Aug. 11, 2008 — If you want that perfect diamond, Rob Low from Nelthropp & Low will go half way around the world to handpick it for you. He will be leaving in October for Antwerp, Belgium, the diamond capital of the world, where 60 percent of the world's diamonds are sold and traded.
Low said his interest in gem stones and minerals began as a child while on vacations rock hunting with his "rock hound" mom, Tee Low. He added he inherited her collection and would like to put it on display in the store some day.
Low grew up in La Jolla, Cal., and attended Boise State in Idaho, where he learned the art of metal sculpture and design from Don Douglas, a big influence on his art. They created metal objects such as hollow ware vases and Damascus swords.
After college, Low apprenticed under master goldsmiths in Sun Valley and landed a job as a goldsmith at the Gem Exposure in Ketchum, Idaho. The owner also had a store located on St. Croix, The Gold Shop.
Low made the decision to move to the sunny Caribbean in 1985 to work as a goldsmith at the Gold Shop. On St. Croix he met and married Karen Nelthropp, of the Cruzan Rum family.
After Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989, devastating the island, the owner of the store on St. Croix had had enough. And Low and Nelthropp decided to buy the Gold Shop, originally located in Kings Alley in downtown Christiansted.
The store moved around the corner to Strand Street in the Pan Am Pavilion in 1990.
"Generally, in the jewelry industry the owner's name is used and marketability is key," said Low. In 2005 the couple changed the name to Nelthropp & Low.
"An employee of ours made the suggestion," Low said. "I designed the logo for the store combining family crests flanked by palm trees." The motto is nitor et amor, Latin for "brilliance and love."
The handful of knowledgeable and friendly employees all work as a team in designs and ideas.
"We are very team-oriented in the store, and we are always sharing ideas," said Emilie Marsh, retail clerk. "We all collaborated with the design of the Caribbean fruit bracelet — along with some customer input." The gold charm bracelet is made up of local fruit such as mangos, papayas, bananas, avocados and more.
There is a full service workshop upstairs at the store full of molds, bits, wax, a state of the art laser and more, where jewelers do a wide array of jewelry repairs. Low and employees work with customers’ inspirations to create custom designed pieces.
Goldsmiths have signature pieces and Low's is the Trade Winds hook bracelet with graceful curling swirls representing the winds that sweep across the Caribbean, done in brilliant 14 carat gold or silver. Another classic signature design of Low’s is the marine shackle bracelet. The direction the pin is worn can signify if the wearer is "taken" or not.
Low’s store carries colored gemstone pieces inspired by the sea. They have pearls and Larimar, a pale turquoise colored Caribbean stone. The store is also the exclusive authorized jeweler in the Caribbean for the FOREVER10 diamond.
The store carries handcrafted gold and silver "Chaney" bracelets, pendants and earrings. Chaney is broken shards of china dishes collected from areas around estates that were sugar plantations. Long ago, children used the green, black, blue, or pink patterned pieces in games and as play money.
Low said the future for retailers on St. Croix looks promising.
"I see nice projects in the works for St. Croix as a whole," said Low. "I am very pleased with the caliber of cruise ships returning to St. Croix."
The store is a member of Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO). Low also buys gold, silver and platinum. The store is open daily except Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chaney, along with many other signature and designer pieces may be viewed at their website.
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