Humble beginnings
Our Story
The Little Jewel has been a family-owned business on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall since 1979. But the story started long before that, with our founder, Darline Brown.
Darline lived in Houston when she took a jewelry-making class that completely changed her life. What began as a hobby quickly turned into a lifelong passion and, eventually, a family business that’s now in its fourth generation.
Finding our home
From Jackson Hole to Boulder
In the mid-1970s, Darline and her husband Dave opened a small shop called the Gold & Silver Exchange in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. With their six kids helping behind the counter, they sold sterling silver, Native American jewelry, and rock specimens.
Darline soon realized she wanted to focus on fine jewelry full time. In 1979, she opened a year-round store in Boulder and named it The Little Jewel. Her warmth, love of people, and natural eye for beautiful pieces helped the store quickly become part of the Pearl Street community.
Four generations of care
A Family Tradition
Darline’s mother, Emily, joined the shop in the 1990s, making it a true family business. Over the years, Boulder locals came to know The Little Jewel as a welcoming place where they could find something meaningful, whether it was a gift, an engagement ring, or a small piece to mark a special day.
The store has been honored with multiple Best of Boulder awards from 2013 through 2017, but what means the most to our family are the customers who’ve shopped with us for decades and now bring in their children and grandchildren.
Darline continued working in the store she loved until she passed away in 2016 at the age of 87. Her kindness, sense of style, and love of jewelry still guide everything we do.
Our next chapter
Today
Today, Darline’s daughter Dianna and son Dane run The Little Jewel with the same care and enthusiasm their mother taught them. Dianna has worked in the store since 1982 and loves helping customers celebrate life’s moments. Dane, a certified gemologist, brings his lifelong passion for minerals and craftsmanship to every piece.
Now, the business is supported by a fourth generation, who helps with technology, the website, and management so the family tradition can continue to grow and thrive.
Four generations of family, jewelry, and community in the heart of Boulder.