A Real Gem

By Kelly B. Garrett Eagle Staff Writer

March 27, 2012 Last Updated: March 27, 2012 05:02 PM Special Sections

Larry Moses, one of the owners, examines a ring at the Moses store in Seven Fields. Larry and his brother Tim also operate a store at the Clearview Mall in Center Township.

Brothers keep family jeweler tradition going

SEVEN FIELDS — There is one word for the Moses Jewelers showrooms: Shiny.

The Moses family has been working with shiny, beautiful and expensive items since 1949 when Merril Moses opened his first store in Lyndora.

He later moved to downtown Butler's West Cunningham Street. In 2008, that store closed, and the family relocated the business to the Siba Plaza on Route 228 in Seven Fields.

The family's Clearview Mall store also remains open for business, located near the entrance of Boscov's department store.

But it is at the Seven Fields store that customers can find brothers, Larry and Tim.

Larry, 58, followed in his father's footsteps, going to the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking in New York City in 1971, where he learned how to repair watches, as well as how to make parts for watches.

“When I was young, I had a vision or a premonition and I knew exactly what I would do with my life,” Larry said.

This year marks Larry's 40th year in the business.

However, Tim, 52, went to Penn State University where he graduated with a degree in agronomy and golf course maintenance.

“I did golf course work for five years and I realized that I wanted more,” Tim said, adding that on his father's advice he went to the New York City Gemological Institute of America in 1986, where he earned a graduate gemologist degree.

He then joined his father and brother in the jewelry business.

“Working with family does have its challenges, but instead of dividing us, we have found how to feed off each other, using our individual skills to make sure we do the best job possible for our customers,” Larry said.

Tim oversees the day-to-day operations of the business, selects and grades diamonds and other gems, and searches to find sources for many custom jewelry requests.

The Moses stores carry watches, rings, necklaces, pins, earrings, bracelets and gift items, all with high-quality names such as Rolex and Hearts on Fire Diamonds.

In one corner of the Seven Fields store is a case of estate jewelry items that Tim says they find or are offered by families who are selling items they no longer want.

Tim said they don't just buy everything. They look for those items that are well-made and unique, like the tri-gold bird pin that they date to the 1800s, or another pin of small uncultured pearls and green garnets.

“Garnets actually do come in a variety of colors with green being the rarest,” Tim said. He also dates the pin to the 1800s.

These skills were learned by both Larry and Tim, not only from their schooling and from working in the store growing up, but mostly from their father, Merril, who, in theory, is retired.

“Yeah, he's retired and works about 40 hours a week,” Larry said, both brothers chuckling.

In 1945, Merril graduated from high school and immediately joined the Navy, serving during World War II.

When he returned to Butler, he decided to use GI Bill benefits to attend the West Penn Horological School of Watchmaking in Pittsburgh, graduating in 1948.

In 1949, in a small store no larger than 12 feet-by-15 feet, Merril began his career as a watchmaker in Lyndora.

In 1968, after 19 years in the small store, Merril moved Moses Jewelers to 115 W. Cunningham St. in Butler.

That store was known for the clock right outside. In 1995, Merril, Larry, and Tim decided to buy and refurbish a street clock designed by Rolex in 1928 for a jeweler in Washington, D.C. The clock had been five blocks from the White House, it kept U.S. presidents and dignitaries on time for more than 27 years.

Currently, the clock is being installed at the Seven Fields store.

It is with this rich history that the Moses family continues to work in and for the Butler County community.

“We believe that everyone who walks through our doors should receive the best service we can deliver and nothing less,” Larry said.

Name: Larry MosesAge: 58Address: ButlerEmployment: Co-owner of Moses JewelersFamily: Wife, Kim; two daughters, Molly, 17, and Maggie, 12Education: Graduate of the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking in New York CityChurch: St. Paul Roman Catholic ChurchHobby: GolfName: Tim MosesAge: 52Address: ButlerEmployment: Co-owner Moses JewelersFamily: Wife, Maryanne; a son, Nathan, 20, attending Penn State University, and a daughter, Cara, attending Marquette UniversityEducation: Graduate of Penn State University with a degree in agronomy and Gemological Institute of America in New York City with a gemologist degree.Church: Hill United Presbyterian ChurchHobby: Golf

Larry and Tim Moses, owners of Moses Jewelers, offer these ideas for improving the quality of life in Butler County:• Continue the low tax rate.• Improve relations between Cranberry Township and Butler. There seems to be a disconnect, like it's a different world in Cranberry Township.• Downtown Butler needs to support entrepreneurs and businesses.

Larry and Tim Moses, owners of Moses Jewelers, offer these tips for being successful in business:• Be honest.• Learn the business.• Have a strong work ethic, do anything that needs to be done at anytime.• Find capital to start the business.• Persevere.

Name: Moses JewelersAddress: Seven Fields and Clearview Mall in Center TownshipTop official: Tim and Larry MosesEmployees: 18What it sells: Jewelry and gift items, as well as buying and selling gold, diamonds and estate jewelry, and makes repairs to watches and jewelryTelephone: Seven Fields/Cranberry Township store, 800-533-0622 or 724-591-5776; Clearview Mall store, 724-283-2776Website: www.moses jewelers.com