Custom jewelry store opens in Arts District
Grosser & Co. Master Jewelers, 2 W. Main St., Carmel
Topics Newspapers
June 8, 2006
CARMEL — Mark Grosser, 48, has come a long way since creating jewelry out of old telephone wire and cable as a child.
The 30-year master jeweler is now a well-known name in the art-fair circuit and a Jewelers of America-certified Master Bench jeweler. He opened his own jewelry store, Grosser & Co. Master Jewelers, in April in Carmel’s Arts & Design District.
The store offers custom-made jewelry from gold or platinum to diamonds and natural gemstones.
“I like creating pieces that have movement, are off balance or have random patterns and directions,” Grosser said, adding that it usually takes about four weeks for more complicated jobs.
In addition to creating custom jewelry designs, making limited production jewelry runs and consulting, the jewelry store also offers jewelry rendering, repairs, wax model carving, design instruction and photography.
Grosser teaches jewelry design instruction at the Indianapolis Art Center and works as a freelance photographer for United Press International during the Indianapolis 500. The photography work inspired Grosser to create racecar jewelry, which he has done for two years.
Grosser & Co. also has an art gallery that showcases a new artist each month. Lorie Lockhart, a New Orleans artist, will be featured in July.
The Grosser & Co. building at 2 W. Main St. has historical significance. The building was once a bank that dates back to the early 1900s and the original night drop box and bank vault remain inside. It also includes chandeliers that were formerly part of the L.S. Ayres Tea Room and the double doors from the Morrison Opera House, both in downtown Indianapolis.
Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. For more information, call (317) 663-7000 or visit www.grosserandcompany.com
Grosser spoke with Topics staff writer Christina McGairk about Grosser & Co. Master Jewelers.
Q Is there one piece of jewelry that you are particularly proud of?
A Currently, I have something called coil rings fabricated out of different thickness of gold rods. I really enjoy making them. They’re different because they are mold rings and unique pieces. There can be different variations of them so you never run out of designs. Some can have diamonds, colored stones or red, yellow or white gold. It’s an open-ended project because I can always make something different. I started making them two years ago and they have been different and change into something new every time I make them.
Q Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
A I was 11 years old when I started making jewelry out of telephone wire and cable. I used it to make little beads, rings and necklaces, took them to school and gave them away to the girls.
Q What’s the customer’s advantage to having a custom-made piece versus a ready-made one?
A Custom-made designs can be personalized and sentimental material can be utilized such as grandma’s diamond or grandpa’s wedding band. Also, the customers get to work with the person that’s actually doing the work. So it’s actually been handmade by one person instead of in a factory. A lot of people also like to see a custom piece of jewelry instead of what everyone else has.
