Tony Bitar, left, and Freddy Beshara in the Hannoush store
Photo/Nancy Brumback
By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Marlborough—Hannoush Jewelers and Goldstein Swank & Gordon offer an elegant array of fine jewelry and watches at their stores right in the center of the Solomon Pond Mall.
Hannoush, a family-owned jeweler, based in Springfield, started in the jewelry business in 1980 and currently operates about 50 stores. Hannoush purchased Goldstein Swank & Gordon, a Worcester jeweler since 1899, about 18 years ago, keeping that jeweler’s exclusive lines and the historic name on two stores, in the Solomon Pond and Auburn malls.
“When people come into our store, they find excellent quality and good value,” said Tony Bitar, manager of the Hannoush store. “Our employees and managers have been around a long time.” Bitar himself has been with the company for 20 years, and Freddy Beshara, manager of the Goldstein Swank & Gordon store, has been with Hannoush for 14 years.
While both stores feature fine jewelry, they have a slightly different emphasis.
Hannoush focuses on diamond jewelry, with a large selection of bridal jewelry. The store also carries diamond earrings, cocktail rings, bracelets and necklaces, along with a selection of less expensive fashion jewelry from such lines as Pandora, Alex and Ani, and Petra Azar. Men’s and women’s watches from Movado, Seiko and Citizen are featured.
Goldstein Swank & Gordon places a greater emphasis on its watch business, including high-end brands Rolex, Tag Heuer and Michele. Contemporary fine jewelry from designer Roberto Coin is featured, but Goldstein also offers pieces from Pandora and Petra Azar. The store includes diamond bridal jewelry, but in a more limited selection than Hannoush offers.
“Couples looking for an engagement ring today have so many choices they can be overwhelmed,” said Bitar. “We try to help, for example suggesting styles that would look good depending on the shape of the hand, but we never make the choice for them.”
The Hannoush store offers 400 different settings to choose from, a big change, Bitar noted, from 20 years ago, when couples tended to pick a solitaire diamond engagement ring. “Now only about one of five couples wants a single diamond. Most like a center diamond with stones around it.”
Hannoush also does a great deal of custom design. “We have a designer in Springfield who can take a couple’s sketch and create a unique piece of jewelry for them.”
Along with the broad selection and experienced sales staff, Hannoush is competitively priced with other retailers and online jewelry outlets, Bitar said. Engagement rings start at $499, “so we can meet just about every price point.”
In fashion jewelry, Bitar noted the store has gift items priced under $100 from Pandora and Alex and Ani. Magnetic jewelry pieces from Petra Azar in silver and silver and yellow gold combinations and bracelets from Endless in colored leather with silver or gold charms are also popular gifts.
While traditional diamond earrings and bracelets are always in style, Bitar noted that, for a different look, the store features colored diamonds, with chocolate, black and blue diamonds the most popular for fashion pieces.
At the Goldstein Swank & Gordon store, watches take the spotlight, starting with Michael Kors styles between $175 to $275 and going up to the high-end watches from Rolex and Tag Heuer.
“Large watches with a lot of features are the dominant style today,” Beshara said. “Watches for both men and women are more a piece of jewelry than a timepiece.”
In fashion jewelry, Goldstein Swank & Gordon is showcasing a contemporary designer line from Alor made from stainless steel with a touch of gold with pieces for both men and women.
The two stores are located in the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough. For additional information call Hannoush at 508-303-6595 and Goldstein Swank & Gordon at 508-624-9994.
