A tiny air hammer hums while Greensburg jeweler Brian Nicklaus sits at his work bench inside the Pawn and Jewelry Exchange along East Pittsburgh Street, playing with his art.
What started as a hobby in middle school became a job in high school and a business in college.
“The Duquesne (University) campus was a pretty good place to be a jeweler,” Nicklaus said.
He began working at the Clark Building, a hub for jewelers, in Downtown Pittsburgh and learned from some of the older jewelers in the city before heading to college at Duquesne because it was close to work.
“I figured I would be able to help pay tuition and have pocket money, but college was also a great place to begin buying and selling jewelry, and making custom pieces for my professors,” Nicklaus said.
After a corporate career in jewelry that took him around the country, he grew tired of not being able to give his clients the custom pieces they wanted and decided to go off on his own. For nine years, Nicklaus has been creating custom jewelry and repairing pieces.
“We love having the customer able to be a part of the process,” said Ashley Nicklaus, his wife and business partner. “Having Brian be able to bring it to life right before their eyes, and being able to let the customer see the project from beginning to end, really makes it a special process. His excitement and drive is inspiring, and I think that people feel that energy and feel that passion.”
