(Credit: Jai Gil, 2022)
Dennis deJonghe cuts the ribbon at the store at 470 Broadway. deJonghe Original Jewelry has been in that location since 1988 and in Saratoga Springs for 40 years.
Despite celebrating a business of four decades, Dennis deJonghe's charisma and enthusiasm reflects that of a young artist who was opening his first store. Although he and his family have spent years in Saratoga Springs as owners of deJonghe Original Jewelry, they hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate that shared legacy for their 40th anniversary.
Both Mayor Ron Kim and New York State Senator Daphne Jordan were among those in the crowd congratulating the family on their longstanding commitment to producing custom made jewelry. Kim and the city council pronounced Nov. 30, 2022 “deJonghe Original Jewelry Day.”
Kim said that he was proud to present the honor and that the ribbon cutting felt like a familial moment, due to his long-lasting relationship with the deJonghes. After sharing that his son had just been to the store to get his engagement ring cleaned.
Kim praised deJonghe’s, “wonderful artistry” and added that it was a particularly “special moment” for him to be able to congratulate the family on forty years of business.
The two then shared a laugh about an early memory where Kim, who was then Commissioner of Public Safety, witnessed deJonghe shoveling snow onto one of his employee’s cars. When asked why according to Kim, deJonghe claimed that he “had an employee who was bragging about having a garage to protect their vehicle from snow, so it had to be done.”
deJonghe said that he could not have made it 40 years in the business without his wife, Peggy, who has been by his side since they started at craft shows in upstate New York decade ago.
Looking back on how he managed to sustain his commitment to the business for so long, from Buffalo to New Paltz, and now Saratoga Springs, deJonghe credited his love for the artistry of designing custom jewelry.
Although he has plans to slowly pass the family business down to his kids Evan, Sarah and Rebekah, all have worked for the business in the past, Dennis deJonghe says he is as excited as ever to continue to produce high quality jewelry.