“Are we thrilled with every single product we sell? Yes we are.” —Doug Van Dyke
The fine jewelry store was founded in 1879 by John Sawyer, whose widow, Pearl Sawyer, and son, Elbert Ransom Sawyer, sold the business to Allan and Virginia Flood and Allan’s uncle, Orrin Magoon, in 1949. It’s been in the same family ever since, with Doug becoming the fourth-generation owner in 2002. Today, the Van Dykes strive to find that balance between old and new, honoring the past by working original display cases into parts of the store while brightening up the interior and adding comfortable work and seating areas in a recent remodel.
Customers come in to E.R. Sawyer at all the important times of their lives, both big and small, looking for just the right piece. They can find bridal sets or an engraved piece for a graduation or First Communion, and gifts for both men and women to mark birthdays and anniversaries.
“Are we thrilled with every single product we sell?” asks Doug. “Yes we are. We offer the best quality products in every category that our customers are looking for.”
E.R. Sawyer’s creative staff can even help you design and create a new, custom piece or redesign an existing one. Appraisal services are also offered in the store by a certified gemologist appraiser. Other services like resizing, stone resetting, even repairing that ring that went through the garbage disposal, are all done in-house.
The Van Dykes take pride in the fact that they offer something for every occasion and every price point, and that their customer service doesn’t end at the sale.
“We sell engagement rings in every price range,” says Ame. “There’s something for everyone.”
Many customers are rediscovering a love for 18-karat yellow gold with the popular Marco Bicego line, handmade in a small Italian village. You can also find the striking Brother Wolf line of necklaces and bracelets, made from casts of Old World religious relics and transformed into lovely but decidedly modern jewelry. And the store has recently doubled its Hearts on Fire diamond jewelry inventory, making it the largest dealer of the perennial favorites in the North Bay.
Though E.R. Sawyer is certainly best known for its jewelry selection, here in the North Bay, the name also stands for a commitment to community giving that goes above and beyond. The Van Dykes and their team have raised more than $200,000 for local charities, primarily those helping women, children and schools. And the giving goes beyond donations of merchandise, with the family and many of the store’s team members getting involved in nonprofit work in the community themselves.
Being recognized by the readers of NorthBay biz is something the Van Dykes and their staff strive for every year, because it encourages everyone to try even harder to be back on top the next year.
“We know that we have to keep making it exciting and fun to shop here,” says Ame. “We’re using Facebook and other social media to reach customers, and continuing to bring in new brands and brands that are exclusive to us.”
