Kaufmann Jewelers is a very small business run by a father-son duo, but they’re continuing a family legacy. The shop was first founded by Holocaust survivor Herbert Kaufmann in 1947, with his son, George, working there during his teenage years in the 1960s.
He soon learned to be a goldsmith and opened a few jewelry businesses of his own, including the former Kaufmann Naranjo Jewelers in Washington, D.C., and the former Robert Bernard Jewelers in Potomac.
This was about 25 years ago. Now, George Kaufmann is the current owner of Kaufmann Jewelers, having revived the family business in Potomac along with his son, Corey.
Because Kaufmann Jewelers has such a long history, the shop gets many customers who purchased their own engagement rings from Herbert Kaufmann and have fond memories of the business.
“I have customers that are older that tell me about how they got their engagement rings from my father,” George Kaufmann said.
While Kaufmann Jewelers stocks plenty of pieces from popular brands, it’s unique in that its owners are both goldsmiths who repair and create custom jewelry by hand. George and Corey Kaufmann design and craft necklaces, bracelets and earrings — but they’re most well-known for their engagement rings. Kaufmann Jewelers received the “Best Place to Buy an Engagement Ring” from MoCo360’s Best of Bethesda awards in 2017 and 2018.
George Kaufmann said that he and his son pride themselves on their customer-focused approach to crafting jewelry. They work directly with customers to bring their custom projects to life, and perform watch and jewelry repairs in view of customers so they can see every step of the repair process.
“We care about our routine customers. We have people who become repeat customers throughout their lives,” George Kaufmann added. “We see their kids grow up, and eventually take care of their needs and their engagement rings. It’s nice to see people get older and to see families grow in Montgomery County. It’s a great place to be.”
