Behind the Bench
The Craftsmen of Wexford Jewelers
When you visit Wexford Jewelers, the sparkling showroom is only part of the story. Just beyond the showroom is what we simply call "the shop". This is our workshop where the sound of rap music, the screech of the steam cleaner and the hum of flex shafts & polishing lathes are the melody in which jewelry is repaired, gemstones are set, heirlooms are restored, and new pieces are brought to life.
Behind the bench is a team of skilled jewelers whose hands and experience make it all possible. We thought it would be fun to highlight the people who care for your jewelry every day.
Emily Nichols
Co Owner and Master Bench Jeweler
Emily Nichols has been handling jewelry since she was a small child. She grew up in the business under the apprenticeship of her father, Angelo Roncari, founder of Wexford Jewelers. One of her earliest jobs was polishing rings in bulk while the family traveled as vendors at Renaissance festivals.
Although Emily did not attend formal jewelry school, her early start and decades of hands on bench experience have made her the most skilled bench jeweler in the shop. Today she handles many of the most delicate gemstone settings and complex or high risk repairs that come through our workshop.
In addition to her work at the bench, Emily oversees the operations of the shop and the team of jewelers who work behind the scenes each day.
Emily’s favorite part of working at Wexford Jewelers is surprising clients with all of the “yes” answers.
Yes we can completely refurbish your great grandmother’s wedding ring.
Yes we can take your old stones and create one epic new ring.
Yes we can size your ring while you wait.
Yes we can clean and inspect your ring for free.
Yes we can engrave a photo of your beloved pet onto a keepsake tag.
Yes we can create a mother’s ring to celebrate the birth of your first baby.
Yes we can find you a rare specialty cut diamond or gemstone.
Yes we can transform a loved one’s ring into a heart shaped memorial pendant.
And the list goes on. Around here, we rarely use the word "No".
Jason Nichols
Casting, Manufacturing, and Laser Engraving
Jason Nichols, Emily’s husband, was eventually reeled into the family business by founder Angelo Roncari.
Jason plays an important role in the early stages of jewelry production. His work focuses on casting, molding, injecting, and pre finishing castings before pieces move on to the gem setting jewelers. He is also responsible for the shop’s laser engraving, creating precise engravings for jewelry and custom requests.
Jason’s favorite part of working at Wexford Jewelers is the people. The team has truly become a work family. He also enjoys developing new manufacturing processes and finding creative ways to tackle new products.
And of course, he loves working with our clients.
Eugene
Bench Jeweler
Eugene joined Wexford Jewelers in 2011 after moving from Texas. He graduated from the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, where he completed both the jewelry and watchmaking programs over five years. His mother was an instructor and division chair at the school, which helped inspire his career path.
Before entering the jewelry industry, Eugene worked as an electrician installing high rise signage, a job that came with significant risk. Encouraged by his mother, he decided to pursue jewelry where he could combine technical skill with creativity.
Eugene approaches his work with the belief that there is always more than one way to approach a problem. Behind the bench he handles everything from client repairs and restorations to sizing, re-tipping, and gemstone setting.
His favorite part of working at Wexford Jewelers is the people he works with and for, along with the flexibility and job security that comes with staying busy at the bench.
Alex
Production Bench Jeweler
Alex (AKA Ginger) first came to Wexford Jewelers at just 13 years old through a job shadow opportunity for students interested in the jewelry industry. What he calls an accident, we prefer to think of as destiny.
That single job shadow turned into an internship, which eventually grew into a career path. Alex later attended Drouhard National Jewelry School in Ohio where he learned jewelry repair, advanced diamond setting, design, casting and production.
Once a very quiet and shy teenager who Julie admits she didnt realize even his existence during his first few years around the shop, Alex has grown into an integral part of the workshop team.
His focus is on production jewelry, working on pieces created for Wexford Jewelers’ in house collections and some client projects. His work includes finishing, gemstone setting, and rhodium plating.
Alex says his favorite part of working at Wexford Jewelers is the atmosphere. Being able to share a good joke makes the workday more enjoyable, and he says he could not ask for better employers.
We are honored to have him on our team!
The Heart of the Workshop
Every ring that is resized, every stone that is set, and every heirloom that is restored passes through the careful hands of this team. Their craftsmanship, creativity, and dedication are what allow Wexford Jewelers to serve generations of families.
The next time you stop in, just remember that behind the sparkle in the showcases is a workshop full of talented hands bringing jewelry to life every single day.
