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We use only top quality, fresh batteries made here in the USA. We have the proper tools, the technical expertise, and the hands-on experience that comes from changing over 25,000 batteries. And every battery comes with a written one-year warranty.
Allphin Jewelers: A History of Quality
The first incarnation of Allphin Jewelers was Allphin Brothers Jewelers. My grandfather, Don Allphin, and his brother Owen opened their store in 1920 in the town of Greybull, Wyoming. At the time, Greybull was an important railroad stop in the Bighorn Valley, and a busy community. Don was a watchmaker and a jeweler, and his brother Owen was an optometrist. (Family lore also suggests they made caskets as a side business!)
In 1923, Don followed the railroad (and his sweetheart, Pearl) out west to California. He opened Allphin Jewelers in the Seminary District of Oakland, California. He was one of the first watchmakers in the East Bay to become an authorized railroad watch inspector for the Southern Pacific Railway. In the days before wireless communication, an accurate timepiece was an essential piece of safety equipment. (You wouldn’t want to be working on the tracks at 5:04 when the 5:05 from Roseville was due in.)
Don and Pearl raised their four children in Oakland. Their younger son, Lawrence (my dad), joined his father's business at the end of his Navy service following WWII. (Just to keep up with tradition, Don's older son, my uncle Richard, became an optometrist!) Don and Lawrence were very active in the Seminary Merchants Association, and developed a large and loyal clientele of neighbors and friends.
In the early 1970's, Dad moved the store to East 14th St. in San Leandro, where I joined the family business. Having grown up in the store, I had an early passion for gold, and my training as a goldsmith was a perfect match for my Dad's watchmaking skills.
I took over the family business in 1986, and have carried on the family's three-generation tradition of quality and trustworthy service ever since. I moved Allphin Jewelers first to Pelton Center, then on to Parrott Street, right next to the Englander Restaurant.
I am very committed to the San Leandro community and have been active in the San Leandro Downtown Business Association. I've enjoyed being part of the community by volunteering in the schools, sponsoring youth sports teams, and collaborating on the creation of the Sausage and Suds Music Festival. Having grown up in San Leandro, I feel very lucky to have a deep connection to my customers and my community. Almost every week, someone comes in who tells me about visiting my Dad's store in Oakland, or even of memories of my grandfather. I have a portrait of Don in the store, and feel his presence, and that of my late father, every day.
Allphin Jewelers stocks a wide selection of fine jewelry and Taxco silver. We create customized jewelry to suit your taste and budget, and I take pride in educating my customers about buying diamonds. I do all jewelry repairs on site, and truly understand the importance of my customers' precious items.
For a list of services we offer, check the services page or give us a call at (510) 357-3442
