Ellis Jewelers — Local services in North Little Rock

Ironically, their motto is "Where Family Heirlooms Begin." In my case, it is where a family heirloom ENDED. The mutilation and loss of a vast part of my deceased mother's antique watch was bad enough. However, the worst part was the differing stories and excuses that were given to me and my family afterwards.

In November, I dropped my mother's antique Bulova watch (from the 1950s) by Ellis to be repaired. It needed something fixed internally to make it run again. I specifically told them not to cut the fabric bracelet on the watch (as if that wasn't obvious enough). My mother died 40 years ago WITH THIS WATCH ON HER WRIST. This is a priceless and irreplaceable heirloom to me.

Months passed by after I dropped it off. It was due to be completed "After January 2017." I never heard from anyone. So I called them in the beginning of April to inquire. They told me that they COULDN'T FIND THE WATCH. They said they would call me back. They did not. I went into the store. They informed me that they had LOST the dial/face of the watch in the mail (if that's true, why would they even send something so valuable via regular US MAIL???). They had sent the watch off to be repaired (a fact which was not told to me beforehand; otherwise, I never would have agreed to let them "repair" it). I sat in the store crying. They showed me the fabric bracelet (SEE PICTURE) which had been cut all the way through and cannot be repaired.

To make a long story short, they continued to stall by saying that they were looking for replacements to rebuild the watch. YOU CAN'T REBUILD A PRICELESS FAMILY HEIRLOOM! Several weeks went by. They didn't call me with any updates regarding the watch. I'm almost 70 years old so my family had to help at this point with getting the watch back. Mr. Ellis kept insisting that we leave the watch with him and he would find a replacement dial AND THAT HE WOULD CALL US BACK. He never once called us back. My niece went into his store today to ask about the watch again. Mr. Ellis showed her the watch parts, most of which were not even original parts. ALL THEY HAD LEFT OF THE ORIGINAL WATCH WAS ONE INTERNAL PIECE (WITH THE CROWN ATTACHED) AND THE DESTROYED FABRIC BRACELET (SEE PICTURE). Remember...Mr. Ellis had told us that he ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE DIAL, not basically the entire watch.

He told my niece that it's like when you SWIM IN THE OCEAN AND LOSE YOUR WEDDING RING! "Accidents happen." I entrusted my FAMILY HEIRLOOM to a place that prides itself on its appreciation of FAMILY HEIRLOOMS! Maybe this won't happen to YOUR family heirloom. ...

I went in to show Mr. Ellis my problem after speaking with him on the phone... I had a moto 360 watch and was unable to find any bands that would fit it nor any jewelers that would take on the task. Whatever mold God used to make this man (the grandfather) has sure been lost. None are like him, and I seriously doubt any will come after him. He's a renaissance man. And a damn good custom craftsmen. I tip my hat to that elderly gentleman. And was honored to have him work on my watch and hear about his previous endeavours and adventures in life. Furthermore, I pulled up to the jewelry store in my daily beater (little hyundai) not my nice car I have that I take on the weekends... And they treated me as if I was a high dollar client. Very polite and very courteous workers in that store. I will be saddened the day Mr. Ellis (the grandfather) decides not to go into...

They are the kindest most patient people. My parents both passed away when it came time for my eldest soon to ask his gf to marry him after they returned from Afghanistan, The Ellis crew took my parents old wedding bands and made them perfect.My father was a Police Officer. His engraved ring had at one point been cut into 3 separate pieces after an accident.they ended up using a different ring . But Ellis put the original ring back together without damaging any of the words my mother had once had ingraved for my father... The rings are amazing ! And she...