DIAMONDS & FINE JEWELRY SINCE 1948

When you step in the door at Dondero’s Jewelry, you are not just a customer. You are a part of our family. 

We don’t just sell jewelry. We live and breathe it. That’s why quality service comes so naturally to our staff—because jewelry is a part of who we are and we let our passion take the lead.

We believe your jewelry buying experience should be unlike any other. Your purchase should be thoughtful, honest, and informed—but above all else, it should be fun. At Dondero’s Jewelry, the experience of selecting a piece is just as valuable as the piece itself. Because to us, the experience is everything. 

Dondero’s Jewelry is South Jersey’s trusted dealer for ethically-sourced diamonds, gemstones, precious metals, and more. Passion for jewelry is our legacy, which is why we have become the source for high-quality products, from custom gifts for him, a watch that will have all eyes watching you or the right ring that will make her eyes sparkle. 

 

How It All Started

“Everything we do is for the benefit of our customers.” 
-Charles Dondero, Founder

When Charles J. Dondero opened a small jewelry shop in his home on North Delsea Drive in 1948, little did he know the treasures that were in store. Starting off as a part-time side business to his primary work as a glassblower, the jewelry business quickly blossomed and earned the respect and trust of locals.

Soon after Charlie’s death just 11 years later in 1959, “Bud” Dondero moved the store to his home on Arbor Avenue in Vineland. Working together with his wife, Betty, and his brother-in-law, Bennie Bruun, the three took the helm and continued the legacy Charles had started. 

Fast forward to the spring of ‘79, Ken Dondero arranged to purchase the business from his father. The store opened on a full-time basis with Bud, Betty, and Bennie all playing key roles in its development. The family business continued to expand in 1982 when Ken’s wife, Julie, came onboard and again in 1984 when his sister, Mary, joined the business. In 1986, to complete this core team, Ken’s long-time friend and brother-in-law, Kevin Kleiner, came on board as his partner and co-owner.

In 1991, the business made the move to its present location at 2439 North Delsea Drive, where it quickly expanded its operations and added new personnel to the team. Just a few short years later, Dondero’s Jewelry lost its patriarch when Bud passed away. His spirit lives on in the business today, which began with one man’s vision in 1948.