watch batteries are $4.95 installed. If you bring in any jewelry repair we charge 99 cents for the battery. If you don’t need the battery now, we give you 12 months from the date of repair."
Dumas explained, "My business is based on service. The customer comes in the store and we clean and inspect their jewelry at no charge. If the customer needs something repaired, they can sit three feet from the jeweler and watch their ring being sized right in front of them."
He added, "We want customers to be able to drop their jewelry off in the morning and pick it up on the way home – and we will beat any price on repair and custom work in town."
He recently hired a jeweler with 38 years experience from Underwood Jewelers.
Is he a golfer?
"No. I don’t have time for it."
Master Jeweler, Inc., is open seven days a week. He takes appointments from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5. The shop is at 807 Park Ave., corner of Loring Avenue, Orange Park. He is online at www.dumasgolf.com, and his phone number is (904) 579-4909.