Rick and PJ Watkins own Encinitas Custom Jewelers, on South El Camino Real Encinitas. This family-run business has been in operation since 1997, but Rick has been making jewelry since 1978. Rick had always been fascinated by the art of jewelry and won many awards, but he wanted something more stable so he decided to become a dental technician. This was the right choice because he was able to meet his future wife, PJ, in the lab. While having lunch among the many shelves of teeth she asked him if there was possibly something else intriguing he could pursue. He responded that jewelry had always interested him! It just happened to be that dental technicians and jewelers use the same tools for their work.
Currently, Rick and PJ's two daughters Zanni and Chloe work at Encinitas Custom Jewelers. Zanni has been working hard to organize their estate jewelry in the store and on Etsy dot com. His other daughter graduated Point Loma Nazarene, further finished at Parsons and now has followed her dream of design by working for the prestigious Ralph Lauren in New York. His son studied graphic design and currently works for Sony.
Rick absolutely loves customizing jewelry to his customers taste. While in the store a woman asked, ""So you can make anything?"" Rick responded, ""Yes, anything, from simple to extravagant. One guy actually asked to make a wedding ring from this edgy competitive wedding ring book and I made it. My favorite part of working as a jeweler is when I get a custom job done and seeing my customer's reaction. I love it and that is the pay off!"" He has a great, trusting relationship with his customers who keep coming back. Family and friends spread the word of Rick's quality work. He is even on the families 2nd generation of wedding rings! Take some time to take your treasured jewelry or have some extravagant pieces made just to your taste at Encinitas Custom Jewelers.
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