’It’s a wonderful industry’ (7 photos)

Manufacturing and selling jewellery and watches is more than a business.

It is an art form, one which brings a warm feeling to a jeweller as a result of being a part of families special occasions.

“It’s a wonderful industry. We have lots of happy stories,” said Rodger Rosset, co-owner of Savoy’s Jewellers, speaking to SooToday. 

“I remember one day, about five years ago, a fellow got engaged with his future wife and made the engagement ring purchase right here and then dropped on one knee and proposed to her right in our store. Wonderful day! Those are the kinds of things we love about our industry,” Rodger smiled.

“Letting us be a part of their special moment was extra special.”

“I remember one Christmas, because we are jewellers to a lot of families, a husband buying his wife a gift here, the wife buying the husband a gift and the children receiving gifts from the mother and father, so I can only imagine that Christmas morning when everybody in the family was getting a Savoy’s gift. I love to hear that,” Rodger said.

“We are trusted by families, that’s what I like…it’s special to be ‘the family’s jeweller.’”

Savoy’s was established in 1952 by Edmond Rosset and his business partner John Anthoine.

Edmond was born in Copper Cliff, now part of Greater Sudbury, then was raised in France, near the Swiss border.

He then moved back to Canada and set up a jewellery store at 290 Queen Street East (the original Savoy’s location, which still operates as a landmark among Queen Street businesses, owned and operated by Rodger’s brother Richard).

“I don’t know how many jewellery stores there were in the Sault at the time, but my father saw a need for a good jewellery store and a good watchmaker in Sault Ste. Marie. John Anthoine was the watchmaker and my Dad was the businessman,” Rodger said.

Savoy’s opened a second location in Station Mall in 1981, then transferred to a second location within the mall in 2012, expanding its store space by 30 per cent, Rodger said.

“We’ve been very successful at this location. It’s a multi-faceted repair shop, it’s engraving, appraising, watch repair, goldsmithing, it’s full service.”

“My brother Richard and I grew up in the business. We have been working at the store since we were very young, and we started working in the business full time right after high school, in 1980,” Rodger said.

The brothers worked to be goldsmiths and studied gemology in California.

The plan is for Rodger and Richard’s sons, Ryan and Nicholas respectively, to carry on the family business, with the sons having also studied gemology.

Edmond Rosset passed away in 2015.

“He was so thrilled to see the boys come into the business,” Rodger said.

Ryan has worked at the Station Mall Savoy’s location for five years, Nicholas at the Queen Street location for eight. 

Ryan, at first, worked in carpentry, but watches and jewellery being in his blood, joined the family business.

“We’ve been a part of the history of families for 65 years. We’ve dealt with grandparents, parents and now we’re dealing with their children. We’ve played an important role in every bit of their lives, all their special occasions, whether it’s weddings, anniversaries, birthdays,” Rodger said.

“We treasure and appreciate the opportunity to play an important part in all their special occasions,” Rodger said proudly, yet graciously.

Rodger said there was never any question on his part, or his brother Richard’s, if they would follow in their father’s footsteps.

“The jewellery industry is a happy place, so people will receive a piece of jewellery and it becomes an heirloom, and we feel privileged we can be a part of that, so right from the beginning, from when we were very young, we felt there was nothing better than the jewellery industry.”

“We love it. We love what we do, and it’s more than just a job, it’s a part of our fabric,” Rodger said.

Training is ongoing.

“There are new developments in gemology all the time so it’s important to stay current,” Rodger said, noting the changes in wrist watches alone over the years.

“I like what I do because it feels special to be trusted by families. I think that’s what it is for me. There’s no question that if they need something they will come to see us,” Rodger said, adding “we have a wonderful staff, we have staff members that have been with us for 40 years, and that’s nice also, to have a long-standing relationship.”

“I like seeing customers faces and how warm they feel about buying from us,” Ryan said.