Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jeweler brings Midwest to the Southwest
    Tara Fine Jewelry: Atlanta’s not-so-secret, best-kept secret
    Finding the Big Ones; Zambian Trophies for the Ages
    The Golden Girls of Gemstones
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Hard Rock Summit event info
    Hardrock Summit to return to Denver in September 2023
    ASJRA brooch
    Iconic Jewelry Firms is theme of ASJRA’s 18th annual Conference
    DMIA members meet-and-greet and hear updates from GIA, NDC
    diamonds on plant
    How to drive more sales and referrals through social media
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    The Story Behind the Stone: Diamonds on Pins and Needles
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue
    What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023
    A Winning Strategy: How SEO and buying intent can skyrocket your sales
    business people shaking hands
    Networking for small business owners
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: A Clean Disaster
    Brad Huisken
    A quick note about technology
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jeweler brings Midwest to the Southwest
    Tara Fine Jewelry: Atlanta’s not-so-secret, best-kept secret
    Finding the Big Ones; Zambian Trophies for the Ages
    The Golden Girls of Gemstones
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Hard Rock Summit event info
    Hardrock Summit to return to Denver in September 2023
    ASJRA brooch
    Iconic Jewelry Firms is theme of ASJRA’s 18th annual Conference
    DMIA members meet-and-greet and hear updates from GIA, NDC
    diamonds on plant
    How to drive more sales and referrals through social media
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    The Story Behind the Stone: Diamonds on Pins and Needles
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue
    What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023
    A Winning Strategy: How SEO and buying intent can skyrocket your sales
    business people shaking hands
    Networking for small business owners
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: A Clean Disaster
    Brad Huisken
    A quick note about technology
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured Articles

Florida’s Classic Creations: Treasured home of the Duke family, Nau-T-Girl & more

Liz Pinson by Liz Pinson
December 1, 2019
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Reading Time: 8 minutes

Classic Creations in Diamonds & Gold draws its ambience from the nearby Gulf of Mexico: Elegant yet “comfortable, casual and no pressure.” And the gulf inspired another facet of this Venice, Fla., gem: Nau-T-Girl, whose creations inspired a new and creative entity.

Classic Evan PamEvan and Pam Duke, owners of Classic Creations in Diamonds & Gold.

A third facet of Classic Creations is Coins, Loans & Collectables, which has its own door as a separate company under the same roof. The company springs from the early days of Classic Creations, which was known as Venice Jewelry & Coin Exchange when Chuck and Sylvia Duke founded the company in 1981.

Before moving to Florida, Chuck made false teeth for dentists in his Randallstown, Md., dental lab.

“Dad was in the National Guard and got his dental training there,” says Evan Duke, Classic Creations’ current owner. “My mother was an X-ray technician for a number of years, and she went to work with Dad in the dental lab.”

Classic staffClassic Creations’ staff has grown to 14 over the years.

After Chuck became immersed in the late-1970s “cash for gold” craze, he discovered that he enjoyed working with the jewelry he was buying more than making teeth. So he ventured on to jewelry school, sold the dental lab and moved to Venice, starting his jewelry store on Venice Avenue in 1981.

Venice Jewelry & Coin Exchange operated in that location four years. In 1985, Chuck signed a lease in a new shopping center called the Venetian Plaza. Five years later, as development in Venice shifted, the Dukes moved to another shopping center, Venice Village Shoppes, about 3 miles to the south. The store then became Classic Creations in Diamonds & Gold.

Classic intThe Dukes built and moved into this 4,000-sq-ft free-standing location in 2010.

“After it opened, I went to Jacksonville University,” Evan says. “I said there’s no way I’m coming back to Venice, and there’s no way I’m working in the store,” he laughs. But the lure of beautiful water and laid-back boating lifestyle proved too tempting, along with Evan’s devotion to his family. “In 1995, I joined the family business; 24 years later, here I am!”

On April 1, 2010, the Dukes opened the free-standing location they built, own and operate out of today on Tamiami Trail. The store is 4,000 square feet, and the staff has grown to 14 people. It offers an extensive selection of jewelry and accessories, specializing in unique, custom-designed pieces along with jewelry and watch repair. The store buys fine jewelry, coins, antiques and collectibles.

Although Chuck and Sylvia, who worked alongside her husband as the store’s bookkeeper, have handed the reins to the next generation, Chuck tends to pop in occasionally. “My dad is encouraged not to, but he shows up every day,” Evan laughs. Chuck celebrated his 75th birthday in early November.

Evan, who grew up working in the family store and now holds GIA certificates in diamonds and colored stones, studied business administration and accounting in college. He acknowledges it’s an asset in running the business. “I also have a mentor I used to work with, an older man who taught me advertising. He was a newspaper man, so I know more about newspapers than most. He helped me analyze facts and figures, plan promotions and execute promotions. He helped me put together plans in what we might do, how the business would grow. If I’d call someone my mentor other than my father, he definitely would be the one.”

The Nau-T-Girl Story

Classic Pam NautPam launched her nautical themed Nau-T-Girl collection in 2015.Pam started working in the store with Evan in 2010 after they married in 2006. She found her niche with Nau-T-Girl Jewelry, launched in 2015. Pam designs the Nau-T-Girl pieces, partnering with a couple of different companies that do casting. Some assembly is done in the store as well.

“We were buying a lot of jewelry from different vendors, and I said we should design something of our own,” Pam says. “Then, one night we had dinner with a couple, and the husband worked fishing shows (as a national rep for a clothing brand). I said I wish there were something I could sell at these.

“Within a few weeks, I came up with the name Nau-T-Girl. I started selling Nau-T-Girl at boat shows, and it evolved from there.” The line is sold in about 30 retail stores now, from Key West all the way to Maine, Catalina Island in California and two stores at Lake Michigan. “We’re working on Puerto Rico,” Pam says. “It’s all happened in a short amount of time – we’re really excited.”

Nau-T-Girl pieces are available in .925 sterling silver or 14-karat gold and represent seafaring elements including anchors, compasses, coordinates, hooks, fish, knots, propellers, ship’s wheels, sea turtles, starfish, waves and sun.

Classic EvanCurrent owner Evan Duke joined the family business in 1995.“Blue Zircon is the closest color stone I could find that looks like the water,” Pam adds. “It’s in almost all of the pieces I do; it’s my signature along with the way the anchor hook hangs sideways, for example. It’s attached at the bottom and top, so it’s more of a necklace than a charm.”

Pam just recently added Nau-T-Buoy to the collection, with thicker chains for a more masculine feel. The men’s line currently features a variety of fish, but as Pam says, “We can customize anything for anyone. I could make an anchor for men with the bigger chain and make it look manly.”

Along with their successes within the store, Evan and Pam are rightfully proud of their outstanding involvement with community charities.

“I am past president of the Chamber of Commerce and have been on the United Way of South Sarasota County Board since 1995, and still am,” Evan says. “I started a fishing tournament in 2014 for Sarasota and Manatee counties, and we’ve raised close to $250,000 in those 4½ years. It’s pretty much my baby.”

Pam’s baby is the Child Protection Center; she and Evan are team captains for the CPC’s 40th anniversary fundraiser. The couple also help Little League teams, local schools, the YMCA and local nonprofits.

Classic display

For more information about Classic Creations call 941-497-6331, visit www.classiccreationsjewelers.com or e-mail info@classiccreationsjewelers.com.

 

 

Liz Pinson

Liz Pinson

Liz Pinson has worked in journalism and publishing for more than 35 years, including 10 years as a copy editor, page designer and writer with The Charlotte Observer and 15 years as an associate editor with American Media. Liz holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Marshall University and is currently a freelance writer, editor and graphic designer based in Greensboro. She has enjoyed contributing monthly features to Southern Jewelry News and Mid-America Jewelry News since 2009.

Related Posts

Jeweler brings Midwest to the Southwest

March 1, 2023

Tara Fine Jewelry: Atlanta’s not-so-secret, best-kept secret

March 1, 2023

Finding the Big Ones; Zambian Trophies for the Ages

March 1, 2023

The Golden Girls of Gemstones

March 1, 2023

Latest News

Industry Events

Hardrock Summit to return to Denver in September 2023

March 22, 2023
Industry Events

Iconic Jewelry Firms is theme of ASJRA’s 18th annual Conference

March 22, 2023
Industry Events

DMIA members meet-and-greet and hear updates from GIA, NDC

March 22, 2023

Other News

How to drive more sales and referrals through social media

The Story Behind the Stone: Diamonds on Pins and Needles

Mystery shopping results reveal opportunity for proactive consumer natural diamond education

Jewelers of America announces 2023 GEM Awards winners

ASA partners with BrankoGems Academy to offer testing loose and mounted diamonds and gems training

KIL N.Y.C. introduces the Cranium Ring

Southern Jewelry News

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.

Additional Information

  • About
  • 2023 Jewelry Trade Shows & Events
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter Signup

Get Social with Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured Articles
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Sponsored Content
  • Latest News
    • What’s New
    • Industry Events
    • Tradeshow News
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Furry Friends
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.