Matt Baughman is President and CEO of David’s Fine Jewelry in the Murraywood Shopping Center on St. Andrews Road, just down the road from Irmo High School where he graduated from in 1988.  Matt started in the business at the age of 10, learning from his father who started the business back in 1977, when he first starting engraving items, and worked in his father’s stores all the way through high school.  After graduating from the College of Charleston in 1992, he came back to Columbia and opened David’s in Harbison before moving to their current location in 1995.

“Yeah, we’re a jewelry store, but more than that, we are a part of the community,” Baughman states, “we buy people’s gold, we clean jewelry, repair watches, size rings, etcetera, which isn’t making a lot of money, but it’s a service to our customers.”  As Charen Simmons, one happy customer stated on her way out of the store, after having her wedding set rhodium plated and cleaned (making white gold white again), “This is the best my ring has ever looked.”

The important thing to remember is that they are here, face to face, for 35 years contributing to the community, and they stand behind what they sell.  And even if they didn’t sell it to you, they will work on it and fix it. “The trust factor is huge in the jewelry business,” Baugman says,”the internet is a great educator, but it’s not a person, and when I look you in the eye and take your precious possession, I ‘own’ it from then on, and I’m going to take care of it. The good thing is with our laser welder, almost all work is done on site and never leaves the store, and in most cases we can fix it while you wait.” 

While David’s carries many excellent brands like Stuller anniversary bands, Lashbrook Designs, the popular siver line “Gates of Charleston”, Coast Diamonds, Seiko, Skagen, Quality Design Group, Artistry, or Jewel Couture, an even better choice for the customer may be custom designed jewelry. “We do a lot of custom designs here, “ Baughman says proudly,”so many times someone has inherited a nice diamond or gem stone but can’t decide what to do with it, and we get together and come up with something they really like, and we will make it for them.”

The next time you are thinking about a jewelry purchase, make sure you are dealing with someone you trust. David’s Fine Jewelry is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.  Matt can even negotiate and cut deals that you won’t find on the Internet, or other retail chains. But most importantly, he stands behind his product and prides himself on service before, during, and after the sale.