Alter's Gem Jewelry
Alter’s Gem Jewelry has a history as faceted as its diamonds and precious metals.
This three-generation, family-owned business established in 1915, thrives on a foundation of determination, strength, and flexibility, the defining traits of founder Morris L. Jacobs. After losing his dry goods retail operation in the Great Flood of 1913, Jacobs relocated to Port Arthur.
He secured a $3000 loan and opened a fine jewelry store. With enough success to repay his loan the first year, he expanded his operation to Beaumont, Texas, in 1929. In 1950, Jacob's son-in-law, Nelson Alter, joined the business. After proving himself a worthy successor, Alter assumed the role of President, overseeing the addition of nearly a dozen stores in two states. Fine and exclusive jewelry and watch franchises were awarded, solidifying Alter's as a premier jewelry retailer.
Today, Alter’s Gem Jewelry is led by Brian Alter, the third generation of leadership. The store continues to thrive as a full-service jeweler, Rolex retailer, and educator. They’re also the only cookbook-creating jewelry store in the country.
Brian Alter
Alter’s Gem Jewelry sees jewelry as more than beautiful metals and stones.
What keeps them inspired and passionate is what jewelry means to people—what it represents and what memories it can evoke. There’s science, art, and emotion behind jewelry. Brian believes jewelry is your own “time machine.” What else do you have that belonged to your great grandmother and touched her skin? And then touched your mother’s skin? And can now touch your skin? Jewelry can be a family’s history, and that’s what makes it a beloved belonging.
FEATURED DESIGNERS
Like jewelry, cooking brings people together.
The staff at Alter’s Gem Jewelry come from all over the world. The store has a full kitchen where everyone cooks for each other, sharing their unique recipes and flavors. The staff even bakes fresh cookies for customers every day.
In the wake of Hurricane Rita in 2005, the city of Beaumont closed for a month. To help boost morale, Alter's Gem Jewelry invited people to submit their recipes with photos and the stories behind them.
They published Gems to Enjoy in 2008 replete with recipes from their staff, community, and jewelry designers, as well as elected officials and celebrities James Earl Jones, Mario Batali, and Kate Bosworth. A second cookbook, Gems to Savor, was created after Hurricane Ike to help bring the community together after another disaster. Currently, 100% of the cookbook profits go to the Red Cross.
What are Brian’s favorite recipes from the cookbooks? “A white chocolate bread pudding. And my wife has a leg of lamb recipe in the book that I will put up against anybody's recipe in the country.”
SOCIAL STYLE
“I like the way jewelry makes people feel. I like that it makes them smile. There are two reasons people enter a jewelry store—they come in to make themselves happy or make somebody else happy, or both. It’s that simple.”
Brian admits he is “a Hallmark Christmas movie junkie.”
Christmas is his favorite holiday and every December he goes all out—including binging on Hallmark Christmas movies. When he realized that his town didn’t have a giant Christmas tree like all the ones in the movies, he bought a 36-foot tree with 25,000 lights for the store’s hundred-year-anniversary. Every year since his team shuts down the store to erect the tree Thanksgiving week with a lighting ceremony.
The event has become an official Christmas celebration with a giant snow globe, dance performances, face painting, gingerbread cookie decorating, and more festive activities, all free for the community.
Brian encourages jewelry seekers to find a jeweler in their town “that cares about why they’re selling jewelry and not just what they’re selling.”
Understanding the folklore and beauty of why colored gems reflect certain colors and why diamonds sparkle the way they do makes it that much more of a special purchase. If it’s all about a transaction, the internet wins, but if you’re seeking a trusting relationship a local jeweler is the way to go.
Coming Soon
Jason’s Interview with Brian of Alter’s Gem Jewelry
ALTER’S GEM JEWELRY GIVES BACK
Alter's Gem Jewelry fundraising goes above and beyond Beaumont into southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. Their fundraising division performs over 100 charitable fundraising shows benefitting hospitals and auxiliary organizations across the country like Children's Miracle Network and United Way.
