Full Circle with Britten Wolf of BVW Jewelers
Master Jeweler Britten V. Wolf, Reno Nevada
Personality shines through every aspect of BVW Jewelers. Britten Wolf got his start with custom jewelry of his own, inspired by art and flowing organic patterns. After working as an independent wholesale jeweler for local retail locations, he was able to launch BVW Jewelers with the desire to share his jewelry and knowledge of all aspects of fine jewelry to the local Reno Nevada community. The store gives the locals a personal place to shop and socialize while enjoying unique surroundings. Bridal jewelry for any budget; we have an environment for customers who care about unique jewelry and enjoy a professional yet fun atmosphere.
Describe your brand in three words?
Extraordinary Never Ordinary
How did you get your start in the jewelry industry?
I am a second-generation jeweler/goldsmith who apprenticed with my family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At sixteen I took an interest in the family business and began my apprenticeship fabricating Southwestern jewelry. Soon I realized that I was intrigued with goldsmithing carving wax, and custom designing, once I began creating designs using the lost wax method my passion and dedication have been unstoppable.
What’s your go-to source for inspiration?
Nature for my personal designs, my pieces have an organic flow that when incorporated into high end jewelry creates a truly unique look that clients gravitate to. I love incorporating color, whether designing in two tone metals or using colored stones as well. The rise in popularity of gemstones in engagement rings has increased which allows even greater creative possibilities branching out even further from the traditional mainstream ideas.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your business?
You can’t hear if you don’t listen, when a customer is trying to explain their vision and their vocabulary is limited in terms of jewelry knowledge, you must hear what they mean as well as what they say. This covers every aspect of life as well as business.
What’s your favorite quote or personal mantra?
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Albert Schweitzer
Name three things essential to your business.
Reputation, honesty and commitment to be and do the best work, have the best customer relations, and be honest. If a design is not structurally sound that a customer wants I cannot in good conscience make it, knowing that it was my job to inform them and attempt to find an alternative method to achieve the closest look to what they want that will be with them for years to come.
What has been the biggest reward of your career?
Being afforded the opportunity to do what I love, do it well and recognize how much our clients love it as well. When a client comes to us because they have been referred.
What is the biggest challenge you face?
Time, there’s never enough time in the day. However, we count our blessings that we continue to grow and succeed.
How does technology play a role in your everyday?
CAD programs and 3-D printers have changed the way I communicate with a client as well as moved our business to a vastly different level than the days of hand carving for hours then having to re-carve for changes. We can print a model for our clients to approve or change in less than an hour which really keeps them excited and confident in the process.
What is your most successful contest or sweepstakes?
We like to keep it fun in the store with games and contests, one of them being a candy counting contest. We have guests see that it’s that time on social media and they come in to play. It is a terrific conversation starter and it gets people in multiple times during the event to guess more often.
What makes your store unique?
Our dedication to taking part in the community and giving back. We are vocal in our beliefs and we support different organizations that we see are attempting to make a difference. We strive to raise awareness and take great pride in not just working in our community but improving it as well.
Last but certainly not least, what’s next for BVW Jewelers?
Always expansion, as the only jewelry store in Reno with three custom design centers, and two 3-D printers, our goal is always to expand and improve. Giving the client what they desire and in a timely manner is a goal we are always working toward.
This article originally appeared on JCKInsider.com
