Kim Nguyen’s career in jewelry began when she met her mentor at Baskin-Robbins.

She was working behind the counter, and he asked her to interview for a job working for him at his jewelry store. Seven years later, Nguyen opened her own jewelry business.

“He said that I seemed to be very hardworking and had a great personality. He needed someone to watch the store who could be trusted,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen opened Unique Jewels in Webster in 1990.

“The community has been very good to us. We have customers that have been with us for three generations,” Nguyen said.

The store is named for the fact it sells one-of-a-kind collections and specializes in custom work. The full-service jewelry store walks customers through the process of picking out a custom piece and provides retail and repairs, Nguyen said. The store also offers day-of services if a customer prefers to have a piece fixed immediately rather than leaving an item overnight.

“I wanted to offer something that is not mass-produced, something unique, something not commonly [found] everywhere,” Nguyen said. “That’s why we keep it small, personal, fine and quality products.”

The personal touch is due to the family-owned aspect as well as the product, said Nguyen, who runs the store with her husband, son and daughter, when she is in town.

“We are here. We service you. We know you by name,” Nguyen said. “When you deal with a family-owned, local, independent [business], we follow through from point A to B whatever it is related to that item.”

The hands-on approach has led to customer trust, a key component to staying in business, Nguyen said.

“They never have to worry if they are getting the same diamond back. That’s why they send their friends, family [and] co-workers,” Nguyen said.

Being a part of a person’s special occasion—whether it is creating a new piece or refurbishing an old one—is the best part of the job, Nguyen said.

“I think that is my biggest reward. At the end of the day, you know you made somebody’s day,” Nguyen said.