Jeweler offers custom designs, stone carvings

Throughout most of his life David Anderson, owner of Erik Jewelers, has had a knack for creating art out of metals. With that talent - he worked as a high school and college shop teacher, teaching metal work to students. He soon developed an interest in creating custom jewelry designs through use of metals, gold and silver.

With the help of his wife, Jann, a former art teacher, David decided to combine his skills in metal working with her artistic ability and go into business as a jeweler.

The Anderson’s first opened their shop in Allen Town in 1968. Although successful in that location, the family - with the addition of their son Erik Anderson, and daughter Gretchen Koby - chose to relocate their business to the Tonawandas in 1989.

“I have been in this business my whole life, it’s extremely interesting,” said Erik, who brings the asset of being a gemologist to the company. “We’re a ‘jack of all trades’ here.”

Erik went on to elaborate about the unique opportunities the facility offers to customers.

David, whose metal making skills allow him to prosper in iron work as well, has been featured in books for notability of his work. Both Anderson men have the capability to prepare custom artwork carved into large, decorative stones. The family also dabbles in sculpture making from time to time.

“We’re always making something,” said Erik. “We have thousands of our own designs that we offer to our customers and we can make almost any modification a customer prefers.”

Like other private jewelers, Erik’s is not in competition with the “big box” stores.

“We know we can’t compete with those stores at the mall - so we don’t try to,” said Erik. “But, we can offer unique, custom, jewelry. We’re fulfilling a niche that those stores can’t - it’s a specialized area, not the usual thing.”

Erik’s offers reasonably priced items and some items are sold for an even more competitive price due to the type of items available.

The establishment sees many repeat customers due to what Erik described as, “satisfaction.”

“Our customers keep coming back, because they are happy with our work. The designs come out the way they want it,” said Erik. “First and foremost - we are artists.”

The Anderson family has been working closely with digital technology, which allows them to be able to produce a design or image that closely resembles a photograph of the potential jewelry item desired.

“While we specialize in custom-made jewelry, we still offer the traditional settings as well,” said Erik. “Many people love the traditional settings. We can fine tune those dimensions of the traditional settings, or make modifications, in order to produce exactly what the customer would like.”