Van Sipma Jewelers marked 125 years in business and 55 years in Homewood with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, and a weeklong Vintage and Estate Jewelry Event at its 2011 Ridge Road store. The celebration drew longtime customers, friends, and local officials who came to honor what Mayor Rich Hofeld called “the oldest business in Homewood.”

“We’re lucky to have everyone come up,” said fourth-generation owner Gary Van Sipma before the ribbon was cut.

Hofeld said the milestone speaks to both longevity and loyalty. “They’re the oldest business in Homewood, and for good reason,” he said. “Customers are well pleased with the service and the quality of the merchandise; whether you’re in the market for jewelry or not, you come in, you look at the windows, and sooner or later you become a customer.”

Inside, the showroom displayed pieces from several eras, from Victorian and Edwardian to Art Deco, alongside modern designs. The event opened Oct. 4 with a “First Look” and continues from Tuesday, Oct. 7, through Saturday, Oct. 11, during regular store hours.

Ashley Van Sipma, who organized the event, said the idea was to “bring 125 years of jewelry into the store.” Half of the displays featured contemporary designs, while the other half highlighted vintage and estate pieces.

“This case here was sort of dedicated to the ‘wow pieces,’” she said. “We’ve got photos back here dating from the Victorian era all the way to the retro. They just don’t make jewelry like this anymore.”

Many of the pieces were on loan from antique dealers, including one of Gary’s longtime friends on the East Coast. “Every piece is essentially one of a kind,” Ashley said. She pointed out several favorites, including a Victorian mourning brooch — worn during the era to memorialize loved ones — an Edwardian ring, and a diamond and emerald piece that converts from a ring to a pendant. “That was such a unique thing of its time,” she said. “You could wear it two different ways.”

Ashley also described a striking and unconventional piece of Victorian-era hair jewelry, where human hair was braided and attached to gold. “This isn’t something that’s wearable,” she said, “but it’s a collecting item that really highlights the jewelry of that era.”

Her personal favorite, an Art Deco ring, sold early in the event. She described being drawn to its intricate detail and craftsmanship, a level of quality that’s rare today.

Gary shared his own passion, a personal collection of refurbished pocket watches dating back to the late 1800s. “Our oldest one is from 1894,” he said, joking, “not that I was around in the 1800s to buy it new!” He explained that these are pieces he has bought and refurbished over the years. “I love the mechanics inside and the cleanness of it.”

That trust in Van Sipmas’ expertise was shared by customer Jeff McClain. He brought in a non-functioning pocket watch that had belonged to his great-grandfather. “I’d had it for several years, never did anything with it, couldn’t figure out where to fix it,” he said.

Gary Van Sipma took on the project, eventually repairing the timepiece and even finding a proper case for it. “Now I have a pocket watch that was my great-grandfather’s,” McClain said. “It’s a lot of fun, but again, if Van Sipma’s wasn’t here, I’d have had that for several more years and never done anything with it.”

The event also reflected the loyalty of Van Sipma’s customers and staff. Arlene Dewey, a longtime shopper, said she’s been coming to the store for years. “It’s amazing,” she said. “I walk in and they know me, I have a little Van Sipma watch, and they always change the battery for me. It’s what a shop should be.” 

The family said Dewey’s pearl tradition began with her husband and now includes her grandchildren.

McClain said it’s tough to find another business like it. “Name two others that have been around 125 years and still in the same family,” he said. “It’s incredible, you forget sometimes how rare it is to have a place you can really trust.”

Employee Susan Walski, who has been with Van Sipma Jewelers for 28 years, said the community turnout gave her chills.

“People from the community brought friends from out of state,” she said. “One customer who comes in all the time brought two women visiting from North Carolina, and they ended up leaving very happily. The Van Sipmas have been a huge part of Homewood for a long time, and knowing I’m part of that makes it special.”

Ashley said seeing generations of customers come through the door was the most meaningful part of the day. 

“We had a lot of familiar faces, repeat customers, generations of customers that came through just for something different today,” she said. 

“I think just seeing everybody, just like old friends and faithful customers and generational customers — it was just like, wow, what a testimony. I can’t even put words together with how much this means. I wasn’t expecting this.”

She also highlighted the importance of supporting other local businesses, thanking Dunning’s Market and D’s Cookie Dough Co. in Flossmoor for catering the event. “They went above and beyond to make it extra special for us,” said Ashley. 

Ashley said seeing generations of customers come through the door was the most meaningful part of the day.