For more than half a century, Creative Goldsmiths has been part of some of Langley residents' most meaningful moments from engagements and weddings to graduations and anniversaries.
Now, as owner Steve Parker prepares to retire, he reflects on the legacy his family has built.
“My dad started the store in 1973 in Guildford,” Parker says. “We eventually moved to Langley, and it’s become a three-generation business. My daughters have both worked here and I’ve had the privilege of teaching them, just like my dad taught me.”
Jewellery-making is a trade that’s passed down from master to apprentice, Parker explains. “It’s the kind of craft you can’t learn from a book. You learn by watching and doing.”
While technology has changed the way some jewellery is made, Parker says the foundation remains the same.
“For centuries, the techniques didn’t really change – it was all about handcrafting,” he says. “In the last 20 years, we’ve incorporated tools like CAD/CAM and lasers. It helps, but at the end of the day, it still comes down to the quality of the design and the materials.”
The store specializes in custom pieces to mark special moments in people's lives. “Jewellery is important to people for a lot of reasons such as love, celebration, remembrance,” Parker says. Sharing those moments with clients is a privilege, he reflects.
“We’ve survived because we’ve been adaptable, but also because we build things that are meant to be passed down to the next generations,” he says. “We create a beautiful product that can be cherished for a lifetime.”
Steve remembers visiting his father’s workshop as a child and later watching his own children grow up in the same environment.
“The community has supported us for many years, and we’ve been proud to support them in return,” he says, noting Creative Goldsmiths' support for local initiatives such as the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation and other charities.
As he prepares to step away from the bench, Parker remains motivated by the same reason he started: creating something meaningful.
“People come to us because they want what we do, not because they have to have it,” he says “That’s a pretty special thing.”
Reflecting on five decades of community support,, “thank you for trusting us with your milestones and your memories,” Parker says. “It’s been an honour.”
Visit Creative Goldsmiths today at creativegoldsmiths.ca or in person at 20160 Langley Bypass.