When I met with Barnette Scott, also known as Bom Bom by her three grandchildren, I didn’t know what I was in for, but I felt as if I had just met a “personality”, a “character”, I’d never forget--A bundle of energy behind the jewelry showcase in the little store on Lexington’s Main Street! You’ll notice it by the mural on the side, Lexington Jewelers, the oldest store in town, has been a fixture since 1964 when Main Street was still a dirt road and Bruce Cook purchased it from Eli Mack as mainly a watch repair shop. After a little over 20 years, Cook decided to sell, but not just to anyone.
It was then he went to Barnette and her late husband Ed, who had been operating their own jewelry operation B’ette Trotter’s Designs in Gold, and offered to sell them the business. “Well it wasn’t so much of an offer as a request,” Barnette tells the story,” ‘I want to retire’ he said, ‘but if you aren’t going to buy it, I’ll just close it down’”, she said quoting Mr., Cook,” ‘you’re the only ones I trust my customers to.’” So they bought the store, and Mr. Cook continued to work with the Scott’s for 10 more years.
Ed Scott, or “The Prince” as he was affectionately known by his friends, passed away in 1996 from a heart attack after playing a game of golf, his true joy. The couple would play in 22 charity tournaments a year and after his passing friends established the “Prince Partner’s Party Golf Tournament” (Ed called everyone “Partner”) which recently held its 15th consecutive annual event raising money for cancer research, personal heart treatments, and other worthy causes.
Ed was the “man behind the woman”, Barnette says fondly as she explains how she would do the castings for their jewelry designs and Ed would do the finishing work. “He lives on in the pieces,” she says with a smile, speaking about elegant designs they have sold to the four generations Lexington Jewelers has served.
“’Bette Trotter’s Collection” is the name of Barnette’s custom designs, but Lexington Jewelers really specializes in estate and pre-owned jewelry, coins, flatware, vintage watches, and they buy and sell gold and silver. They have items to fit any budget from $25 up to the highest priced emerald she ever sold at $100,000. And Lexington Jewelers always give you double the trade in value for in-store credit.
Other items they carry range from sterling silver pieces, to Buler Swiss, Tag Hauer, Morata gold, and pre-owned Rolex watches; pearls by South Sea; Leslie gold chains, and many other items. Lexington Jewelers is well staffed to help you too, a real family operation as Barnette’s sister Jackie, and her aunt Annie work with her, as well as her friend Jackie that she has known since they were 15 years old. She also has on staff two jewelers, two watch repairmen, a clock repairman, and she shares a shop in New York for castings.
During our visit, I met patrons who had been buying their jewelry there all of their lives. “Jewelry is a very personal thing,” says Barnette, “and for me it’s all about the smiles on the customer’s faces.”
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