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Our Story

About J.R.DUNN Jewelers

James Robert Dunn started his career in 1967 as a sales representative for IBM. During a sales call to a jewelry company in Malden, MA, Jim picked up a magazine about the jewelry business and became intrigued. When his schedule allowed, Jim took correspondence courses in gemology, and went to New York to learn about diamonds and colored stones. “I bought a little microscope and I was playing scientist at home,” he said.

While at IBM, Jim met his future wife, Ann Marie Pelliccia, who was working as an executive secretary. Like Jim, she was driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. She was 10 years old when her family immigrated to this country from Italy. It didn’t take long for Ann Marie to master the English language and become the interpreter for her father’s cabinet-making business. She went to work every day after school with her father from age 11 until she graduated high school. Soon after, she joined the team at IBM. “It was IBM that helped us forge our philosophies about customer service and business ethics,” said Ann Marie.

The couple married in 1969 and together decided to take a chance by starting a jewelry business. With their savings of $10,000, the couple purchased a small house in Hanover, MA and converted it into their first jewelry store, The House of Gems.

Making good on promises

During the first year, their store was burglarized and every piece of jewelry was taken, including customers’ repairs. To make matters worse, the Dunns were in between insurance policies. The couple went from door to door informing and reassuring each client that their prized possessions would be replaced. Ann Marie and Jim paid for the stolen jewelry out of their own pockets to preserve their reputation of integrity and trust.

Word spread when the couple made good on their promise, and business began to grow by leaps and bounds. The House of Gems soon outgrew its tiny location. Jim and Ann Marie relocated the store to a nearby mall in South Weymouth, MA and changed the name to J.R. Dunn Jewelers, emphasizing the importance of the family-owned and operated business.

In 1978 the couple relocated to South Florida and opened a small jewelry boutique, serving a select clientele by appointment only. This is when the Dunns were fortunate enough to have 18-year-0ld Robert Pelliccia, Ann Marie’s brother, come on board at the age of 18 and eventually start creating one-of-a-kind custom creations for their discerning clients. It didn’t take long for J.R. Dunn Jewelers to outgrow its location once again; that brought about the monumental decision to purchase a 6,000 square-foot building on Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point, Florida.

J.R.DUNN Today

Today, J.R. Dunn Jewelers has expanded to 8,000-square-feet showroom in Lighthouse Point and is an authorized Rolex retailer conveniently located between Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale just and just under an hour from Miami. Jim, Ann Marie and their son, Sean, run the business together. Sean earned his undergraduate degree in business management from the University of Florida and his gemological degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Jim credits Sean with much of the technological advancement achieved at the store, including the creation of the company’s e-commerce website, JRDunn.com, nearly 10 years ago. Fortunately, the faith Jim and Ann Marie placed in Sean has paid off, and JRDunn.com now serves clients in more than 20 countries

“My father always told me I could be whatever I wanted. He has given me latitude to try new things and the confidence to take steps forward.” said Sean. “One of the things I most respect about my father is that he has no fear of taking risks. He’s not afraid to try new things. If it doesn’t work, it’s not going to devastate him. Tomorrow he’ll wake up with another great idea and go for it.”

In addition to being a close knit family that supports one another, the Dunns have forged many great relationships; with their employees, clients and the local community. “If you’re in business and the people in the community are supporting you, then you should go back and support the community,” said Jim. The Dunns credit these relationships for having allowed J.R. Dunn Jewelers to persevere and thrive -- even in tough times.

While a lot has changed since Jim and Ann Marie started the business in 1969, their values haven’t. On any given day you are likely to find multiple family members on the premises at J.R. Dunn Jewelers. Even Ann Marie’s mother, Fernanda, might be the one who greets you at the door. Every guest entering the store today is treated with the same standards of excellence and friendly service established many years ago in that tiny house in Massachusetts. It is truly a family affair...

Giving Back

In 2007, the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University inducted Jim Dunn into its Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Jim Dunn's honor came as a complete surprise, even though he was honored with the Sun-Sentinel's Excalibur Award for "Small Business Leader" in 2002. Jim is actively involved in numerous charitable organizations and dedicates significant time to the Boys' and Girls' Club of Broward County. In 1996, he organized "Dunn's Run" and over the past 24 years has raised over $2.5 million for the organization.

In 2015, J.R. Dunn Jewelers began a partnership with the Humane Society of Broward County called 'Diamond in the Ruff' in an effort to help animals find their furever homes more quickly. Every week since then, J.R. Dunn sponsors the adoption fee for a chosen animal who has not yet been adopted-naming them a diamond. The average pet waited approximately 65 days before being named a Diamond. Once they were promoted, they waited an average of only 10-14 days longer before finding their furever home. Since the program started, over 150 animals have been adopted with the program.

In 2019, J.R. Dunn was extremely proud to celebrate their golden 50th Anniversary. Each and every client who walks through our doors or shops with us on JRDUNN.COM has become undoubtedly an extended part of our family and we look forward to many more years together!