Erik is bringing more than 40 years of experience with him to Maritime Jewelers, located in the heart of Downtown Gig Harbor. After starting Maritime Jewelers in 2016—a name fit for this quaint waterfront town known as the Maritime City—Erik has been delivering his knowledge and expertise through his exceptional collection of fine estate and antique jewelry to all who walk through his doors—locals and visitors alike.
Originally from Norway, Erik came to America and settled in Southern California, where he ran a wholesale jewelry business for 30 years. Seventeen years ago, Erik moved to the Northwest, and when he first visited Gig Harbor, and walked the streets of the beautiful seaside town, he knew it was where he was meant to stay.
“When I first laid eyes on Gig Harbor, it reminded me of Norway,” says Erik. “I knew this is where I wanted to park myself for the rest of my life. I felt more at home here than anywhere I’d been before.”
At Maritime Jewelers, Erik, who is a 1988 Graduate Gemologist (a higher degree than simply a gemologist), along with his Master Jeweler Tom, who also has 40-plus years in the jewelry business, offer fine estate and antique jewelry covering many periods, but also modern and contemporary pieces. They offer custom designing to clients as well, whether you are looking for that perfect engagement set, wedding ring or custom piece with a diamond or rare color gem. As Erik states, they have a huge collection of color gemstones. In addition, he has partnered with a Montana sapphire miner and gets his sapphires directly from the mine. Maritime Jewelers offers all of their color gems at wholesale prices, and they offer a huge collection of designer sterling silver jewelry from Tucson, where Erik has attended the largest gem and jewelry show in the world each February for the past 40 years.
In addition to their extensive jewelry offerings—all offered at lower prices than you’ll find anywhere else in the area—what really sets them apart at Maritime Jewelers is their in-house repair service, where most repairs can be done the same day. They also take some of their most valuable pieces and have them authenticated and appraised by an independent lab called North American Gemological Laboratory. This is a $100 value and is done free of charge to their customers. These appraisals can be used for insurance purposes. Also with every gold ring purchased, Erik offers free sizing, one time, which is another minimum $100 savings. As he says, “We do this to provide good service to our customers.”
Erik and Tom recently welcomed a new addition to Maritime Jewelers—James. A wonderful young man with a genuine interest and desire for the jewelry business, Tom is training him to be a bench jeweler, while Erik is teaching him about gemology and how to run the business. James, in turn, is offering his Internet and computer expertise to bring Maritime Jewelers into the 21st century, states Erik.
“Between the three of us, we have all the basis covers; we’re all about taking care of our customers,” he says.
When it comes to what Erik finds most rewarding in his line of work, he says: “Seeing the smile on people’s faces and knowing that we gave them the best possible product for the best possible price, and just putting good energy into every piece that we do.”
With a business that is run on faith and values—running the business according to Deuteronomy—it takes away all of the worry, Erik explains. “Just do it, do the best job that you can, God provides and good things happen.” He attributes the success of his business to God and passion for what he does. “Tom and I both have heart and soul, and we truly love and desire to do what we do. Not born into the business, we both started from our own desires and accord, myself at 19 and Tom at 16.”
As a business owner in the Gig Harbor community, Erik, along with Tom and James, proudly supports others in the community through contributions to various causes.
“We still love what we do after 40 years. We still have a passion, and that passion has never left us,” Erik says. “It’s about doing what we love, not the money.”
Maritime Jewelers
3116 Harborview Drive
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335
253.853.4579