Castiglione Jewelers

SYNONYM FOR
EARNED PUBLIC TRUST
Mr. And Mrs. Louis Castiglione, Sr. Owners of Castiglione Jewelry, Gloversville, New York.

Louis Castiglione, Sr. was born 92 years ago in New York City to Italian immigrants who eventually moved to Gloversville to work in the thriving glove industry. He went to Italy to learn the jewelry trade and was taught by hard driving teachers who would make no compromise with mediocrity. In 1929 - 70 years ago - he opened Castiglione Jewelers in Gloversville and, at 92 years old, still comes to work each day with his wife Anita who devotes herself to bookkeeping and purchasing.

Mr. Castiglione may well be the personification of the grass roots, small town jeweler. His children were born there and went to school with those of his customers. It simply would not occur to a man like this to do any less than the best he can for his clients.

Neither is he a self-satisfied man. This photo was taken on October 18, 1998 at the Albany area meeting to which he brought his son, Louis Jr. And six other members of his staff. Obviously, if there was something to be learned, he wanted to know it.

In the 70 years that he has operated the store, Gloversville has undergone many changes from the days of a thriving glove business to war years and to economically depressed times. But he never left the town or its people or looked for a new location in a shopping center. His modern, beautiful new store is almost in the same place where he began in the middle of downtown Gloversville

And the people of the town have not left him either. They are still his clients and his business thrives.

It is hard to imagine that this man could ever cheat anyone or mislead them or misrepresent anything to them. Obviously, he knows he hasn't because he has had no fear of facing them every day for 70 years. Men and women like this honor the industry and the industry would do well to honor them.

His foresight for the future is commendable as well. In his mind he has established a most reputable store for the ages and today, his son Louis, Jr. is one of only 11 gemologist appraisers in the state certified by the American Gem Society - the highest rank attainable. To be accredited by the American Gem Society, the store must pass a critique by competitors, a credit check, a review of its operation from advertising to inventory, and be able to demonstrate the highest ethical standards. His store is indeed a bulwark of reputation for a most reputable man - a monument to a responsible participant in a community. K. C.

Oservations, March 1999
New York State Jewelers Association