When the office space next door became available, Jude Dutille and Beau Maville, the owners of Dutille’s Jewelry Design Studio in Lebanon, NH, seized the opportunity to bring their goldsmiths out of the basement and into the light. Working with store design firm Retailworks, they created a workshop visible from both the showroom and the street. Hand-drawn sketches of past commissions feature in the custom wallpaper framing a glass wall that gives customers a direct view of the goldsmiths at work.

At Just Desi in Beverly Hills, CA, the atelier isn’t just a workspace — it’s part of the sales presentation. Owners Desi and Justin Kraiem stock diamond inventory ranging from 10 points to 20 carats, cutting and importing the stones directly. Clients are welcomed like celebrities (which a few of them genuinely are), offered champagne, and invited to settle into the cushy customer lounge, where they can watch artisans at work and gain a firsthand understanding of CAD design, 3-D wax printing, and the craft behind every piece.

Visible through a glass partition from the sales floor, the workshop at Malka Diamonds & Jewelry in Portland, OR, is a working argument for transparency. A 2018 expansion added two full-time master jewelers and new equipment, reflecting owners David and Ronnie Malka’s goal of handling everything under one roof — from design to manufacture. “We want to be like their grandparents’ jewelers,” Ronnie says, “but still current and evolving with time.”

At Page Sargisson‘s Brooklyn, NY, studio, a three-quarter wall is all that separates the bench from the sales floor — close enough that staff can hear customers up front and customers can hear tools running in the back. A corner location adds a second dimension of visibility: passersby on the side street can watch bench jewelers setting stones and soldering through a street-facing window. A spray-paint mural by a recent Pratt Institute graduate gives the wall a neighborhood identity all its own.

JAB Jewelry Works’ sprawling workshop, occupying over half of a renovated industrial factory, is a testament to their commitment to craftsmanship and transparency. Visitors can witness the entire jewelry-making process — from CAD design and 3D printing to casting and finishing. This focus on “small metal things” pays homage to the building’s machine-shop roots, even featuring a restored five-ton crane hook. This business, owned by Joe Bonasso, prides itself on keeping all operations in-house, ensuring that every piece reflects a dedication to quality and the industrial heritage that defines their Bethel Park, PA, home.

At William Travis Jewelry, the workshop is a stage for transparency, with a glass window offering a full view of the design and manufacturing process. William Travis Kukovich and his team perform every step of the craft in-house, from initial casting to final polishing. Each Saturday, crowds often gather outside the Chapel Hill, NC, store to watch the “sparks and fire” of melting metal, a nod to the old-school techniques Kukovich learned from his his grandfather and great-grandfather.

Occasions Fine Jewelry in Midland, TX, invites customers to peer through a wall of windows to witness the “magic” of their full-service shop. This transparent workspace was a key part of a renovation that transformed a former Denny’s into a luxury destination inspired by the West Texas landscape. The shop’s openness reflects owner Michael Fleck’s dedication to a culture of excellence and education, where staff are cross-trained to understand every facet of the jewelry business. By making the craftsmanship visible, the store elevates the buying experience into a personal connection.

In the lower-level service center of Julz by Alan Rodriguez, jewelers are uniquely visible through bulletproof porthole windows—a charming remnant of the building’s history as a bank. This dedicated workspace is a high priority for Rodriguez, who believes that visible, professional service generates both trust and store traffic. While the store’s exterior features a futuristic glass cube that contrasts with downtown Canton, OH’s historic brick, the workshop remains anchored in “old school” values and generational expertise. Seeing the craftspeople at work reassures customers that their cherished repairs are expertly handled.

For years, Barry Peterson’s workshop was hidden on the second floor, but a 2019 renovation moved his bench to the first floor to place the “soul of the store” in plain view. Now, visitors to the Ketchum, ID, store can watch Peterson work from his “catbird seat” near the front corner, a move that has acted as a major confidence builder and significantly boosted custom business. This openness allows Peterson to remain accessible to both staff and customers. It offers the reassurance that every expensive piece or complex restoration is being expertly crafted right before the client’s eyes.

MAKE MADE Jewelry embraces an approachable, “human to human” philosophy by separating its working studio from the sales floor with a low, cherry-wood slat wall. This design ensures visibility for clients while allowing jewelry artists Katie Poterala and Danielle Miller Gilliam to remain connected to the showroom while they work. Located in a repurposed basement space in Greenville, SC, the studio’s openness reflects the owners’ commitment to sustainability and artisan education. Customers feel involved in the process, gaining a behind-the-scenes view of how artisan makers create intimate, handcrafted objects.

Carter’s Jewelry of Petal is synonymous with “experiential retail,” and their workshop is central to this “young and fun” vibe. Owner Chae Carter recently transformed an old jeweler’s bench into a permanent jewelry “zapping station” on the main sales floor to create immediate visual interest and excitement. Future expansion plans for the Petal, MS, include a large service department and a “repair café” with a window into the shop. By bringing the craft out from behind the scenes, Carter’s reinforces a philosophy where customers can relax, have fun, and trust that their jewelry is being “done right”

Hugo Kohl leads tours of his factory, adjacent to his Hugo Kohl Jewelry boutique in Harrisonburg, VA, where he demonstrates the function of the Industrial Age tools and machines he has acquired to manufacture his signature die-struck jewelry. He also has more than 7,000 hubs, dies and rolls he’s collected, which he uses to manufacture collections. He’s gathered the tools, machinery and workstations needed to process these designs. The space is also a museum. The Museum of American Jewelry Design and Manufacturing. Kohl has found that clients who see how the jewelry is made develop a feeling of ownership in it and are more likely to make a purchase.

At Carter’s Jewel Chest in Mountain Home, AR, three jewelers occupy the shop, which is exposed to the showroom through a glass wall, providing constant advertising and proof of the work and quality of Carter’s. Owners T.C. and Beth Carter and their son, Chris Carter, worked with Jesse Balaity of Balaity Property Enhancement on a major renovation of their space in 2018.

At Williams Jewelers of Englewood, CO, the opportunity to watch the jeweler in action is incorporated into the bridal and diamond experience. The Williams family and interior designer Leslie McGwire worked together to achieve a look they describe as both grand and inviting for the 12,500 square foot store, which opened in 2017.

Jennifer Farnes focused on client experience when she expanded and redesigned Revolution Jewelry Works in Colorado Springs, CO, in 2019. Everything is built to allow the clients to actively participate in their jewelry journey. Every corner of the store is visible through windows. Custom clients can sit, sketch, and design live with CAD experts while seated in consultation booths and then make an appointment to watch their design being poured and taking shape. The RJW team also casts live in the studio every day.

At Vandenbergs Jewellers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, owned by Ralph and Lori Vandenberg, a floor to ceiling glass wall separates the workshop from the sales floor. The casting room is at the front of the store, where it’s visible from the exterior glass wall. The goldsmiths put on a show for passersby every morning and often, throughout the day, through the glass wall. The Vandenbergs team also offers shop tours of their store and explanations of the processes.

Thollot Diamonds & Fine Jewelry in Thornton, CO, owned by Troy and Joy Thollot, has a “Pour Your Heart Into It’ Jewelry Casting Bar, where clients are invited to pour the gold into their own custom rings; as well as a Jewelry Repair Bar. The Thollot team and master jewelers guide each client through the design, creation and centrifugal casting process of their rings. The couples are also invited to cast each other’s wedding bands.

At Cronin Jewelers in Boulder, CO, owner Bill Cronin’s passion for the art of making jewelry is reflected in the design of his store’s interior. A full 60 percent of its square footage is dedicated to the workshop studio. The open design allows customers to see Cronin and his staff craft custom designs, perform repair work and cast precious metals. A large cottonwood tree stump holds an anvil which is used to stamp Cronin’s hallmark into each custom piece. Tools are on display in every nook and cranny. One wall holds a variety of sanding belts while another features many years’ worth of custom wax models. The neon “Goldsmith” sign which once hung out front now decorates the full length of a back wall.

The newest location of Drenon Jewelry in Independence, MO, a family business founded in 1945, was built in 2018 by Icon Architecture. Owners Steve Frisch and Rhonda Wilks realized that one of their greatest assets was their ability to create jewelry from scratch and make their customers a part of the experience. They decided to put their jewelers’ talents on display in the all-glass 1945 Design Studio, where customers can watch everything the jewelers do. The custom design process is done 100 percent in-house, starting with a simple sketch on paper, brought to life on the screen by a CAD designer. From there, it’s sent to a 3D printer that can print a wax in as little as 45 minutes. Once the item is ready to be cast, the Drenon Jewelry team invite their customers to watch as their piece is being made.

When Jacob Wosinski began designing the interior of Jacob Raymond Custom Jewelry in Greensoboro, NC, he wanted people to see that all of the jewelry is made on site. For that reason there are no walls between the showroom and the workshop and the casting station and lapidary equipment are set up in one of the front windows. “I can sit at my bench and work while looking at the shop,” Wosinski says. “Clients are always fascinated about how jewelry is made and enjoy hearing about it. They get to sit down and actually meet with the designer and maker of their custom piece. No two items are mass-produced, which makes each customer experience personal.”

A window and a door offers transparency while connecting showroom and shop at Waterfall Jewelers in Waterford, MI, owned by Tom Brown and Chris Strong. The shop is part of a major 2019 renovation of a former bank building, designed by interior designer Leslie McGwire and Scott Monchnik & Associates. Waterfall has created another bridge between shop and showroom by teaching all staff members to use Stuller’s 3C and Counter Sketch program to design and price jewelry, using melee, colored gemstones and in-stock diamonds up to a quarter carat.

McCoy Jeweler in Dubuque, IA, is 16 feet wide and has the layout of a bowling alley, but somehow accommodates a fully functioning shop as well as a sales floor. Owner Jonathan McCoy is the head of bench operations, custom designs, CAD/CAM and repairs for the shop. “We have a very small footprint,” he says.

At McCoy Jeweler, owner Jonathan McCoy is able to complete an entire custom piece in a shop barely larger than many garages; all benchwork and stone setting is performed in front of his clients.